Welcome! Public Open House (Study Introduction) Southern Mountain - - PDF document

Southern Mountain Loop

Highway 12 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study

Welcome!

Public Open House (Study Introduction) Southern Mountain Loop Planning and Environmental Linkages Study September 18, 2019: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm No Formal Presentation

Southern Mountain Loop

Highway 12 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study

Study Background:

PURPOSE OF PROJECT

The purpose of the project is to improve safety, provide a regional and local multi-use trail, and improve connections and access to recreational facilities and communities along the Colorado Scenic Highway of Legends Byway (US 160 and SH 12) between Walsenburg and Trinidad.

LATHROP STATE PARK TRINIDAD STATE PARK NORTH LAKE

LAS ANIMAS

HUERFANO

160

25

12 238

25

239

TRINIDAD

LYNN WESTON JANSEN

LA VETA

AGUILAR COKEDALE

WALSENBURG

STARKVILLE SEGUNDO VALDEZ STONEWALL GAP

CUCHARA West

Spanish Peak East Spanish Peak Culebra Peak Trinchera Peak Napolean Peak

Legend

Railroads SHOL Byway Highway County Boundaries State Parks/Lands BLM National Wilderness Area U.S. Forest Service City Boundaries Study Area

Southern Mountain Loop

Highway 12 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study

What is a PEL Study?

n Planning-level study for

transportation issues and environmental concerns along a corridor .

n Decision-making tool for

“projects” .

n Enables CDOT and local agencies

to advance projects into next steps based on priorities and funding. Note: Next steps would include funding, NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Studies, public meetings, design, and permitting, before construction

• f a project could begin.

Kinds of Decisions in Study

n Scope and limits of projects n Environmental setting and issues n Plan for implementation

Types of Analyses within Study

n Travel characteristics and demand n Economic development and land use n Natural and manmade environment n Agency and public involvement

Southern Mountain Loop

Highway 12 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study

Study Process and Schedule:

Agency/Public Information

n Study Intro – June/July 2019 n Existing Issues – Aug/Sept 2019 n Alternatives – Dec/Jan 2020 n Recommendations – April/May 2020 n Implementation Plan/Report – July 2020

HOW TO ST AY INFORMED

n Stakeholder Meetings n Coffee Chats n Public Open Houses n Project Website n eNewsletters n Social Media n Press Releases n Presentations

FEB FEB MAR MAR APR APR MAY MAY JUN JUN JUL JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION PEL REPORT ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT ASSESMENT

2019

SOUTHERN MOUNTAIN LOOP PEL STUDY

Study Schedule V.1 / June 2019

TASK DESCRIPTION

2020

5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 5.A 5.B 5.C 5.D 5.E 5.F 5.G STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS GENERAL PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE MEETINGS LANDOWNER WORKSHOPS/MEETINGS OFFICIAL BRIEFINGS GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS

(MEDIA/WEBSITE/NEWSLETTERS)

YOU ARE HERE

LAS ANIMAS

HUERFANO

Legend

MP

MP 0 MP 5 MP 10 MP 15 MP 20 MP 25 MP 30 MP 35 MP 40 MP 45 MP 50 MP 55 MP 60 MP 65 MP 70

MP 280 MP 285 MP 290 MP 295 MP 300 MP 305

Southern Mountain Loop

Highway 12 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study

US 160 and SH 12 T raffic and Safety 1. 2. 3.

Roadway Section

The corridor has highly variable shoulder widths ranging from 0-feet to 10-feet

Traffjc Volumes

Current and projected traffjc volumes do not exceed roadway capacities.

*Does not include possible future truck traffjc from New Elk Mine.

Crash History

Based on historical records from January 2013 through December 2017

Southern Mountain Loop

Highway 12 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study

Multi-Use T rail

COLORADO FRONT RANGE TRAIL Planned trail by Colorado Parks & Wildlife along Front Range from Wyoming to New Mexico. CONNECTIONS AND ACCESS

n Local communities and resorts n State Parks (Lathrop and Trinidad Lake) n Trailheads and Trails n State Wildlife Areas

• Wahatoya
• North Lake
• Bosque del Oso

n San Isabel National Forest n Spanish Peaks National Wilderness Area

LEVEL OF TRAFFIC STRESS FOR BICYCLISTS Traffjc volumes, number of lanes, pavement markings, shoulder widths, and posted speed limits affect stress levels for bicyclists.

• 1. Highway of Legends
• 2. Trinidad Lake State Park
• 3. Cokedale Pull-off
• 4. North Lake Pull-off
• 5. John B. Farley Memorial

• 6. Blue Lake/Bear Lake
• 7. Devil’s Staircase
• 8. La Veta Public Library

• 9. Lathrop State Park

Southern Mountain Loop

Highway 12 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study

Scenic Byway Features

SCENIC HIGHWAY OF LEGENDS BYWAY One of the fjrst highways designated (1989) as a Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway. IMPACT OF TOURISM IN COLORADO Tourism is a signifjcant contributor to the state’s economy. BYWAY INTERPRETIVE SITES The byway includes a number of existing and planned pull-offs with interpretive signs for tourists to enjoy the surrounding scenery and learn about the area’s rich history.

T

• tal Spending (2017) = $15.3 Billion

Southern Mountain Loop

Highway 12 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study

Environmental Resources

n Archaeology n Environmental Justice n Farmlands n Floodplains n Geologic Resources

and Soils

n Hazardous/Solid Wastes n Historic Resources n Land Use and Ecoregions n Noise n Public Lands and

Recreation Resources

n Socioeconomics n Threatened and

Endangered Species, Other Special-Status Species, and Wildlife

n Visual Resources n Wetlands and Other

Waters of the US

Southern Mountain Loop

Highway 12 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study

Thank you for attending!

Public Open House Southern Mountain Loop Planning and Environmental Linkages Study September 18, 2019: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Comments may be provided:

n Comment form n Email — SouthernMountainLoop@gmail.com

Stay Connected:

n https:/

/ www.codot.gov/library/studies/ co-12-sml-pel

• r

n https:/

/ www.colorado.gov/pacifjc/sccog Click on Development link to access additional information

about the SML PEL Study .

Questions?

n Call: 719-427-1078 n Email: SouthernMountainLoop@gmail.com