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Home My WebLink About20013405.tiff statewide Planning News News on the Statewide Transportation Planning Process Fall 2001 1-1 CDOT. Funding Impacted 2003 Strategic Investment Economic forecasts have changed dramatically over Plan the last few months, affecting everyone from small Public Urged to Participate in Identifying Trans- business owners to large corporations to Colorado state portation Needs for Acceleration government. CDOT has been impacted as well. Due to a shortfall in the state's General Fund, the Senate As part of its on-going statewide transportation Bill 1 (SB 1)transfer to transportation is shrinking by planning process, CDOT is asking the public to help $173 million for the current fiscal year,. identify the most critical transportation problems around the state and propose solutions to those prob- Under legislation passed in 1997 (Senate Bill 1), a lems. During October through January, the 15 Trans- portion of the sales tax revenue is transferred from the portation Planning Regions (TPRs) will be co-hosting General Fund to CDOT annually. This transfer is only public meetings with CDOT at various locations made if there are sufficient funds to fund the general statewide. Information gathered at these meetings will fund expenditures up to the statutory appropriation be utilized by the Transportation Commission, in limit. If that requirement is not met, funds are not concert with its adopted 2020 Statewide Transporta- transferred to CDOT. These SB-1 funds are earmarked tion Plan, to develop the 2003 Strategic Investment for the state's highest priority transportation projects. Plan— a prioritized list of transportation projects However, due to the softening economy, instead of around the state. This list will be submitted to the receiving $208 million this year as originally expected, Governor and State Legislature in late 2002 for CDOT received $35 million. funding consideration. The Transportation Commission has been following The primary purpose of the 2003 Plan is to identify the budget impacts very closely and is analyzing major transportation improvements for additional several scenarios submitted by CDOT's Office of funding that will address critical needs in Colorado's Financial Management and Budget for mitigating the transportation system. Improvements must address continued on page 5 compelling System Quality, Mobility, or Safety needs INSIDE THIS ISSUE and are of a scope that they cannot be addressed in a timely fashion with existing resources. Improvements Page must be included in, or amended into, the adopted 1 CDOT Funding Impacted 2020 Statewide Transportation Plan. 1 2003 Strategic Investment Plan Over the next 20 years, local government and transpor- tation officials anticipate serious shortfalls in funding. 2 Ports to Plains Designation In the current 2020 Statewide Transportation Plan, transportation improvements total approximately $64 2 Highlights billion. Anticipated revenues are expected to total approximately $30 billion. It is hoped that the identifi- 3 Environmental Justice Research Study cation of critical transportation needs through the 2003 Plan will also be useful in identifying new sources of 4 Plan Amendments Slated for North Front revenue. New revenues would then be used to fund Range and PikesPeak and accelerate the implementation of transportation improvements around the state. 4 Local Roadway Needs Assessment Study The first step in developing the 2003 Plan will be the 4 In Brief public meetings during October through January. From those meetings a preliminary list of transporta- 5 Transit Elements to Replace TDPs continued on page 3 d7r/Sed>° £?7ei/Q'et Statewide Planning New 'I i s -c& c ".oki iloes Ports to Plains Designation In late July, 2001 the Colorado Department of Trans- portation met with its peers from Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico to develop language that appropri- s 1r RAPID CITY ately describes the agreed upon Ports to Plains route designation. The route description has been approved t ) by the four states and has been forwarded to FHWA. ErENNE $ .. aSCOTTSBLUFF Once approved by FHWA, it will be forwarded on to Congress for final designation. Congressional ap- 4 proval should take place this fall or in early 2002. DENVER MQN All four states agreed that the route should run from rifts'f a Eagle Pass, Texas, north to Dumas, Texas. From MTQN_ Dumas the route will continue north along US 287of ourus through Lamar to Limon, and on 1-70 from Limon to Denver. The route will also follow US 87 northwest 'ALBUQUERQUE AMAR t1O from Dumas through Clayton,New Mexico, and terminate in Raton, New Mexico. The Raton portion LUBBOCK connects with the Camino Real route which runs from SO El Paso through New Mexico north on I-25 through t E`" SAN ncan Colorado to the Canadian border in Montana. Once Congress approves the designation,the Ports to DEL RIO Plains route would become a Federal High PriorityE4G\ LE PASS Corridor, and will qualify to compete for National Corridor Planning and Development(NCPD)program — PORTS TO PLAINS funds. The NCPD provides financial assistance to HEARTLAND EXPRESS vaa border states (those with seaports and International —' C0.MIN©REAL borders) or those that connect border states with other parts of the nation. The program currently makes Designating the Ports to Plains route has been a approximately $130 million available each year to the joint effort between Colorado, Oklahoma, New 43 states that have Federal High Priority Corridors. Mexico and Texas. The route connects with the These funds can be used to plan and develop transpor- Heartland Express and Camino Real. tation projects which will improve the safety and mobility of freight movement. Qualifying activities