5th National Community Impact Assessment Workshop Urban Areas in Transition

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5th National Community Impact Assessment
WorkshopUrban Areas in Transition

• July 31 August 3, 2006
• Denver, Colorado

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Regional Orientation

• Woodmen Road on the north to SH 16 on the south
• Major arterial providing north south mobility to
  eastern Colorado Springs (CS)
  
• Local regional travel
• Northern southern extensions

No improvements planned for Mesa Ridge Parkway
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Aerial Photo Looking Eastward, 1964
POWERS DAIRY
POWERS ROAD (gravel, 2 lanes)
Powers was identified as a future major
thoroughfare in the 1963 County Plan
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Extended north, 2000-2005
Woodmen interchange, 2006-8
Upgraded to 4 lanes, 1987
Gravel 2-lane road, pre-1970
CORRIDOR EVOLUTION
Platte interchange, 2002
Upgraded to Airport, 1992
Extended south of Airport, 1990s
Connection to I-25 completed, 2002
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Current Configuration

• From Woodmen Road south to Drennan Road, 4- to
  6-lane divided highway with 12 at-grade
  intersections
  
• From Drennan Road to Mesa Ridge Parkway, 4-lane
  divided highway with 4 stop sign controlled
  intersections

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Looking South From Barnes, 2005
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Looking South From N. Carefree, 2006
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An Integrated Part of Planning Efforts

• PPACG 2030 Transportation Plan includes Powers
  Boulevard upgraded to a grade separated freeway
  (this has been identified in every 5 year update
  of the RTP since 2015)
• Included in the STIP TIP

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An Integrated Part of Planning Efforts

• Transportation planning is directly related to
  the demographics, economic geographic
  characteristics of the area
  
• Incorporation of these characteristics into
  alternatives development, screening mitigation

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Area Growth

• CS has experienced tremendous growth to the north
  east of downtown
  
• Population in CS Fountain is expected to
  increase 33 by 2030
  
• 375,000 to 500,000 people
• Employment is expected to increase 46 by 2030
• 275,000 to 400,000 jobs
• Daily traffic volumes are projected to more than
  double by 2030

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Population GrowthPPACG 2000 to 2030
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Projected Daily Traffic Growth2002 to 2025 No
Action
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Projected Daily Traffic Growth2002 to 2030
Proposed Action
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Project Need

• Reduce congestion in the Powers Corridor meet
  the present future mobility needs
  
• Existing congestion, primarily during peak hours
• PPACG 2030 modeling indicates that current
  capacity is inadequate to handle future travel
  demand

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Travel Speed Time
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Travel Speed Time
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Interchange Needs
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Proposed Action

• Reconstruct Powers Boulevard as a 6-lane freeway
  with grade separated interchanges
  
• Mitigation measures to address impacts
• Will likely be built in phases as funding becomes
  available
  
• Construction anticipated 2020 2030

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Mobility Needs

• Military needs
• Residents
• Commercial activity
• Colorado Springs Municipal Airport
• Through traffic including freight

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Powers Corridor Studies

• Mode Feasibility Study
• Environmental Assessment

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Alternatives Development Screening

• Travel demand capacity
• Engineering considerations
• Environmental social context including
  development plans

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3 Levels of Screening

• Increasing levels of design based on
• Refined/increased data
• Engineering considerations
• Incorporation of stakeholder comment on
  alternatives from the previous level of screening

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Public Comments

• Public comments were grouped into major
  categories
  
• Fundamental nature of comments noted
  incorporated into Proposed Action where possible

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Clear ability to relate comment to action
-OR-Explanation as to why comment cannot be
incorporated
Tracking Comments
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Safe Efficient Transportation System

• Design Solutions
• Reconstruct Powers Boulevard as a 6-lane freeway
  that will accommodate 2030 volumes at speeds of
  55 miles per hour with 13 grade separated
  interchanges
• Provision of a 14-foot median shoulder that could
  accommodate future multi-modal options

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Access

• Design Solutions
• Work directly with affected stakeholders to
  design solutions to provide access
  
• Example - Frontage Road along west side between
  Constitution Palmer including Texas turnarounds
  at both interchanges
  
• Original design had included access to Victor
  Place via Waynoka underpass

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Access

• Alternative A1
• Eliminated at Level 3 Screening based on public
  comment
  

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Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)
Victor Place Simulation
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Right of Way Acquisition

• Design Solutions
• All interchanges designed to avoid direct impacts
  as much as possible
  
• Examination provision of larger interchanges
  footprints to public to illustrate different
  types of designs resulting impacts
  
• Tight urban diamonds selected for 5 of the 8
  interchanges between Woodmen Road Platte Avenue
  to minimize direct right of way impacts
  
• Direct continuous coordination with the City,
  County developers on layout design of
  impending development in the corridor in an
  effort to provide setbacks

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Right of Way Acquisition

• Easement
• ROW
• Water Quality

Constitution
Powers
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Airport Traffic

• Design Considerations
• Investigate numerous interchange options,
  re-evaluate traffic volumes, provide sensitivity
  analysis
  
• Work directly with airport representatives to
  preserve right of way for a higher capacity
  interchange
  
• Airport will dedicate airport land for the larger
  footprint interchange

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Proposed Action
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Future Enhancement
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Water Quality

• Design Solutions
• Identify future run-off quantity source,
  pollutant loading
  
• Select appropriate mitigation measure Extended
  Dry Basins
  
• Size ponds to accommodate flow
• Locate ponds in right of way remnants in
  coordination with existing or planned landowners
  detention ponds where possible to reduce right of
  way impacts
• Plan construction phasing to allow for system to
  be built in pieces

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Habitat Connectivity

• Design Solutions
• Identification of critical habitat areas
• Explanation to public that the shrinking
  islands of habitat are a direct result of
  development, of which the transportation system
  is a part
• Examination of study area surrounding area for
  greenbelts or areas for potential habitat
  preservation
  
• Avoidance of direct impact on the Bluestem
  Prairie Open Space
  
• Non-preclusion of an underpass between the
  Bluestem Prairie Open Space and the conservation
  area at the southern part of the airports
  property

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Habitat Connectivity
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• Other concerns addressed through design
  mitigation measures include
  
• Noise
• Recreation (trails parks)
• Consistent aesthetic treatments

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• While CSS requires listening to incorporating
  concerns related to the social natural
  environment, it is important to track
  communicate these actions.
• Complete the feedback loop
• Engage in one-on-one conversations
• Hold small group meetings
• Host open houses
• Produce newsletters website
• Document CSS Report

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The End Result?

• A project that complements the social natural
  environment while meeting the projects Purpose
  Need