1-Color
January 23, 2014
50 cents Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 69, Issue 12 A publication of
westminsterwindow.com
Sheridan Shutdown
Over the weekend, Sheridan Boulevard was closed at the bridge over U.S. 36 in order to move traffic onto the new Sheridan bridge structure. Drivers were directed to alternate routes to avoid the construction. The closure was part of the U.S. 36 Express Lanes project, a multimodal project led by the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Regional Transportation District to reconstruct U.S. 36 from Federal Boulevard to 88th Street in Louisville/Superior. Photo by Ashley Reimers
Food truck dishes resources, assistance Program offers food assistance By Ashley Reimers
Study features rail and bus rapid transit
areimers@coloradocommunitymedia. com Though hard to miss cruising down the streets, the bright green Your Neighborhood Food Truck, a program made possible by Hunger Free Colorado, an anti-hunger organization, is still a new concept to many people in the north metro area. The 40foot RV is retrofitted to connect families to needed food resources and recently made a stop at the Irving Street Library on Jan. 17 in Westminster. Doug Vega, food assistance mobile outreach coordinator, said he’s hoping his first trip to Westminster will inform residents about the many food assistance resources available to them. And with his help, those in need will get connected to resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, local food banks, meal sites and other community options that offer affordable food. “We are out here to raise awareness about how Your Neighborhood Food Truck can be a huge help to families who need some assistance when it comes food,” he said. “We’re helping people in a comfortable setting that is not intimidating, providing access to computers so people can apply for SNAP and also receive one-on-one help through the application process.” Launched last June, Your Neighborhood Food Truck stops at various locations throughout the Denver metro area. Vega partners with organizations like the Irving Street Library, to establish a site in an area where there is need and also good traffic.
Meeting outlines RTD transit plans By Ashley Reimers
areimers@coloradocommunitymedia. com
Your Neighborhood Food Truck made a stop at the Irving Street Library on Jan. 17 in Westminster. The 40-foot RV is retrofitted to connect families to needed food resources. Photo by Ashley Reimers He said many times when a person first walks in, he or she is feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, but leave feeling at ease. “I’m able to explain to them the process, and help them fill out their SNAP applications, which is the biggest program we promote in the truck,” Vega said. “I simply streamline the process for people in order to help them get back on their feet. It’s greatly rewarding for me.” SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is federally-funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is administered by each state. It is a safety net program providing low-income households with financial resources to purchase groceries. Individuals on the program are required to meet certain qualifications for eligibility, including
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income. People on the program use an Electronic Benefit Transfer, EBT, card to buy food at authorized food retailers. Michelle Ray, director of communications for Hunger Free Colorado, said there are many misconceptions regarding SNAP. Ray said some people think people can use the card to withdraw cash, which is not possible, and that people on the program are on it for long periods of time, when in fact the average person only uses the program for eight to 10 months. “People who need the program are sometimes embarrassed to admit they need the help,” Ray said. “But what we are providing is an economic bridge for people who need to get back on their feet. People come upon challenging times every day, and really SNAP is a hand up, not a hand out.” Those interested in applying for SNAP at Your Neighborhood Food Truck should bring along their identification form, residency form, proof of earned income, proof of unearned income, medical expense forms and immigration status, for those not born in the United States. For a list of upcoming sites, visit www.hungerfreecolorado.org or call the Hunger Free Hotline at 855-855-4626.
Regional Transportation District recently hosted a public meeting to inform Westminster residents on the progress of the Northwest Area Mobility Study, a 13-month study focusing on prioritizing mobility needs in the area. The study began in March and is an effort to develop a consensus between RTD, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the northwest area stakeholders. The study was started because of the lack of cash resources to fund parts of the FasTracks project in the north metro area in the near term, said Nadine Lee, RTD engineering project manager. She said before RTD moves forward with FasTracks, officials hope to gain knowledge on mobility needs for the northwest area. The meeting on Jan. 15 featured an informational video and a variety of stations explaining the study and other topics including Interstate 25 reverse commute, U.S. 36 Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, arterial BRT, the Northwest Rail, the North Metro Rail Extension and information on funding options and implementation. RTD staff was also on hand to speak one-on-one with meeting attendees. The study is focused on three key areas: phased implementation of the Northwest Rail, extension of the North Metro Line and implementation of arterial BRT. Chris Quinn, RTD project manager for the Northwest Area Mobility study, said the study will confirm the operational plan and major infrastructure elements needed for the FasTracks U.S. 36 BRT line to boulder that is scheduled to open in early 2016 and provide high level analysis and recommendations for addressing reverse-commute challenged on I-25 between Union Station and U.S. 36. Westminster Mayor Herb Atchison said RTD continues on Page 12