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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 04/04/2000 - ITEMS RELATING TO THE STATE HIGHWAY 14 TRUCK ROUTE AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 26 A-B DATE: April 4, 2000 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Mark Jackson Susanne Durkin SUBJECT: Items Relating to the State Highway 14 Truck Route Relocation Project, Including Strategies for Conforming to Ballot Initiative Mandates, Preliminary Project Structure, and Projected Timelines. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution and of the Ordinance on Second Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: j A. Resolution 2000-51 Approving a Project Description, Process and Time Frame for Compliance with Ballot Issue 200 Pertaining to the Relocation of the Colorado Highway 14 Truck Route. This Resolution will approve the various planning phases of the project. B. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 29, 2000, Authorizing the Transfer of Funds from the Northeast Truck Route Project Account into a New Account Entitled the Truck Route Relocation Project Account and Appropriating the Expenditure of Funds from Said Account to Meet the Requirements of Ballot Issue 200. Ordinance No. 29, 2000, which was unanimously adopted on First Reading on March 21, 2000, transfers funds remaining in the Building Community Choices Northeast Truck Route account to a new account earmarked for the purposes specified in the Initiated Ordinance. RESOLUTION 2000-51 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROVING A PROJECT DESCRIPTION, PROCESS AND TIME FRAME FOR COMPLIANCE WITH BALLOT ISSUE 200 PERTAINING TO THE RELOCATION OF THE COLORADO HIGHWAY 14 TRUCK ROUTE WHEREAS,on November 2, 1999,the registered electors of the City approved the passage of Ballot Issue 200(the"Initiated Ordinance")pertaining to the relocation of the Colorado Highway Truck Route (the "Truck Route"); and WHEREAS, under the Initiated Ordinance, the City is to: pursue with all deliberate effort and speed the relocation of the Truck Route to a location outside the City's current Urban Growth Area;encourage and cause by all reasonably available means all truck traffic without local business in the City to use the existing U.S. Interstate highway system; devise and diligently pursue the implementation of a funding plan to cause the relocation of the Truck Route outside the City's current Urban Growth Area to be funded by a combination of city, county, state and/or federal funding sources;and utilize for the foregoing purposes that portion of the remaining funds from the Building Community Choices Capital Improvement Program which had been earmarked for an alternate northeast truck route; and WHEREAS,City staff has developed a plan for compliance with the Initiated Ordinance and has presented the same to the City Council for its review and approval, which plan is described in the "State Highway 14 Truck Route Relocation Project Overview", which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by this reference; and WHEREAS,the City Council has reviewed the project description,process,time frame and other components of the proposed plan and believes that the same complies with the letter,spirit and intent of the Initiated Ordinance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that the project description, process, time frame and other components of the plan for implementation of the Initiated Ordinance presented by City staff to the City Council, as described on Exhibit"A," comply with the requirements of the Initiated Ordinance, are in the best interests of the City, and are hereby approved by the Council. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 4th day of April,A.D. 2000. Mayor ATTEST: • City Clerk Exhibit "A" • STATE HIGHWAY 14 TRUCK ROUTE RELOCATION PROJECT OVERVIEW Basic Charge As specified in Ballot Issue 200, passed by voters in the November 1999 election (the "Initiated Ordinance"), this project is charged with performing the following tasks: • Encourage and cause by all reasonably available legal means all truck traffic without local business in the City to use the existing U.S. Interstate Highway System. This includes without limitation the pursuit by the City of appropriate State and Federal legislation, and potential incentives and regulations designed to keep through truck traffic out of the City of Fort Collins Urban Growth Area (UGA). This effort can be done more quickly, and will have its own time frame. • Pursue with all deliberate effort and speed the relocation of the State Highway 14 Truck Route to a location outside the City of Fort Collins' current Urban Growth Area. Any new truck route must be located a minimum of two miles north of Douglas Road. • Devise and diligently pursue the implementation of a funding plan to cause the relocation of the Truck Route outside the City's current Urban Growth Area to be funded by a combination of City, County, State and/or Federal funding sources. Project