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Cheyenne awarded $2.56M grant to enhance safety along Reed Avenue corridor

City to match 25 percent of Federal Railroad Administration grant, with construction starting this year

Concept illustration from the 2018 Reed Avenue Rail Corridor Master Plan

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The City of Cheyenne is advancing the Reed Avenue Corridor Project with a $2.56 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, aimed at transforming the historic railroad corridor into a public space, according to a press release by the city.

The project seeks to convert the Reed Avenue right-of-way, stretching from 15th to 23rd streets in the city’s West Edge, into a multi-use area featuring safe pedestrian and bicycle access, gathering and event spaces and opportunities for economic development. The BNSF railroad will continue operations, separated from the new public space.

The project, funded in part by the sixth-penny sales tax approved in 2021, has been in the design phase since early 2023. Utility locates were conducted in 2023 and 2024, with final designs expected by early 2025, according to the city’s website. The recent federal grant will fund the first phase of improvements, with the city actively working to secure additional funding for construction.

“This grant is the first step in realizing the full potential of Reed Avenue,” Mayor Patrick Collins said. “Our staff continues to work hard to make the concept of a vibrant corridor on Reed a reality.”

The grant will fund project development, final design and construction costs. A 25% match from the city will support the project, with construction slated to begin later this year.

A meeting on Oct. 26, 2023, provided community feedback on proposed railroad crossing closures at 18th and 21st streets. Current designs include closures at 17th and 18th streets and Dillon Avenue, alongside enhancements for pedestrian safety at other crossings. Additional public meetings will be scheduled as the project progresses.

The Reed Avenue corridor was established in the early 1900s to support rail access for Cheyenne’s west-side businesses. Over time, industrial use of the corridor declined, spurring discussions about redevelopment.

The Reed Avenue Corridor Plan, developed by the Cheyenne Metropolitan Planning Organization in 2018, serves as the blueprint for the project and aligns with the city’s broader 2016 West Edge Area-wide Plan for economic revitalization.

For more information on the Reed Avenue project, visit www.cheyennecity.org/reed. A complete list of Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant recipients can be found at railroads.dot.gov/FY23-24-RCE-Grant-Program-Selections.


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