include environmental clearances, design, infrastruc- ture, project management plans and construction. The funds are issued as grant monies and must be applied for each year. Highlights Funds for 2001 have been distributed. Though Colo- Transportation Commission Meetings: rado will apply for 2002 funds, analysis is not yet November 15, CDOT Headquarters Auditorium complete as to which activities or projects the funds December 20, CDOT Headquarters Auditorium would be used for. It is certain, however, that the January 17, 2002, CDOT Headquarters Auditorium project and activity selected will come from the 2001- 2006 STIR. Statewide Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC) Meetings: For more information regarding the Ports to Plains November 16, CDOT Headquarters Auditorium designation, please contact Joel Phillips in the Infor- January 18, 2002, CDOT Headquarters Auditorium mation Management Branch at(303)757-9524, or e- mailjoel.phillips@dot.state.co.us. • A - Statewide Planning News 2 • Environmental Justice Regional Planning Commissions during the update of Research Study 20-year regional transportation plans as well as enable them to assess the effects of project selection on the specified groups. In August, CDOT initiated a research study to analyze how environmental justice considerations are utilized The study will be completed in June, 2003. For more within the statewide and regional transportation information regarding this study,please contact Leah planning process. Environmental Justice, though not a Lane in the Statewide Planning Unit at 303 757-9761, new concept, has in recent years become a fundamen- or e-mail at leah.lane@dot.state.co.us. • tal consideration in the planning and construction of transportation projects in Colorado. Rooted in Title 9 VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the National ' Environmental Policy Act(NEPA), Environmental Justice follows three principles: • 111 • To avoid, minimize, or mitigate dispropor- tionately high and adverse human health or 2003 Strategic Investment Plan,continued from page 1 environmental effects, including social and tion projects will be submitted to the STAC and economic effects, on minority populations CDOT's Executive Management Team for initial and low-income populations; review in January, 2002. The TPRs will then present • To ensure the full and fair participation by all the list to the Transportation Commission. After input potentially affected communities in the from the STAC/EMT and Commission, the projects transportation decision-making process; and will be "tested" against defined criteria. At the same • To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or time, project scopes will be refined, cost estimates will significant delay in the receipt of benefits by be made and a prioritization of the list will begin. minority populations and low-income popula- There will also be a second round of public meetings tions. to provide further review and opportunity to comment. This second stage is expected to be completed in July Environmental Justice considerations need to be made or August, 2002, when the list will be submitted a in all phases of the regional and statewide planning second time to the Transportation Commission. processes. A truly integrated and effective planning and project development process must actively con- After the Commission reviews the project list in late sider and promote environmental justice within summer, the TPRs and CDOT will work together to projects and groups of projects across the total plan, as address Commission concerns and further refine the well as in policy decisions. scope and cost estimates for the projects on the list. A final list will be submitted to the Commission during CDOT's study will be conducted in two phases. The the last quarter of 2002 for approval and adoption. objective of the first phase is to develop recommended Once adopted, the list will be presented to the Gover- enhancements to CDOT's methods for including nor and Legislature. specific groups in the regional and statewide transpor- tation planning and project development process, and The entire 2003 Strategic Investment Plan process is identifying the appropriate types of demographic data linked to the statewide planning process. Projects and level of geographic specificity applicable for selected for the 2003 Plan must be included in, or considering environmental justice requirements in the amended into, the 2020 Statewide Transportation Plan. planning and project development process. The 2003 Plan provides an opportunity to the public, local governments, and the TPRs to reevaluate trans- The information obtained will be utilized in the second portation issues and change priorities where necessary. phase of the study that will provide a recommended framework for environmental justice considerations in To find out when a public meeting will be held in your the planning and project development process, includ- TPR, please contact your TPR representative or ing policy guidance, project prioritization and assess- George Ventura in the Regional Planning Unit at ing effectiveness, and supplemental data and tools to CDOT-303 757-9495, or e-mail assist Metropolitan Planning Organizations and george.ventura@dot.state.co.us. • Statewide Planning News 3 Plan Amendments for NFRT&AOPC and PPACG Two Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the North MPOs have agreed to contingency resolutions from the Front Range Transportation &Air Quality Planning Commission requesting that they amend their respec- Council (NFRT&AQPC)and the Pikes Peak Area tive TIPs and Regional Plans if the budget outlook Council of Governments (PPACG) have submitted does not improve (see CDOT Funding Impacted on their 2025 Regional