Budget Transportation Staff reports that a total estimated available balance of$3,040,390 exists for this project. These funds are available for all of the purposes stated in the Initiated Ordinance, including planning, design, rights of way/land purchase, and construction efforts. Project Timeline It is anticipated that the entire project will have an 18-month timeline, beginning first quarter of 2000 (see attached preliminary schedule). Preliminary Project Tasks (First& Second Quarter, 2000): • Request For Proposal (RFP) and preliminary scope of work will be completed late first quarter or early second quarter of 2000, allowing consultant selection to begin as soon as possible. • Project Management Team kickoff meeting will also be held first quarter 2000. • Consultant selection, advisory group formation, and detailed scope of work to be completed by the Project Management Team by the end of the second quarter 2000. TruckRouteexhi.wpd 1 03/29/00 This leaves approximately twelve months for meeting the objectives of the following three phases: Phase I: • Analysis and development of strategies intended to keep through truck traffic on the existing U.S. Interstate Highway system. • Incentive and disincentive strategies as well as enforcement and regulatory strategies and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)technologies will be explored. • Funding and implementation strategies will be developed as part of these efforts. • Pursuit by the City of appropriate state and federal legislation and regulations that would cause all truck traffic without local business to remain on the U.S. interstate highway system. This phase will have its own time line to implement strategies along the way with an estimated completion by fourth quarter of 2000 or early 2001. Phase II: • Studying potential alternative truck routes as per the ballot initiative language. • Previously examined routes such as County Road 58 and County Road 70/Owl Canyon will be re-examined in detail. • Potential new routes will also be analyzed. • Impacts, costs and issues for each respective alternative will be presented and compared in a cost-effectiveness matrix. • Future transportation and land use impacts of these routes to both truck and general vehicular traffic on I-25 and the Northern Colorado roadway system/highway network will also be examined. Phase III: • Framework for funding and implementation strategies for an alternative truck route. • Phases II & III can run somewhat in parallel with one another. Estimated completion for Phases II &III is third quarter of 2001. Key Players/Project Management Team Key signatories to include the following agencies: • City of Fort Collins • Latimer County • Colorado Department of Transportation, Region 4 • Upper Front Range Regional Planning Commission(UFRRPC) TruckRouteexhi.wpd 2 03/29/00 Project Team: & Committees: • Staff representatives of each signatory agency will serve on a Project Management Team. • It is anticipated that City of Fort Collins Transportation Planning Staff will act as overall Project Manager, with budget and project team oversight responsibilities. • A Policy Advisory Committee will be formed with representatives from each signatory agency as well as other public agencies deemed germane to the project (e.g. FHWA, Town of Wellington, W YDOT, State and Federal Representative and Senatorial offices). • Regular presentations and updates will be given to City, County, Regional, and State Boards, Councils, and Commissions. Stakeholders Group A key part of this project will be a concerted, ongoing effort to involve key stakeholders throughout the planning process. Great effort will be taken to assemble a multi-faceted group that represents all stakeholders potentially impacted by the relocation of the SH-14 truck route. Stakeholders invited to participate should include, but not be limited to: • Local business representatives (e.g. Chamber of Commerce, DBA, NEBA,NCBA) • Agricultural/Ranching interests • Citizens For A True Bypass • Colorado Motor Carriers Association • Representatives of local trucking firms • Rural landowners/resident's representatives • Environmental/Air Quality interests (e.g. Sierra Club) • Enforcement agency representatives (e.g. Colorado State Patrol, Larimer County Sheriff, City of Fort Collins Police Department) Public Involvement Efforts Ongoing public involvement will be paramount to this planning effort. In addition to regularly scheduled public open house-style events held throughout the study area, other avenues of public involvement should include, but not be limited to: • Regularly maintained and updated project website, with ability to capture comments from viewers. Link website to participating agency sites. • Project newsletters distributed on a regular basis. • Public access television • Public service announcements to local, regional, and statewide media sources • Project updates in utility billing packets • Presentation, with Q&A, to civic groups, environmental groups, trucking/freight industry