HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 04/05/2016 - RESOLUTION 2016-035 EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL'SAgenda Item 15
Item # 15 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY April 5, 2016
City Council
STAFF
Mark Jackson, PDT Deputy Director
SUBJECT
Resolution 2016-035 Expressing the City Council's Support of Grant Applications for Certain Improvements to
Interstate I-25.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to provide a letter supporting two regional grant applications being submitted
seeking improvements and repairs to Interstate 25 (I-25) in Northern Colorado. The grant applications will be
submitted April 2016. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is preparing a Transportation
Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant, while the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning
Organizations (NFRMPO) is preparing a FASTLANE GRANT. Repairs and improvements sought are in
accordance with the final adopted recommendations of the North I-25 Environmental Impact Study (2011).
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Numerous efforts, initiatives, and actions have been taken or are underway to accelerate improvements to
Interstate 25 (I-25) in Northern Colorado. Plans for road capacity and transit improvements were identified in
the North I-25 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (2011), but funds needed to make these changes are not
identified by CDOT in the foreseeable future. I-25 is the key interstate linkage in northern Colorado, and serves
as a major freight route as well as traveler connection between the Denver metro area to the south. Current
infrastructure deficiencies, combined with increasing travel demand on the corridor, result in safety and
congestion issues along the northern Colorado I-25 Corridor. Phase 1 of CDOT’s improvements to I-25 is
estimated to cost $230 million.
CDOT, in collaboration with regional, local, and county government agencies in Northern Colorado, continue to
seek funding opportunities to accelerate needed improvements. They are currently preparing to submit a
TIGER grant application in April 2016. They are seeking $25 million in TIGER grant funds. Regional
communities are working to identify and commit financial resources to use as supporting local match.
The NFRMPO is also preparing a federal FASTLANE grant application for funds to improve I-25 in Northern
Colorado. FASTLANE is a new grant opportunity identified in the recently passed federal transportation
legislation and is intended for improvements to highway freight projects. I-25 is a primary freight corridor along
the front range of Colorado and beyond its borders north and south.
CDOT and the NFRMPO are requesting a letter of support from the City of Fort Collins and other regional
agencies to accompany their grant applications. (Attachment 1)
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The Resolution and letter of support have no direct financial impacts on the City of Fort Collins. Accelerating
Agenda Item 15
Item # 15 Page 2
improvements on the Northern I-25 Corridor may require some future financial contribution by Colorado
citizens, cities and agencies. Failure to make improvements to the Northern I-25 Corridor may have an
adverse economic impact on Northern Colorado.
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
This item was not presented to boards or commissions. The City of Fort Collins is a member of the I-25
Coalition.
The Transportation Board was heavily involved throughout the North I-25 Environmental Impact Statement
Project (2011), which resulted in adoption of recommendations to add capacity and transit solutions to the
northern I-25 Corridor.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
CDOT has conducted significant public outreach and presentations to Northern Colorado civic groups and
agencies on needed I-25 improvements and funding strategies.
In addition, significant public outreach was conducted throughout the multiple-year North I-25 Environmental
Impact Statement Project (2011), resulting in adoption of recommendations to add capacity and transit
solutions to the northern I-25 Corridor.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Fort Collins Letter of Support (PDF)
Mayor
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
April 5, 2016
TIGER and FASTLANE Selection Committee
US Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Re: Colorado TIGER and FASTLANE Grant Applications
Dear Selection Committee:
The City of Fort Collins has been working with the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT), the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization
(NFRMPO), the North I-25 Coalition of Elected Officials, the Fix I-25 Business Alliance,
and the North I-25 Funding Subcommittee to improve North I-25 from SH 14 to SH 66.
In July 2013, CDOT hosted the first meeting on the future of North I-25 to discuss a
variety of methods to address the corridor’s congestion in light of the projections
estimating a doubling of the region’s population by 2040. Northern Colorado is one of
the fastest growing areas in the nation and the fastest in Colorado. To continue the
economic vitality of the region, accommodate the movement of freight commodities
associated with the energy (oil and gas and wind components) and agriculture sectors,
as well as the everyday travel of workers, residents, and visitors, something had to be
done. The groups mentioned above were formed to address this need and have been
working diligently to identify a funding mechanism for the improvements identified in the
North I-25 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which received a Record of Decision
(ROD) in December 2011.
All of the agencies, coalitions, and communities working toward improving North I-25
have done so with limited funding. The congestion on this corridor increases crashes,
increases emissions, and significantly slows the movement of freight within and through
the region. Improvements to date include the addition of Bustang, a regional bus
service launched in July 2015, which carries 143 riders per day and 209 Colorado State
University (CSU) students per day/weekend (after less than a year of service). In spring
2016, a two mile truck climbing lane will be added to provide relief for southbound traffic
near the Town of Berthoud. In the summer 2016, CDOT will initiate the replacement
and widening of the I-25 Crossroads Bridge to accommodate the addition of a third lane
in each direction because this bridge is a current corridor bottleneck. This bridge
widening is anticipated to be completed in 2017.
ATTACHMENT 1
The City of Fort Collins fully supports the TIGER and FASTLANE applications to provide
much needed congestion relief to a rapidly growing region. North I-25 is a major Freight
Corridor on the National Freight System. Help Northern Colorado implement the
National Freight Policy by improving the condition and performance of the national
freight network.
Sincerely,
Wade Troxell
Mayor
-1-
RESOLUTION 2016-035
OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
EXPRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL’S SUPPORT OF GRANT
APPLICATIONS FOR CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS TO INTERSTATE 25
WHEREAS, Interstate 25 (“I-25”) represents a vital connection for the communities of
northern Colorado; and
WHEREAS, I-25 is an essential commuter and freight corridor and the only Colorado
highway on the national freight plan; and
WHEREAS, the improvement of I-25 is essential for the economic health and wellbeing of
the northern Colorado region; and
WHEREAS, the communities of northern Colorado wish to communicate the formal
request of their communities and citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fort Collins requests that the State of Colorado and the Federal
Highway Administration consider any and all actions to expedite the improvement and
expansion of north I-25.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby expresses its support of the Colorado
Department of Transportation and the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization’s
TIGER and FASTLANE grant applications seeking funds to expedite the improvement and
expansion of I-25 in Northern Colorado, and hereby authorizes the Mayor to complete and
timely submit letters of support for such grant applications expressing the City Council’s support
for the same.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 5th
day of April, A.D. 2016.
_________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk