City of Aurora staff seek expedited CDOT IGA to add $500,000 for Box Elder Creek repairs

Kathy Valencia, the transportation project delivery manager in Public Works for the City of Aurora, asked the TAPS Committee to expedite an amendment to the city's intergovernmental agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) so the city can add $500,000 in congressionally directed spending to the Box Elder Creek roadway erosion and flood protection project.

Valencia said the project area at 56th Avenue and Hudson — in northeast Aurora — was severely damaged by flooding in June 2023 and the roadway has remained closed since. "We had to have submitted the project by May 31st," Valencia said, and staff have finished final design and submitted it for CDOT and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) review. She told the committee FHWA has required the amended IGA be executed by mid‑July to secure the additional federal funds.

The project previously received a federal PROTECT grant of $10.8 million with a $3.5 million local match from the city; city maintenance funds were planned as additional overmatch. Valencia said the added $500,000 in congressional funds carries a $125,000 local match, which will come from City maintenance funds and reduce the city's overmatch commitment. Valencia summarized the budget figures presented to the committee: the original PROTECT award ($10.8 million), the initial $3.5 million local match, planned city overmatch ($3.6 million), and the congressionally directed $500,000 with $125,000 local match.

Valencia asked whether TAPS would approve a procedural change to skip study session and skip reconsideration so staff can place the amended IGA on the next available regular meeting agenda and meet the mid‑July execution deadline. When committee member Rob asked whether that timing would meet the federal requirement, Valencia replied that moving to the July 13 regular meeting without reconsideration would allow the city to meet FHWA's timeline.

A staff member told the committee the IGA was taken to study session and a regular meeting in the prior year and that council rules allow an amended or expedited process when accepting grant funds with tight deadlines. Committee members agreed staff should notify the broader council by email with a notice and summary and proceed with the expedited schedule so the city can receive the outside funding.

Valencia said construction is planned to begin in late 2026 or early 2027 and is expected to be complete in late 2027 to early 2028, pending CDOT and FHWA approvals. Staff told the committee they finished final design and submitted it at the May 31 deadline, and the federal review window is now the gating item for the project schedule.

No formal roll‑call vote was recorded in the transcript; participants verbally agreed to proceed with the expedited process and staff actions described above. Staff said they will place the amended IGA on the July 13 regular meeting agenda and notify council members in advance. The committee also confirmed an in‑person meeting for July 23 at 12:00 p.m.; staff previewed that the next TAPS meeting will include a presentation from a representative of the Denver Regional Council of Governments and a fuels grant update from Deputy Director Carly Campana.

The committee adjourned with no additional business.