groups, and business associations TruckRouteexhimpd 3 03/29/00 Media Contacts Contacts with local, regional and state media outlets will be established early in the project. Print, radio, and television media will be included. Project overview information, schedule, and progress updates will be provided on a regular, scheduled basis. Project Goals • Work cooperatively with Larimer County, the Colorado Department of Transportation, and the Upper Front Range Regional Planning Commission to gain a clear understanding of, and to address, current and future issues and concerns related to the impacts of through truck travel in the North Front Range/Upper Front Range areas. • As alternative routes and strategies are developed and analyzed, provide frequent, easy opportunities for citizens, key stakeholders and affected special interests to stay informed and provide feedback to the work being done. • Develop a strategy or package of strategies for reducing the amount of throu h truck traffic currently experienced in the Fort Collins and northern Larimer County area. Explore non-route-based strategies that serve as incentives and disincentives to dissuade truckers from using routes internal to the City of Fort Collins UGA when solely passing through the area. Research the use of technology (e.g. ITS) to help reinforce the use of I-25 as the primary north-south freight movement corridor along the North Front Range/Upper Front Range areas. • Explore and develop potential funding sources and funding strategies to implement the strategies. Research phased implementation of strategies to arrive at the desired results in a cost-effective manner. • Explore in detail, possible alternative truck routes north of the City of Fort Collins Urban Growth Area. Identify potential land use impacts as well as transportation impacts to the County's rural road system and to Interstate Highway 25 that would result from the alternative routes. Analyze and compare each route as to impacts, costs, and potential usage. • Explore and develop potential funding sources and funding strategies to design and build an alternative truck route north of the City of Fort Collins Urban Growth Area. Research phased implementation of design and construction to arrive at the desired results in a cost-effective manner. TruckRouteexhi.wpd 4 03/29/00 ORDINANCE NO. 29, 2000 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM THE NORTHEAST TRUCK ROUTE PROJECT ACCOUNT INTO A NEW ACCOUNT ENTITLED THE TRUCK ROUTE RELOCATION PROJECT ACCOUNT AND APPROPRIATING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FROM SAID ACCOUNT TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF BALLOT ISSUE 200 WHEREAS, in 1997, the voters of the City approved a quarter-cent sales and use tax for certain Building Community Choices community enhancement projects, including the Northeast Truck Route Project; and WHEREAS, the City Council has appropriated, as part of the annual appropriation ordinances for fiscal years 1998, 1999 and 2000,the total amount of$3,457,950 for the Northeast Truck Route Project; and WHEREAS,of said amount,$417,560 has been expended or encumbered to date for studies related to the Northeast Truck Route Project, leaving a remaining balance in the amount of $3,040,390 in the Northeast Truck Route Project Account; and WHEREAS, on November 2, 1999,the registered electors of the City approved the passage of Ballot Issue 200(the"Initiated Ordinance")pertaining to the relocation of the Colorado Highway Truck Route (the "Truck Route"); and WHEREAS, under the Initiated Ordinance, the City is to: pursue with all deliberate effort and speed the relocation of the Truck Route to a location outside the City's current Urban Growth Area;encourage and cause by all reasonably available means all truck traffic without local business in the City to use the existing U.S. Interstate highway system; devise and diligently pursue the implementation of a funding plan to cause the relocation of the Truck Route outside the City's current Urban Growth Area to be funded by a combination of city, county, state and/or federal funding sources; and utilize for the foregoing purposes that portion of the remaining funds from the Building Community Choices Capital Improvement Program which had been earmarked for the Northeast Truck Route Project; and WHEREAS, under Article V, Section 10 of the City Charter, the City Council may, by ordinance, upon the recommendation of the City Manager, transfer any unexpended and unencumbered appropriated amount or portion thereof from one fund or capital project account to another fund or capital project account if the purpose for which the funds were initially appropriated no longer exists; and WHEREAS,the purpose for which the funds in the Northeast Truck Route Project Account were initially appropriated no longer exists, and the City Manager has recommended that the balance of funds remaining in said account be transferred into a new account entitled the Truck Route Relocation Project Account and that such