Agenda Date: 08/01/2017
Subject:
Title
A resolution supporting a joint project with the Colorado Department of Transportation, Arapahoe County, City of Englewood, City of Sheridan and the City and County of Denver to complete a Planning and Environmental Linkages study for Santa Fe Drive (United States Highway 85) from Colorado 470 to Interstate 25
Body
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Presented By: |
Keith Reester, Acting Public Works Director |
POLICY QUESTION:
Does city council support the pursuit of an agreement for a joint project with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) , Arapahoe County, City of Englewood, City of Sheridan, and the City and County of Denver to complete a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) study for Santa Fe Drive (US 85) from Colorado 470 (C-470) to Interstate 25 (I-25)?
BACKGROUND:
US 85 from C-470 to I-25 is a major regional transportation corridor in the Denver metro area. The municipal jurisdictions along this corridor have a vested interest in assuring sound transportation, environmental and economic planning along this regionally significant corridor. Traffic volumes and development along the corridor have increased significantly in the past decade. Traffic congestion is an issue that frequently ranks high on resident surveys. Increased population growth in the metro area and higher density land use along the corridor also place additional strain on the transportation system.
A PEL study represents an approach to transportation decision making that considers environmental, community and economic goals early in the planning stage and carries them through project development, design, and construction. A PEL is a process to identify transportation issues and environmental concerns in a large corridor, or in a specific location. It is generally conducted before any project construction funding is identified, and before specific problems and solutions are known. A PEL study is intended to lead to better decision-making and reduce duplication of efforts in the planning, development, and implementation of projects.
The PEL study would work with public and community stakeholders to identify transportation deficiencies and needs along the US 85 corridor. The goal with this step is to understand the communities along the US 85 corridor, how the transportation system currently functions, how it impacts communities, and how it can be improved now and in the future. Once these needs are identified, a series of alternatives will be developed to address the needs. The ability of these alternatives to meet the corridor’s needs will be evaluated and considered, along with the effects on the communities and environment.
After the PEL study is complete, CDOT and local agencies will have a documented set of projects and an implementation plan, which will be used to identify funding for design and implementation. The PEL’s resulting “set of projects” will serve as a bucket-list of improvements that will be implemented along US 85 over time as funding becomes available. The higher priority locations will likely be implemented first, but the goal would be to eventually implement all of the projects identified in the PEL as conditions warrant and as funding becomes available; this will take many years.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The City of Littleton seeks to be a leading partner in supporting this project. With the adoption of this resolution, staff will continue working with its partner agencies to develop an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for completion of the PEL study. The first step through CDOT will be to hire a consultant to assist with facilitation and partnership establishment.
OPTIONS/ALTERNATIVES:
Not applicable for this item.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The 2017-2021 Fiscally Constrained Capital Plan had allocated $600,000 over 2018 and 2019 as the city’s contribution towards this PEL project. Later this summer and as part of the 2018 budget discussions with council, staff will be proposing $200,000 for 2018 in the Capital Fund for this project.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this resolution to work with the city’s municipal, county, and state partners in a joint effort towards completing a PEL study for the Santa Fe Drive corridor.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution No. 31-2017 supporting a joint project with the Colorado Department of Transportation, Arapahoe County, City of Englewood, City of Sheridan, and the City and County of Denver to complete a Planning and Environmental Linkages study for Santa Fe Drive (United States Highway 85) from Colorado 470 to Interstate 25.