HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/5/2021 - Memorandum From Kurt Friesen And Brad Buckman Re: Question Raised At 9/21/2021 City Council Meeting Regarding Siphon Overpass Project
Engineering Department
281 North College Avenue
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580
970.221.6605
970.221.6378 - fax
fcgov.com/engineering
Planning, Development & Transportation
MEMORANDUM
DATE: September 29, 2021
TO: Mayor Arndt and City Councilmembers
THRU: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager
Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager
Caryn Champine, Director of PDT
Dean Klingner, Deputy Director of PDT
FROM: Kurt Friesen, Director, Park Planning & Development
Brad Buckman, Interim City Engineer
RE: Question Raised at 9/21/2021 City Council Meeting Regarding Siphon
Overpass Project
The purpose of this memo is to provide a response to a question raised by Mayor Pro
Tempore Francis regarding the Siphon Overpass Project. The question was, Will this
project provide a connection across the Mail Creek Ditch between the Union Pacific
Railroad (UPRR) tracks and South Timberline Road?
Background:
The Siphon Overpass Project will design, acquire right-of-way, and construct a trail
overpass spanning the UPRR tracks near the southwest corner of the Willow Springs
neighborhood. This will provide a safe and designated connection to the Power Trail for
users south of Harmony Road and east of the UPRR tracks. As this project uses
federal funds, an environmental investigation as part of the design process is required.
The overpass will connect to a new section of trail along Mail Creek connecting to
Timberline Road. Design currently is underway, and construction is anticipated to begin
in 2022. The appropriation for the construction funding of this project met the
September 21, 2021, City Council meeting and was approved on first reading.
Response:
The Syphon Overpass, the Mail Creek trail between the UPRR and Timberline, a new
underpass under Timberline and a planned future extension of the Mail Creek trail to the
east will provide vastly improved bike and pedestrian access across the railroad and
connection to the Power Trail for residents of southeast Fort Collins.
A connection to the north to the Willow Springs neighborhood would improve the
convenience and connectivity of this system further.
Steps to provide this neighborhood connection include identifying a connection location,
securing additional easements or right of way from the railroad or the Willow Springs
association, securing a ditch crossing permit and identifying funding for
the construction.
City staff (Engineering and Park Planning & Development) will coordinate with the
Willow Springs Homeowners Association (HOA), the New Mercer Ditch Company, and
other interested stakeholders to initiate a project concept and determine a more
accurate estimation of cost and schedule to complete the connection.
Exhibit 1 below shows the relationship between the proposed Siphon Overpass and
new trail that will run on the south side of the Mail Creek Ditch, and the Willow Springs
Subdivision on the north side of the Mail Creek Ditch.
Next Steps
Although not feasible for execution in this current project, City staff will reengage with
the HOA to determine the suitable next steps in finding a future connection across the
ditch along the new Mail Creek Ditch trail. Staff will also explore construction funding
Exhibit 1:
City staff to explore a future
connection from the proposed
trail on south side of the Mail
Creek ditch into the Willow
Springs Subdivision on the north
side of the ditch