funds be earmarked for expenditure for the purposes specified in the Initiated Ordinance. NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that the sum ofTHREE MILLION FORTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED NINETY DOLLARS ($3,040,390)is hereby authorized for transfer from the Northeast Truck Route Project Capital Project into a new Capital Project entitled the Truck Route Relocation Project and appropriated therein for the purposes specified in Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Initiated Ordinance, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by this reference. Introduced and considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 21 st day of March,A.D. 2000, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of April,A.D. 2000. 'A%fayor � ATTEST: !�I�' City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 4th day of April, A.D. 2000. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk EXHIBIT A ORDINANCE NO. 142, 1999 • OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROVING THE RELOCATION OF COLORADO HIGHWAY 14 TRUCK ROUTE OUTSIDE THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS' CURRENT URBAN GROWTH AREA AND APPROVING CERTAIN MEASURES IN SUPPORT THEREOF WHEREAS, for many years the City of Fort Collins (the "City") and City staff have investigated the possibility of relocating the Colorado Highway 14 truck route(the "Truck Route") from its current location that utilizes roadways in the City known as Mulberry,Riverside,Jefferson and College in such a manner so as to minimize the impact of the Truck Route on businesses, neighborhoods and residents of Fort Collins;and WHEREAS,as a part ofthe"Building Community Choices"Capital Improvement Program, in 1997 the City's electorate authorized capital expenditures of S3 million(the"Funds")to be used for the planning, design, right-of-way acquisition and/or other project costs associated with road improvements for an alternate northeast Truck Route: and WHEREAS,the City has expended a portion of the Funds in pursuit of an alternative Truck Route and wishes to continue to use the remaining Funds to relocate the Truck Route so as to avoid the adverse impacts associated with the Truck Route on businesses,neighborhoods and residents in the City's Urban Growth Area; and . WHEREAS, prior City Councils and the current City Council have previously rejected relocating the Truck Route in the vicinity of East Vine Drive in the City due to the materially adverse environmental,health and social impacts on residents that a relocation in the vicinity of East Vine Drive would necessarily cause;and WHEREAS, the City desires to relocate the Truck Route outside the City's current Urban Growth Area and, until such location occurs, to encourage and cause truck traffic without local business to use the U. S. Interstate Highway System; and WHEREAS,a petition for initiative signed by registered electors of the City has been filed with the City which requires, under Article X, Section 1(e) of the Charter, that the City Council either adopt this Ordinance or submit it to the registered electors of the City at a special election. NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED AS FOLLOWS: Section1. That,working with appropriate Federal.State and County governmental entities, agencies and departments,the City and its staff shall pursue with all deliberate effort and speed the relocation of the Truck Route to a location outside the City's current Urban Growth Area. Section 2. That until such time as the relocation of the Truck Route described in Section 1 occurs,the City shall encourage and cause by all reasonably available legal means all trucktraffic • without local business in the City to use the existing U. S. Interstate Highway System,including, without limitation,pursuit by the City of appropriate State and Federal legislation and regulations that would cause all truck traffic without local business to remain on the U. S. Interstate Highway System. Section 3. That the City and its staff shall devise and diligently pursue the implementation of a funding plan to cause the relocation of the Truck Routc outside the City's current Urban Growth Area to be funded by a combination of City,County, State and/or Federal funding sources. Section 4. That the remaining Funds from the "Building Community Choices" Capital Improvement Program shall be used in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Sections 1,2 and 3 of this Ordinance. Section 5. That relocating the Truck Route in the vicinity of East Vine Drive is permanently abandoned and that locating a new or alternate Truck Route between the currently existing Truck Route and two miles North of Douglas Road shall not be further considered by the City. Section 6. That all resolutions and ordinances of the City Council that are inconsistent with the foregoing Sections 1, 2,3,4 and 5 are hereby reversed and superseded in their entirety by the provisions of this Ordinance. Section7. This Ordinance shall be effective upon