Early Tuesday, Nov. 16, the City of Yuma was notified that it had been awarded the RAISE Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the only Arizona project selected. This $10.6 million grant will be used to develop the Hotel del Sol into the Yuma Region’s first Multi-Modal Transportation Center (MMTC). This much needed transportation center will transform the lives of Yuma residents and help revitalize the historic downtown and the surrounding community.
This morning, Sens. Kelly and Sinema reached out to Mayor Nicholls to personally notify him of the news. Both senators advocated for Yuma and this project. The City of Yuma appreciates and thanks both senators for recognizing the importance of this project, and for their support and advocacy.
“The award of the RAISE grant for the Yuma Multimodal Transportation Center will have a lasting impact with cohesiveness of the transportation options to provide opportunity throughout the Yuma County area,” said Mayor Doug Nicholls. “The award is the result of many years of consistent advocacy at all levels from local partners to Governor Ducey, from representatives Gosar and Grijalva, as well as current Arizona senators Sinema and Kelly to former Arizona senators. I have the deepest gratitude for all those who came together to benefit the people in the greater Yuma area.”
The City Council identified downtown revitalization and riverfront development as high priorities in their Strategic Plan this past year and the multi-modal transportation center was an essential element of the City’s legislative agenda. This project will support the City’s goals to make Yuma more safe and prosperous and transform the heart of Yuma by redeveloping a historic building while revitalizing the surrounding area’s physical environment. It will also showcase downtown economic development, and assist with neighborhood renewal efforts.
“This project will undoubtedly transform downtown Yuma and strengthen our community’s core,” said City Administrator Philip Rodriguez. “I’d like to thank the Yuma City Council for their clear vision, as they support the value of public transportation and the importance of economic development in our downtown. Thank you also to our dedicated City team members who helped move this forward, clearly demonstrating the Yuma Way throughout the process as they serve our community, build relationships, and create new opportunities in Yuma. This is a huge win for our entire team and great community.”
The MMTC will be the primary Yuma regional transfer hub for all arriving and departing Amtrak and Greyhound passengers and will serve as YCAT’s downtown transit center. Additionally, this development will include public service counters for the Yuma County Intergovernmental Transportation Authority (YCIPTA), eliminating the need for riders to travel to multiple locations for transportation and ticketing services.
The MMTC will be developed to serve as a fully functional 24/7/365 one-stop transportation center, by consolidating commuter rail, intercity bus, and local public transit modes of transportation into one location.
City Council’s plan is to leverage the $10.6 million in grant funds through a yet-to-be-determined private partner.
About the RAISE Grant
The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE Discretionary Grant program, provides a unique opportunity for the DOT to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives.
Previously known as the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants, Congress has dedicated nearly $8.9 billion for 12 rounds of National Infrastructure Investments to fund projects that have a significant local or regional impact.
In each competition, DOT receives hundreds of applications to build and repair critical pieces of freight and passenger transportation networks. The RAISE program enables DOT to examine these projects on their merits to help ensure that taxpayers are getting the highest value for every dollar invested.
