Regional transit projects receive funding

The Colorado Transportation Commission voted Wednesday to spend $65.1 million over the next five years on 18 transit projects statewide, including five in Northern Colorado.

This the first time state transportation funds have been set aside specifically for transit purposes, through the Strategic Transit Task Force. The task force had received 50 applications totaling $134 million, and could fund only $66.2 million.

“The overall goal for the Strategic Transit Program is to increase transit ridership by improving transit connections between communities,´ said Transportation Commissioner and Task Force Chairman Steve Parker in a statement announcing the awards.

The biggest award of $16.9 million was…