the earlier of (i) approval of this Ordinance by the City Council in accordance with Article X,Section 1(e)of the Charter or(ii)upon certification of the election results that a majority of the registered electors voted in favor of this Ordinance in accordance with Article X. Section 6(e)of the Charter. APPROVED BY THE VOTERS AT A SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LARIMER COUNTY COORDINATED ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 2, 1999. f AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 22 A-B DATE: March 21, 2000 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL Mark Jackson STAFF: Susanne Durkin ; SUBJECT : ` i Items Relating to the State Highway 14 Truck Route Relocation Project, Including Strategies for Conforming to Ballot Initiative Mandates,Preliminary Project Structure, and Projected Timelines. I RECOMMENDATION: -` �" ° " AF x Staff recommends adoption ofthe Resoli'ition and of the Orditi'hnce on First Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: A. Resolution 2000-51 Approving a Project Description, Process and Time Frame for Compliance with Ballot Issue 200 Pertaining to the Relocation of the Colorado Highway 14 Truck Route. ' � This Resolution will approve e variqu larmirig ''bases of t q project. ; B. First Reading of Ordinance No. 29, 2000, Authorizing the Transfer of Funds from the Northeast Truck Route Project Account into a New Account Entitled the Truck Route Relocation Project Account and Appropriating the Expenditure of Funds from Said Account to Meet the Requirements of Ballot Issue 200. Ordinance No. 29, 2000 will transfer the funds remaining in the Building Community Choices Northeast Truck Route account to a new account earmarked for the purposes specified in the Initiated Ordinance. '. The next phase of the State H `bway 1 ruck 1�o eloca" Project will need to be a highly collaborative,cooperative effotaetvyeeteystgnat nes that Ludes considerable levels of public involvement in order to be a successful endeavor. This project is clear in its charge, as mandated by ballot initiative. City staff has proposed a phased planning effort that will comply with the ballot issue language and will set the stage for a successful analysis and recommendation of strategies for reducing the amount of through truck traffic along State Highway 14 and US Highway 287 in the City of Fort Collins Urban Growth Area. A goal of this project is that this will be a cooperative effort between City, County, Regional, and State agencies. It is estimated that all phases of the project will be completed third quarter of 2001. Note: This project may actually have a shorter timeline than portrayed in this memo. These are preliminary estimates only and will be refined as the Scope of Work is finalized. DATE: March 21,2000 2 ITEM NUMBER: 22 A-B BACKGROUND: Basic Charge As specified in Ballot Issue 200, passed by voters in the November 1999 election (the "Initiated Ordinance", see attached),this project is charged with performing the following tasks: • Encourage and cause by all reasonably available legal means all truck traffic without local business in the City of Fort Collins to use the existing U.S. Interstate Highway System. This includes possible pursuit of State and Federal legislation, and potential incentives and regulations designed to keep.through truckxrafficout ofthe City,of Fort Collins Urban Growth Area (UGA). This effort can be done more quickly, and will have its own time frame. • Pursue with all deliberate effort and=speed the relocation o the Colorado Highway 14 Truck Route to a location outside ffie�o6onCollifile current ban Growth Area. Any new truck route must be located a minimum of two miles north of Douglas Road. • Devise and diligently pursue the implementation of a funding plan to cause the relocation of the Truck Route outside the City's current Urban Growth Area to be funded by a combination of City, County, State and/or Federal funding sources. Project Budget Transportation staff reports that a total estimated available balance of$3,040,390 exists for this project. These funds are available for`all the pure ',tat rin ,Ye Initiated Ordinance,including planning, design, rights of wa�lland pur�c e,'7id Gnarl.) ' fforts. Project Timeline It is anticipated that the entire project will have an 18-month timeline, beginning first quarter of 2000. It is planned that the Request For Proposal (RFP) and preliminary scope of work will be completed late first quarter or early second quarter, so that consultant selection can begin as soon as possible. A Project Management Team kickoff meeting will also be held first quarter 2000. It is hoped that consultant selection, advisory group formation, and detailed scope of work can be completed by this Project Management Team by the end of the second quarter 2000. This leaves approximately twelve months for d n obi o€<the fcaWwing three phases. a k Phase I of this project will ti dude th alys 'l velop ent of strategies intended to keep through truck traffic on the ea