HomeMy WebLinkAbout20193995.tiffFrom: Tracy Sakaguchi <tracy@cmca.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 8:56 AM
To: Karla Ford <kford@weldgov.com>
Cc: Barbara Kirkmeyer <bkirkmeyer@weldgov.com>; Grier W. Bailey <gbailey@cwpma.org>; Greg
Fulton <greg@cmca.com>
Subject: Letter of Request concerning kersey road
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Karla,
Please find the attached letter submitted by the Colorado Motor Carriers Assn. and the Colorado
Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Assn. in regards to routing on Kersey Road. If you have any question
please let me know. I will look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your time,
Tracy
Tracy Sakaguchi
Colorado Motor Carriers Association
Director of State Issues and Events
303-433-3375 ext. 103
Cell 720-315-3888
COLORADO MOTOR CARRIERS ASSOCIATION
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2019-3995
COLORADO MOTOR CARRIERS ASSOCIATION
August 20, 2019
Weld County Commissioners
Attn: Karla Ford
1150 0 Street
P.O. Box 758
Greeley, CO 80631
Dear Commissioners:
Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association
& Convenience Store Association
As a follow-up to our meeting in the past year related Weld County Road 49, also known as
Kersey Road, the Colorado Motor Carriers Association (CMCA) and Colorado -Wyoming
Petroleum Marketers (CWPMA), who collectively represent over 1000 companies that
operate in the trucking and fuel distribution industries in Colorado, formally request that
Weld County submit a petition the Colorado State Patrol to request consideration of an
exemption for crude oil and petroleum product transporters from state requirements
regarding route designation for transporting hazardous materials.
We are requesting this action based on safety and traffic efficiency for not only. our
companies and drivers but other highway users in Weld County. As you are well -aware,
with the advent of greater oil and gas development in Weld County, there has been a
significant increase in shipments of crude oil from various well locations, particularly from
the DJ Basin area in Weld County. In addition, Weld County has seen a major increase in
population and other businesses with much of this development occurring along the US 85
corridor. This increased traffic volume has led to greater congestion and unfortunately an
increase in accidents.
In regard to crude oil, the DJ Basin represents a primary production area with many
shipments of this product traveling daily down to the Suncor Refinery in Commerce City.
Based on the well production sites in the Weld County, County Road 49 represents a more
proximate, less congested, and safer roadway for the transport of crude oil from this area
than US 85. Because hazardous materials of any nature are restricted to using designated
routes for hazardous material transport, crude oil transporters are barred from using
County Road 49 today. Instead these carriers must travel a number of more miles to reach
US 85 which is the most proximate hazardous material route. Traveling more miles and on
a more congested roadway as US 85 increases travel time and cost to carriers and their
customers while also increasing accident exposure and causing delays for other motorists
on US 85.
In addition to crude oil, we have a number of petroleum transporters that move various
fuel products to customers and businesses in Weld County and northern Colorado who also
are required to take US 85 versus Kersey Road which would represent a safer, and less
congested corridor. For that reason, we are requesting that they be incorporated in this
petition, as well.
In our eyes exempting crude oil and petroleum -based transporters from the existing
hazardous material route network will allow these shipments to be transported more
efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively while not compromising public safety or traffic
operations. Another benefit is that the more efficient transport of this product would
reduce vehicle emissions, greenhouse gases, and fuel consumption.
Please note that the submittal of a petition for consideration is not the final word but
merely allows the Colorado State Patrol to initiate a process to review the route and factors
associated with it as well as conduct outreach and public hearings to obtain the input from
citizens and concerned parties.
CMCA and CWPMA respectfully request that the Weld County Commissioners petition the
Colorado State Patrol for exemptions to the hazardous material route designation for crude
oil and petroleum products on County Road 49 from 1-76 on the south to State Hwy 393 on
the north.
Greg
Pres • ent
Col ► rado Motor Carriers Assoc.
Sincerely,
Grier W. Bailey
Executive Director
Colo.-Wyo. Petroleum Marketers Assoc.
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