US 85 PLANNING AND
ENVIRONMENTAL LINKAGE
US 85 Coalition
December 8, 2011
OVERVIEW
• The Governor
Governor'ss Four E
E’ss
Effective
Efficient
Elegant
Essential Decision Making
• Getting more out of our existing system
• Planning for the future
 Working with our local partners to better define the next
steps
 Understanding
g future development
p
with our local partners
p
 Ensuring transportation has a positive impact on
economic growth
WHAT IS PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL LINKAGES (PEL)?
A PEL Study
St d is
i the
th interim
i t i step
t off
evaluation for a transportation need
or project that has been identified in
the regional
g
transportation
p
plan,
p , yet
y
has not entered a formal NEPA-level
analysis.
WHAT IS PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL LINKAGES (PEL)?
The purpose off a PEL St
Th
Study
d is
i to
t
perform preliminary analysis and
make decisions not completed as a
part of traditional regional
p
g
level
planning that will make NEPA level
evaluation and decision
decision-making
making more
transparent to resource agencies and
the public.
public
PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL
LINKAGES (PEL)
PEL represents
t an approach
h to
t
transportation decision-making that
considers environmental,
environmental , community,
and economic g
goals earlyy in the
planning stage and carries them
through project development, design,
and construction.
PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL
LINKAGES (PEL)
This can lead
Thi
l d to
t a seamless
l
and
d
essential decision-making process
that minimizes duplication of effort,
promotes efficient and costp
cost - effective
solutions and environmental
stewardship,
stewardship and reduces delays in
project implementation.
implementation .
WHAT THE BLEEP DID HE JUST SAY?
WHAT THE BLEEP DID HE JUST SAY?
•Break Down of a PEL Study
•What is the Final Product?
•What
Wh t is
i it used
d For?
F ?
•How
How am I involved?
•What is in it for Me?
BUILDING BLOCKS ‐CORRIDOR CONTEXT / STUDIES
CONTEXT / STUDIES
• US85 Access Control Plan (1999)
• UFR 2035 Regional Transportation Plan (2008)
• DRCOG 2035 Regional Transportation Plan
• Metro Vision (2011)
• Fiscally
Fiscally-- Constrained Plan (2011)
(2011 )
• NFR 2035 Regional Transportation Plan (2011)
• North II - 25 Final EIS ((2011)
(2011 )
• Local Agency Comprehensive & Transportation
Plans (various)
• CDOT Intersection Analysis (various)
WHAT IS THE FINAL PRODUCT?
WHAT IS THE FINAL PRODUCT?
• Corridor plan
• Vision
• Purpose and Need
• Mobility
• Safety
• Operations
• Additional Design
Detail
• Environmental Impacts
• Red Flags
• Do Not Anticipate a
lot of Impacts
• Refresh Access Control
Plan
• System
S
LLevell Analysis
A l i
WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
• Transportation Analysis
• Corridor Specific Modeling
• Long Range Planning
• Interchange Footprints
• Realigned (skewed) Intersection Footprints
• Spaghetti
S gh tti JJunction
ti
• Identifying Environmental Concerns
• Ability to Plan for Mitigation
• Prioritize
• Menu of Needs
• Safety
S f t b
based
d project
j t selection
l ti
HOW AM I INVOLVED?
HOW AM I INVOLVED?
• Executive
E
ti O
Oversight
ight Committee
C
itt
• US 85 Coalition
• Region 4 RTD
• Project Manager
• FHWA
HOW AM I INVOLVED?
HOW AM I INVOLVED?
• Technical
T h i l Ad
Advisory
i
C
Committee
itt
• US 85 Coalition Entity Staff
• CDOT Specialty Unit Staff
HOW AM I INVOLVED?
HOW AM I INVOLVED?
• Public
P bli Outreach
O t
h
•Public Meetings
g
•Newsletters (electronic)
•Website
WHAT IS IN IT FOR ME?
WHAT IS IN IT FOR ME?
• Local Agency Planning
• Corridor Consistency
• Interchange Footprints
• Developer Information
• Realigned Intersection Footprints
• Spaghetti Junction
• Long Range Vision
• Refresh Access Control Plan
• System Level Analysis
• Plan for economic development and growth
opportunities
pp
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
• Natural Gas
• Analysis of fleet conversion along corridor
• Transit
T
it
• Build on EIS Transit Facility Plan
• Park
P k and
d Rid
Rides
• Energy Impacts
• Rockport Facility
• Oil and Gas Production
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Treatments
WRAP UP
• PEL Documents the Future
• Based on Purpose and Need
• Corridor Specific Modeling and Operational
A l i
Analysis
• Provides Environmental Data
• Creates Shared Vision
• Corridor Consistency
• Plan and Build for the Future
• Optimizes and leverages future funding with a
strong voice
• Prioritizes Improvements
p
• Smart, Strategic and Essential Decision Making
US 85 PEL
Q
Questions?
ti
?