i�. _ (ighwa stem. Incentive and disincentive strategies as well as enforcement and regulatory strategies and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)technologies will all be explored. Funding and implementation strategies will be developed as part of these efforts. This phase will have its own time line to implement strategies along the way with an estimated completion by fourth quarter of 2000 or early 2001. Phase II of this project will entail studying potential alternative truck routes as per the ballot initiative language.Previously examined routes such as County Road 58 and County Road 70/Owl Canyon will be re-examined in detail. Potential new routes will also be analyzed. Impacts, costs and issues for each respective alternative will be presented and compared in a cost-effectiveness matrix. Future transportation and land use impacts of these routes to both truck and general vehicular traffic on I-25 and the Northern Colorado roadway system/highway network will also be examined. DATE: March 21, 2000 3 ITEM NUMBER: 22 A-B Phase III will focus on funding and implementation strategies for an alternative truck route. Phases II & III can run somewhat in parallel with one another. Estimated completion for Phases II & III • is third quarter of 2001. i Key Players/Project Management Team Key signatories in this planning effort should include the following agencies: I I • City of Fort Collins • Lazimer County • Colorado Department of Transportation; Region 4 • Upper Front Range Regional Planning Commission(UFRRPC) Staff representatives of each signatory` agency willserve on aroject Management Team. It is anticipated that City of Fort Collins Transportation Planning staff will act as overall Project Manager,iArith budget and project team oversight responsibilities. It may be productive to form this Project Management Team first, so that the project Scope of Work and Request for Proposal can be formulated in a cooperative manner between signatory agencies. A Policy Advisory Committee will be formed with representatives from each signatory agency as well as other public agencies deemed germane to the project (e.g. FHWA, Town of Wellington, WYDOT,State and Federal Representative and Senatorial offices). In addition to these policy-level liaisons, it is anticipated that regular presentatio7& arid,updates will be given to City, County, Regional, and State Boards, Councils and Commissions Stakeholders Group A key part of this project will be a concerted,ongoing effort to involve key stakeholders throughout the planning process. Many voices need to be at this table throughout the life of the project. Great effort will be taken to assemble a multi-faceted group which represents all stakeholders potentially impacted by the relocation of the SH 14 truck route. Stakeholders invited to participate should include, but not be limited to: i • Local business representatives..e,g. Chamber of,Gornm=e, DIVA,NEBA,NCBA) • Agricultural/Ranching interests • Citizens For A Tru (A e Bypas , • Colorado Motor Carriers Assoc�ah�on • Representatives of local trucking firms • Rural landowners/resident's representatives • Environmental/Air Quality interests (e.g. Sierra Club) • Enforcement agency representatives (e.g. Colorado State Patrol, Larimer County Sheriff, City of Fort Collins Police Department) Public Involvement Efforts • Insomuch as a stakeholders group will be assembled to provide community-level insight and advice, it is also imperative that the general public be made aware of the project's purpose and progress, with regular, easy opportunities to provide comment and input. Ongoing public involvement will be paramount to this planning effort. In addition to regularly scheduled public open house-style DATE: March 21, 2000 4 ITEM NUMBER: 22 A-B events held throughout the study area,other avenues of public involvement should include, but not be limited to: • Regularly maintained and updated project website, with ability to capture comments from viewers. Link website to participating agency sites. • Project newsletters distributed on a regular basis. • Public access television • Public service announcements to local,regional, and statewide media sources • Project updates in utility billing packets • Presentation, with Q&A, to civic groups, environmental groups, trucking/freight industry groups, and business associations Media Contacts « Contacts with local, regional and state media outlets will be established early in the project. Print, radio,and television media will be included. Project overview information,schedule,and progress updates will be provided on a regular, scheduled basis. Project Goals • Work cooperatively with Larimer County,the Colorado Department of Transportation,and the Upper Front Range Regional Planning,,Qomm ion tg gain lea understanding of, and to address, current and future/dssuesnd concernsI t1 t 'pacts of through truck travel in the North Front Range/U er Front ange are • As alternative routes and strategies are developed an analyzed, provide frequent, easy