Transportation Plans to the page 1). Information regarding each plan may be Colorado Transportation Commission for adoption found at: www.ppacg.org/and into the 2020 Statewide Transportation Plan: Invest- www.cityvisions.org/2025rtp/. • ing in Colorado's Future on November 15. Both Local Roadway Needs In Brief Assessment Study Regional Planning Guidebook—CDOT will begin working on revising and updating the Regional Plan- Municipal and county roads and bridges are a vital ning Guidebook in January, 2002. The Guidebook was component of the Colorado's 85,000 mile-plus road- last revised in January, 1998; this next iteration will way system. In addition to providing mobility for all look at current practices and determine where changes citizens on a daily basis, local roads provide seamless are necessary. Specifically, staff needs to examine how access to and from markets and play a key role in the to integrate the various modal elements into the state's tourism industry. The 2020 Statewide Trans- planning process. The revision is expected to be portation Plan has a twenty-year needs picture for state complete by December,2003. highways and other transportation modes. However, the statewide transportation plan does not comprehen- Intercity Bus Feasibility Study—As mentioned in the sively address the local roadway needs picture. Summer Newsletter, CDOT is working together with several public and private entities to study the feasibil- To address that deficiency, CDOT began the Local ity of intercity bus service along the Front Range, from Roadway Needs Assessment research study in July, Pueblo to Fort Collins. 2001. A Steering Committee, made up of city, county, and CDOT officials from across Colorado, has been The initial analysis has been completed regarding formed and is working with the project's consultant, existing facilities and cost estimates for adding service Dye Management Group. The purpose of the study is and facilities along the Front Range. The next step to develop an analytical framework and methodology will be to gather public input regarding the types of to assess the local roadway transportation needs for service people would likely utilize and what the inclusion in the statewide planning process. The demand would be. research study will continue through May, 2002. Implementation of the study's results is expected to The study is expected to be completed by December, take place during the next round of regional and 2001. If you have any questions about the study, statewide plan updates,beginning in July, 2004. please call Tom Mauser at 303 757-9768. The first Steering Committee meeting was held on DTD Staffing Changes—Statewide Plan Amendments September 7, 2001. David Rose, Dye's Principal for will now be processed by Jamie Collins in the State- the study, provided his findings from a nation-wide wide Planning Unit in DTD. Ken Cuthbertson retired literature search identifying various needs assessment October 24, 2001. Jamie also works on public involve- methodologies that could be used in Colorado. The ment for the Statewide Plan and edits the Statewide next Steering Committee Meeting is set for November Planning News. Jamie may be reached at 29, 2001, and will focus on the strengths and weak- 303 757-9814 or e-mail: jamie.d.collins@dot.state.co.us nesses of Colorado's past efforts at defining local needs. For information about the study, the upcoming Irene Merrifield has been hired as a Regional Plan- meeting, or to request a copy of the material distrib- ning Liaison for the Regional Planning Unit. She will uted on September 7th, please contact Herman be working with TPRs and Region staff. She may be Stockinger, CDOT's project manager for the study, at reached at 303 512-4235 and e-mail: 303-757-9063, or e-mail: irene.merrifield@dot.state.co.us. • herman.stockinger@dot.state.co.us. • Statewide Planning News 4 New Transit Planning Being Implemented Planning for transit services in Colorado is changing. A Transit Element Guideline has been developed to In the lexicon of acronym lovers, we're seeing TDPs assist Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) and being replaced by TEs of the RTPs! consultants in developing TEs. This Guideline will become part of the Regional Planning Guidelines used For over 20 years, many cities, counties, and regional to develop the RTPs. There will training sessions for organizations developed a local, short term (five-year) CDOT staff(both Headquarters and Regions), RPCs, Transit Development Plan (TDP) that described in transit agencies, and transportation planning consult- detail the transit activities and needs in their respective ants. These training sessions are expected to take area. These TDPs were used as local transit plans that place later this year. addressed individual transit systems, and addressed the operational, financial, institutional, and capital issues Some transit operators are concerned that detailed needed to start or maintain these systems. These local operational and business planning will be lost in this TDPs were required by CDOT in order for transit conversion to TEs. However, the DTD Transit Unit providers to be eligible for Federal Transit Administra- will be working with transit operators to explore other tion (FTA) funding. ways to conduct and fund such detailed planning. Overall, this change represents an important part of After 2004, CDOT will no longer require TDPs. better integrating all transportation planning and Instead, each Transportation Planning Region will be ensuring that transit needs are considered within the developing a Transit Element (TE) of its Regional same process as other transportation needs. • Transportation Plan. This TE will include planning for the FTA funded programs in that region, as well as CDOT Funding