Transportation Commission adopts FY27 budget, approves Elmore's East condemnation authorization and other budget reallocations

The Transportation Commission approved multiple finance and project actions during its March meeting. Finance staff requested and the commission approved a budget supplement reallocating $1.2 million from an overlay to Colorado 71 Ordway intersection improvements, $1.5 million to the La Junta Multimodal Transit Center and $2.5 million to a south‑central storage and maintenance facility, moves described as reallocation among 10‑year plan transit projects to fill funding gaps.

The commission then adopted CDOT’s final FY27 budget allocation plan. Finance staff said the combined CDOT and enterprise revenues allocated in FY27 total approximately $2.3 billion, including roughly $857 million to capital construction, $475 million to maintenance and operations, $462 million to suballocated programs and $114 million to multimodal and mobility services; combined planned expenditures for CDOT and its enterprises were reported at roughly $2.9 billion. Staff will submit the approved budget to the governor’s office ahead of an April statutory deadline.

On project authority, the commission considered resolution number 6, authorizing staff to initiate condemnation proceedings if necessary to advance the US‑160 Elmore’s East project in Region 5. Chief Engineer Stefanik explained the authorization would be a procedural step to further negotiations with the property owner and that condemnation would be a last resort. The motion to approve the authorization passed without recorded opposition.

The commission also approved the Pueblo Area Council of Governments’ GHG transportation report (resolution 9) and CDOT’s own GHG transportation report for non‑MPO areas (resolution 10), noting that a mitigation action plan will be adopted under Policy Directive 1610 to support compliance timelines.

Why it matters: Adoption of the FY27 budget and the budget supplement allocates resources for construction, maintenance and multimodal programs in the coming fiscal year and reassigns transit funds to projects ready to proceed. The Elmore’s East authorization clears a procedural path for the project team to press negotiations and, if necessary, advance condemnation to obtain needed right‑of‑way. Approval of the GHG reports advances compliance steps linked to CDOT’s 10‑year planning.