HomeMy WebLinkAboutConstituent Letter - Read Before Packet - 11/18/2014 - Letter From David L. May, Fort Collins Area Chamber Of Commerce, Re: Waiver To The Federal Train Horn Noise Rule For Downtown Fort Collins From The Federal Railroad AdministrationNovember 18, 2014
Fort Collins City Council
300 LaPorte Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Dear Mayor Weitkunat, Mayor Pro Tem Horak, and Council Members Campana,
Cunniff, Overbeck, Poppaw and Troxell;
Tonight you are considering the adoption of a resolution that would allow the City to
request a waiver to the federal train horn noise rule for downtown Fort Collins from the
Federal Railroad Administration. We are encouraging the Council to consider pulling the
item and to spend more time considering the impact on mobility before adoption.
As we have reviewed the agenda item summary, we have the following questions:
• What impact will closing two intersections on Mason have on the flow of traffic in
downtown Fort Collins? The AIS suggests that both intersections have limited
volume of traffic, but no analysis on the larger flow of traffic into and out of the
core of the City is included in this recommendation. Currently, Magnolia provides
the only west bound option off of College Ave after Mulberry. Considering that
Mulberry regularly fails, what does moving the traffic heading west on Magnolia
onto Mulberry do?
• What impact will this closure have on the aesthetics of our downtown core? While
the images provided in the AIS are helpful in beginning to understand the impact
on aesthetics, we are concerned that the vision for the intersection will
overwhelmed by government requirements, resulting in an aesthetic that will be
disappointing and unexpected. The ugly curbed ditch through our downtown will
become an ugly curbed ditch with a fence.
• What kind of cost is involved in this solution? No estimates are included in the
AIS.
• Finally, where was the outreach on this? The Chamber and other groups were not
provided with an opportunity to provide input.
We are hopeful that you will delay adoption of this item and take the time to more fully
consider the impact of this decision.
Sincerely,
Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
David L. May
President & CEO
cc: Darin Atteberry