opportunities for citizens, key stakeholders and affected special interests to stay informed and provide feedback to the work being done. • Develop a strategy or package of strategies for reducing the amount of through truck traffic currently experienced in the Fort Collins and northern Larimer County area.Explore non-route- based strategies that serve as incentives and disincentives to dissuade truckers from using routes internal to the City of Fort Collins UGA when solely passing through the area. Research the use of technology (e.g ITS) to belp1pinfotsce�.the-u f primary north-south freight movement corridor along a Nort`n . ont Hang1az j • Explore and develop potential4" ding-,so and g strategies to implement the strategies. Research phased implementation of strategies to arrive at the desired results in a cost- effective manner. • Explore in detail, possible alternative truck routes north of the City of Fort Collins Urban Growth Area. Identify potential land use impacts as well as transportation impacts to the County's rural road system and to Interstate Highway 25 that would result from the alternative routes. Analyze and compare each route as to impacts, costs, and potential usage. • Explore and develop potential funding sources and funding strategies to design and build an alternative truck route north of the City of Fort Collins Urban Growth Area. Research phased implementation of design and construction to arrive at the desired results in a cost-effective manner. DATE: March 21, 2000 5 ITEM NUMBER: 22 A-B ATTACHMENTS: . Exhibit "A": State Highway 14 Truck Route Relocation Project Overview in outline form, including project structure and preliminary timeline • Graphic--Preliminary project schedule • Copy of Ordinance No. 142, 1999 (The "Initiated Ordinance") 4 y I i i I i • II I Excerpt from the March 16, 2000 DRAFT meeting minutes of the Transportation Board. Page 1 4. ACTION ITEMS a) MASON STREET TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR—Durkin Durkin said that tonight's expectations are for the Board to review and recommend a transit option for the Mason Street Transportation Corridor. These options have been presented to the Planning & Zoning Board and the Council Growth Management Committee, who both supported staffs recommendation. Next, there will be three open houses: Coldwell Banker, Lincoln Center and Foothills Fashion Mall. The item goes before the Air Quality Advisory Board on March 28' and City Council will make a final decision on April 4. Moe gave a presentation, which covered the three transit options: #1 Bike/Ped+Dedicated Buswav #2 Bike/Ped+Rail #3 Bike/Ped+ Elevated Transit Other highlights included in the presentation were drawings or pictures of how the following might look: § Drake Corridor Northwest § Drake northbound § Mason Downtown § Drake Northbound § Drake Plan View § Troutman Moe explained the Lead Team's Evaluation Results and all 14 criterions used. Upon conclusion of the presentation, Durkin asked if the Board would support the recommendation of the Lead Team, which is Option#1: Dedicated Busway (at-grade). Chair Johnson asked for board member's comments. BOARD COMMENTS/QUESTIONS: Yeldell: In terms of the bike/ped impact, is there a difference between the three options? Durkin: We didn't do that analysis, but I don't think so because bikes can be put on buses and rail, so there shouldn't be any difference. Ricord: I like the soft surface ped idea and the under-grade bicycle crossings. Would like to see a property value enhancement assessment done for the affected property owners. Is there a difference in reliability among the modes? Moe: That was discussed during the Transportation Alternatives Feasibility Study and it was determined that rail is more dependable in bad weather, but if it breaks down, it may block traffic for long periods of time. A bus on the other hand, is smaller and can be moved or you can drive around it if it breaks down. Excerpt from the March 15,2000 DRAFT meeting minutes of the Transportation Board. Page 2 Gould: It would be a good idea to look at pros and cons of rubber tired electric buses. Durkin: After a transit mode is selected, the Team will look at those types of options. We know it has to be snazzy and enticing for people to embrace it. Thordarson: Maybe you could show air quality improvements on the corridor in terms of buses starting/stopping as they do on College Avenue now, versus the easy flowing way they should on the Mason corridor. Johnson: 1. I like the separated bike/ped way. 2. I'm not sure that a meandering bike trail is a good idea. I would suggest that it be more functional—keep it subtle. 3. The feeder link system needs to work well. 4. Happy to hear that the buses will be able to flow through the corridor thanks to the set-up in the signal system. There was a motion that the Mason Street Transportation Corridor Lead Team move forward with the at-grade bus option and consider designs for future rail options. There was a second and the motion carried unanimously.