HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/20/2015 - RESOLUTION 2015-089 SUPPORTING THE COLORADO DEPARTAgenda Item 13
Item # 13 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY October 20, 2015
City Council
STAFF
Mark Jackson, PDT Deputy Director
SUBJECT
Resolution 2015-089 Supporting the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Northern Colorado Connectivity
Project and Recommending it be Submitted for Federal Grant Funding Consideration.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to consider a Resolution and letter in support for a Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT) grant application for federal resiliency funds (Northern Colorado Connectivity Project)
to be used to improve I-25 infrastructure. These funds will help make improvements needed to maintain critical
I-25 connectivity to Northern Colorado in times of emergency, weather event, disaster, or crisis.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is competing for federal grant dollars to increase
resiliency of infrastructure throughout the state. One key area of focus is the I-25 Corridor. Maintaining and
improving the I-25 infrastructure (including roadway, bridges and interchanges/overpasses) is critical to
movement of people, goods and services. I-25 is the region’s primary arterial connection and in times of
emergency serves as a primary route for emergency services. The closing of I-25 in Weld and Larimer
Counties during the critical 24 hours after the disastrous flood in 2013 left vulnerable populations at risk. The
affected area was over 200 miles (north-south) by approximately 50 miles (east-west), with over 400 miles of
roadways and over 130 bridges impacted. All the major north-south oriented highways were closed due to
flooding, including I-25, this state’s most critical route. This negatively affected emergency evacuations, access
to higher care medical facilities in Denver, goods movement, job access and connectivity and led to economic
loss of an estimated $800,000 per hour.
Improving I-25 infrastructure and making it more resilient in times of emergency will help ensure that Northern
Colorado and Fort Collins will remain connected throughout difficult circumstances. CDOT estimates that I-25
has over $70 million in unmet resiliency needs. CDOT further estimates that if the Northern Colorado
Connectivity Project (NCCP) had been implemented prior to the 2013 floods in northern Colorado, the river
would not have flooded I-25, traffic on the highway would not have been shut down, evacuation would have
been easier, and emergency responders would not have been delayed.
The NCCP is one of two proposed projects seeking federal grant funding. NCCP has moved to the second
phase of the grant competition. CDOT is seeking resolutions and statements of support from North Front
Range agencies supporting CDOT’s grant application. The fifteen-day comment period closes on October 21,
2015. Citizens and agencies can provide input by going online at www.coloradounited.com
<http://www.coloradounited.com> and selecting the link “Colorado’s National Disaster Resilience Competition
Application.” Comments can also be submitted to: gov_coloradorecoveryoffice@state.co.us
<mailto:gov_coloradorecoveryoffice@state.co.us>.
Agenda Item 13
Item # 13 Page 2
Given the short turnaround time available for comment, staff has prepared a draft Resolution and letter of
support for Council’s consideration.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Adoption of the Resolution and sending a letter of support will have no immediate financial impact on Fort
Collins. If successful and I-25 can be improved, there could be significant positive economic impact to Fort
Collins and Northern Colorado region by keeping the I-25 Corridor intact and operational in times of
emergency, weather event, disaster, or other crisis event.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
CDOT has presented background information to North Front Range agencies and groups representing the I-25
Corridor.
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RESOLUTION 2015-089
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
SUPPORTING THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NORTHERN COLORADO CONNECTIVITY PROJECT AND RECOMMENDING IT BE
SUBMITTED FOR FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING CONSIDERATION
WHEREAS, Interstate 25 serves as the primary north-south highway connection for
Northern Colorado including Fort Collins; and
WHEREAS, Interstate 25 is the primary roadway route for regional connectivity to
commerce, health care, education and employment; and
WHEREAS, Interstate 25 is designated as a federal freight route; and
WHEREAS, Interstate 25 in Northern Colorado suffered damage and prolonged closure
as a result of the September 2013 floods; and
WHEREAS, it is critical that Interstate 25 roads and bridges be made more resilient to
impacts from weather emergencies and natural disasters; and
WHEREAS, the Colorado Department of Transportation (“CDOT”) has proposed the
Northern Colorado Connectivity Project to make needed improvements to Interstate 25 to
provide resiliency; and
WHEREAS, the CDOT proposal is a candidate for submission for federal grant funding
for the National Disaster Resilience Competition.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, as
follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby expresses its support of the Colorado
Department of Transportation’s Northern Colorado Connectivity Project for consideration of
federal grant funding, and urges Governor Hickenlooper to support and submit this important
project to the National Disaster Resilience Competition.
Section 2. That the Mayor is hereby authorized to sign a letter of support to Governor
Hickenlooper, attached hereto as Exhibit “A” on behalf of the City Council of Fort Collins.
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Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this
20th day of October, A.D. 2015.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk
Mayor
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
October 20, 2015
Governor John Hickenlooper
Office of the Governor
136 State Capitol Building
Denver, CO 80203
Dear Governor Hickenlooper,
The City of Fort Collins supports the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT)
application (Northern Colorado Connectivity Project) for the National Disaster Resilience
Competition funds, also known as the Presidential Challenge Grant, and encourages
the State to submit this application for consideration.
I-25 serves as the critical main artery along the Front Range of Colorado, providing
movement of goods, people and services. It is designated as a federal freight route. I-25
is the primary route for regional connectivity to commerce, health care, education, and
employment. It is imperative that I-25 roads, bridges, and interchanges be made
resilient to weather and natural disasters. The NCCP proposes to make improvements
to I-25 to ensure I-25 is resilient and able to withstand and survive these challenges. All
proposed changes address Northern Colorado resiliency needs and are consistent with
the approved North I-25 Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS).
The improvements proposed in the NCCP are not solely limited to I-25 mobility
improvements. These improvements will also provide for regional trail connectivity,
improve watersheds and natural resources, and improve water quality by reducing
pollutants.
The City of Fort Collins strongly supports this effort, and requests your support and
submittal of the Northern Colorado Connectivity Project for federal consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Wade Troxell
Mayor
EXHIBIT A