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Title
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Size
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 Draft Plan
October 12, 2007
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78 pages, 4.6m
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Draft Plan Summary
October 12, 2007
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8 pages, 759k
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Refined Funding Scenerios
June 5, 2007
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9 pages, 380k
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Draft Executive Summary
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4 pages, 143k
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Stakeholder Bulletin 3
February 23, 2007
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4 pages, 1.2m
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Land Use Vision Map
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tabloid, 5.3m
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Natural Resources Map
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letter, 1.7m
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Stakeholder Bulletin 2
December 13, 2006
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2 pages, 1.5m
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Activity Center Map
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letter, 1.3m
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Stakeholder Bulletin
Fall 2006
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2 pages, 662k
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Schedule
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1 page, 47k
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Council Partners with Windsor and Developer to Accelerate I-25/SH 392 Interchange Improvements
On March 4, City Council unanimously approved two Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) to initiate the first of many steps for improving the I-25/SH 392 Interchange. One IGA is a cost-sharing agreement between the Town of Windsor, City of Fort Collins, and Metro Acquisitions, LLC (developer) to fund the required Systems Level Study to begin Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) Interchange Improvement Process. The other IGA is an agreement with CDOT to cover review costs. The Windsor Town Board previously approved the two IGAs on November 26, 2007.
“The approval by Council of the two IGAs is an important first step in the interchange improvement process,” according to Pete Wray, Senior City Planner. Essentially, there are two options to receive CDOT approval for interchange improvements. The first is to wait for completion of the current North I-25 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) are tentatively scheduled for completion at the end of 2009. The earliest construction could then begin is late 2011 or early 2012. Even with the completion of these two items, a Systems Level Study and design is still required, along with having financing in place.
The second option is to pursue a parallel process by submitting to CDOT a Justification for Separate Action; if approved, this would allow the submittal of a CDOT 1601 Policy Directive, which would potentially allow construction to begin in late 2009 or early 2010, saving critical time.
Based on a request by Metro Acquisitions, LLC (Metro ownership/development interest is on properties on both the east and west sides of the Interchange), Windsor and City staff determined it is more advantageous to pursue the second option. The three parties identified in the first IGA will request a Justification for Separate Action from CDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) later in March. The cost for this request will be shared between the Town, City and developer. If approved, the three parties can then proceed with an accelerated 1601 Process using a similar cost sharing arrangement.
“As described in the Resolution, approval of the two IGAs does not commit the Town or City to help fund the construction of the Interchange Improvements. The IGAs will facilitate additional planning, public outreach, and design approval within an accelerated time frame and will expedite the possible construction of the improvements, assuming the City, Town, and CDOT can reach agreement as to how to fund the improvements,” says Wray.
Background:On December 4, Fort Collins City Council tabled taking action on the two IGAs, to allow additional time to discuss I-25. On February 12, a special Council work session was held to revisit the vision for the corridor paying special attention to I-25’s environmental and economic impacts for Fort Collins. This in-depth presentation provided Council the needed information to proceed with the interchange improvement process.
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Purpose
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In January 2006, the City of Fort Collins and the Town of Windsor entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) regarding land use and development at the Interstate 25 and Carpenter Road/392 interchange. The purpose of the IGA includes the need to cooperate among Fort Collins, Windsor, Larimer County, and the MPO on design and funding interchange improvements. The key elements of the IGA include developing a joint comprehensive plan to combine land use objectives between the two jurisdictions, as well as shared revenues and strategies and funding to support the development proximate to I-25/SH 392 Interchange. An important focus of the Plan will be on the Corridor Activity Center (CAC) located on both sides of the Interstate.
Fundamental to this effort is to develop action strategies to implement completion of improvements to the Interstate 25/Highway 392 Interchange, through a concise step by step plan. This effort represents a joint project involving Fort Collins and Windsor staff. However, Fort Collins staff will take the lead for project facilitation and management. The strategic elements that support this ultimate goal are outlined below and must be included in this Plan.
Key Issues Identified for Discussion:
- Future land use and development. What combination of uses will best generate revenues to support interchange improvements?
- Facilities and services. Assess existing utilities and infrastructure to determine needed improvements and who will provide them
- Identify potential revenue generation options, revenue sharing alternatives including special districts for re-construction of the interchange
- With CDOT as a key partner in this process, what other jurisdictions or agencies need to be involved?
- The need to coordinate environmental standards, habitat protection and environmental mitigation
- Annexation and growth management area boundaries
- Design quality of future development within the CAC area
- Development and maintenance of public facilities such as park and ride, transit stations/stops, pedestrian facilities and connectivity, and bike lanes
- Need to coordinate Plan elements such as land use, storm drainage, gateway landscaping, public facilities with CDOT interchange improvement alternatives from the EIS process
- Identify necessary Federal and State requirements leading to the improvement of the I-25/SH 392 Interchange (e.g. FHWA 1601 process)
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Background
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For many years, growth along State Highway 392 adjacent to Interstate 25 was slow and reflected a rural development pattern. With new growth in Windsor and in southeast Fort Collins in recent years, the capacity of the existing interchange facility has been significantly impacted - to the point of failing from a traffic level of service standpoint. This in turn triggers the need to provide adequate public facilities in order for new development to proceed adjacent to the Interchange. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has identified this facility as a high priority project targeted for full replacement with a new interchange design. However, federal funding is not available now or in the foreseeable future. In 2004, CDOT initiated the Northern Colorado I-25 Corridor Environmental Assessment (EIS) to look at design alternatives and associated impacts for each interchange along the corridor, including the SH392 facility. A separate Environmental Overview Study (EOS) and Access Control Plan by CDOT are in progress for the SH392 Corridor from US-287/College Avenue west of I-25, to Highway 85 north of Greeley. Carpenter Road/Larimer County Road 32 is planned to become a part of SH392 later in 2006.
The SH392 Corridor represents a major gateway into the Town of Windsor to the east from I-25 and access west into Fort Collins southern boundary. Both jurisdictions have recognized the need to work together in finding ways to maximize land uses, infrastructure improvements and generation of revenues to support a new interchange.
With lack of available funding from CDOT to construct a new interchange, alternative revenue sources need to be identified through local public and private sectors, and ultimately establishing a partnership with CDOT to finance a new interchange. In 2003 the City of Fort Collins and the Town of Windsor, along with other local jurisdictions, adopted the Northern Colorado Regional Communities I-25 Corridor Plan and Development Standards. This effort helped set the stage for guiding future development in the area, identifying future land use, transportation, and open space along the interstate corridor. In 2005, the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County adopted an expansion of the Fort Collins Growth Management Area boundary along the west side of the I-25 and SH392. Coordinating all of these previous plans, including the CDOT EOS and actions with existing efforts has led to the need for an integrated interchange improvement plan for both jurisdictions.
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Contact
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Pete Wray, Senior Planner, City of Fort Collins, 970-221-6376
Joe Plummer, Planning Director, Town of Windsor, 970-686-7476
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