Impacted, continued from page l any other transit related needs. The TE will be a part situation. Though the Commission is committed to (chapter)of the RTP, and will address both long term fully funding all existing contractual obligations, both (twenty-year)and short term(six-year) transit needs. the Commission and CDOT Executive Management The TEs will not be as detailed as the TDPs because have agreed to scale back programs throughout the they will be more regional in nature. The long term Department. As a result, six of the strategic projects needs will be presented as both a preferred plan and a scheduled for this fiscal year have been put on hold. fiscally constrained plan, in order to match the format of the RTPs. Those projects include widening US 50 north of Delta, completing the Wolf Creek Pass tunnel on US 160, The third iteration of the Regional Transportation Powers Blvd. in Colorado Springs between Briargate Plans (RTPs) and the Statewide Transportation Plan Parkway and SH 83, reconstructing the interchange at are scheduled to begin in July 2004, and will be I-25 and Monument, constructing the Berthoud Bypass completed by the end of 2005. It will be during this on US 287, and the new Eagle/Vail half-diamond effort that most regions will be adopting a TE. interchange on 1-70. Name That Acronym Future funding is at risk as well. It is not clear at this A layman's guide to the language of transporta- time exactly how much funding would be transferred to tion CDOT under Senate Bill 1 next year. Since this year's SB 1 transfer was significantly reduced, the Transpor- CDOT- Colorado Department of Transportation tation Commission has decided to take a conservative DTD - Division of Transportation Development, CDOT approach to preparing the draft budget for FY 2003 and FTA- Federal Transit Administration RPC- Regional Planning Commission is considering a budget that anticipates no SB 1 transfer RTP- Regional Transportation Plan in fiscal year 2003. The Commission could also TDP-Transit Development Plan redirect certain funds next fiscal year, such as resurfac- TE -Transit Element ing and regional projects, so the priority projects that TPR-Transportation Planning Region are on hold in the current year could go forward in FY 2003. For more information regarding the Transit Element, please contact Steve Ellis in the DTD Transit Unit at The possible loss of future SB 1 funds also impacts the 303 757-9766. TRANS (Transportation Revenue Anticipation Notes) • continued on page 6 Statewide Planning News 5 CDOT Funding Impacted,continued from page 5 _ bonding program. In the last two years,TRANS has until the financial picture becomes clearer regarding been highly successful allowing CDOT to issue bonding and Senate Bill 1, all future priority projects approximately over a billion dollars in bonds, advanc- scheduled for FY 2003 and beyond are on hold. ing priority projects statewide—some by as much as seven to ten years. Bond holders are paid back by a Governor Owens is also greatly concerned about the combination of state and federal funds. As a federal funding situation and will again take his transportation eligibility requirement, the federal highway funds that funding package to the Legislature during the regular come into Colorado must be "matched"by state session which convenes in January. The proposal dollars. The Transportation Commission uses a includes increasing the amount of the Senate Bill 1 portion of the SB 1 revenue as the match for the transfer from 10 percent of the sales tax to 15 percent federal funds. annually, providing for stability and predictability of SB 1 funding, and transferring additional funds from CDOT may be able to issue bonds next year, but there the capital construction budget to the Highway Users are issues to consider in making that decision that Trust Fund. Additional proposals are being considered eliminate or reduce the benefits of bonding. CDOT's that may be added to the Governor's plan. original plan called for issuing $400 million in bonds in the spring of 2002. However, the unpredictability of The Transportation Commission and CDOT will the SB 1 transfer process has clouded the process. continue to monitor the funding situation closely and Without the SB 1 transfer, the Transportation Commis- make appropriate changes as information becomes sion would have to use other state transportation more readily available. The draft budget is submitted dollars (currently dedicated to other programs) to December first but will not be finalized until April, match the federal funds used in the pay back to bond 2002. However, the budget process is also very holders. This would also result in cuts to programs flexible. As funding is restored or additional funds such as resurfacing and regional priorities. become available, resurfacing projects, regional projects and priority projects can be added back. Thus If CDOT can issue bonds in the spring—and if Senate the Commission has the opportunity to add back Bill 1 revenue returns to projected levels in future projects and programs as agreement is reached on years—those projects can be rescheduled. However, expected revenue. Statewide Planning News is produced by CDOT's Division of Transportation Development, Statewide Planning Section. Any questions about articles herein, unless otherwise noted, should be directed to: Jamie Collins at the address below OR Phone: (303) 757-9814 Fax: (303) 757-9727 E-mail: jamie.d.collins@dot.state.co.us Web page: http://www.dot.state.co.us Fri; PO PRESRT STD U.S. Postage DQARTML\1 Of TR N$R*TATI{ PAID Colorado Department of Transportation Denver, CO 4201 East Arkansas Avenue, EP#B606 PERMIT 738 Denver,Colorado 80222 County Commission Chairman Weld County 915 10th St Greeley Co 80631-1117 • lit...i... ;.i.i..�'..i Hello