Grants to help Morrison make improvements near downtown

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Town of Morrison is embarking on improving parts of the area thanks to two grants.

Town o cials hosted a meeting on Aug. 2 to explain both grants, which will plan for two projects to improve resiliency in case of a disaster and will make changes to three intersections on Bear Creek Avenue.

“We are excited to get both programs underway and get community feedback,” Town Manager Kara Winters told about 30 people who attended the meeting.

Je Brislawn with consultant WSP explained the federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities project or BRIC project, and town planner Carrier McCool explained Morrison’s Revitalizing Main Streets projects.

“ e federal government makes BRIC grants available to make communities more resilient to disaster,” Brislawn said, including ooding, wild re, severe weather and more. e town has received a $45,000 grant to plan to implement two projects, though it will need to nd funding for those projects. e Revitalizing Main Streets grant o ered by the Colorado Department of Transportation helps make downtowns safer, and McCool said since Morrison’s downtown is on a state highway, it is even more vital to ensure pedestrians can cross the road safely. e town will kick in $106,000 for projects at three intersections on

Bear Creek Avenue, and the state will put in about $426,000.

BRIC grant e town hopes to have plans for two resiliency projects ready for review in November and completed by the end of the year, Brislawn said. Once the plans are nalized, town o cials will look for funding sources to do the projects.

Brislawn said many project possibilities exist, which is why the town asked residents and business owners for input on the types of projects they would like to see. So far, projects to combat wild re and ooding were among the highest concerns.

Once the town has gathered input, Brislawn said, it will narrow the list to two projects.

Projects could include improving or replacing bridges, relocating the Town Hall, improving water and sewer, or reducing wild re risk.

Revitalizing Main Streets

Morrison received the Revitalizing