A Letter from the Valley Highway CDOT Project Manager

To: The September Public Scoping Meetings Participants

First of all, I would like to thank you for attending the public scoping meetings a few weeks ago. I appreciated the time you took out of your busy work day to understand the purpose and need for the I-25 Valley Highway Project and, in particular, the environmental impact statement (EIS) process. I valued hearing your comments and concerns, and receiving your questions about the Valley Highway Project and how the current and future CDOT transportation projects are affecting your quality of life. The CDOT Valley Highway Team will hold more public meetings. I strongly urge you to participate. It is my goal that these future meetings will be less formally structured and more interactive in nature. In addition to the large public meetings, informational meetings will be held with homeowner associations as well as one on one conversations with interested people living in the project area.

I trust that the following summary is consistent with your recollection of the meeting. Please take the time to review this information to ensure there was no miscommunication between us during the last public meetings. If you have any questions about this meeting summary, please contact me at 720-489-7923.

Thank you for your participation.

Best Regards

Tony Gross
CDOT Region 6
Valley Highway Project Manager

Compilation of Public Comments and CDOT Responses

T-REX Related Comments

1. Comment: Some people did not know how to find up to date information about the T-REX Project.

   Response: You can obtain information on the T-REX project in several ways: 1) contact the T-REX hotline at 303-786-TREX (8739), 2) contact the T-REX Project Office at 303-357-8300, and 3) visit the T-REX web site at www.trexproject.com/default.asp.

2. Question: Why wasn’t this project included in the T-REX Project?

   Response: The original plan was to extend the current T-REX northern limits to the Broadway Interchange; however, due to monetary constraints and other considerations, the northern limit was changed to Logan for the main I-25 Interstate. The Light Rail Section continues past Logan to Broadway at the RTD terminal.

3. Question: How is the Valley Highway Project going to improve upon the relationship with the neighborhood residents in comparison to the T-REX project?

   Response: The Valley Highway EIS and the future construction project will learn from the T-REX Project on what went right and what went wrong. The Valley Highway Project will strive to reduce neighborhood impacts during construction activities. We will conduct numerous presentations to homeowner associations more frequently. We will respond within 72 hours to your project questions or concerns that are communicated via our hotline or e-mail. We will have local citizens attend and participate in specific workshops that are related to the design of the I-25 Valley Highway. Finally, we will routinely maintain our web site (www.dot.state.co.us) and notify you via e-mail when changes have been made to the site. CDOT will strive to provide you with up to date project information. We want to hear from you and we will listen.

4. Comment: Do not do a “design-build” as was done with T-REX. The public’s voice and concerns are not heard once the project goes into the design and build process.

   Response: No decision has been made as to whether a design-build approach will be used for the I-25 Valley Highway Project. For some projects, a design build approach can mean significant time and cost savings to the CDOT and the state taxpayers. The design-build approach that has been used by CDOT on T-REX and in other highway corridors is a streamlined process that allows construction to proceed immediately after the highway design. The Valley Highway Project is very aware of the challenges facing the driving pubic, neighborhoods, and the contractors. The interaction with the public will not end with the completion of the EIS, but will continue throughout the design and construction process.

   CDOT Project Management

5. Comment: How is CDOT accountable for the commitments stated to the public and outlined in the EIS?

   Response: The EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) record the decisions and commitments of FHWA and CDOT for this project. These documents include not only the components of the project but also the mitigation and monitoring requirements accepted by FHWA and CDOT. The findings and commitments stated in the EIS are enforceable under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). Mitigation and monitoring activities that are needed to ensure the environment is enhanced and protected must be followed by law. The public is encouraged to interact with CDOT, FHWA, and other agencies during the EIS process. They are encouraged to become involved and make an impact on the final decisions made during the development of the Final EIS and ROD.

6. Comment: CDOT needs to have sensitivity of the neighborhoods’ concerns and quality of life during the EIS, design and construction process.

   Response: The Valley Highway Project is very aware that our I-25 and interchange designs and construction activities could have an impact on your neighborhoods and overall quality of life. We are aware of the construction noise, increased traffic and inconvenience to the local residents during the project’s construction. CDOT wishes to work closely with the local communities to minimize the impact to the public and overall environment during this Valley Highway Project. The project’s goals are to make I-25 safer and less congested and improve your access to the interstate.

7. Comment: Will tightened budgets affect the Valley Highway schedule?

   Response: The tight CDOT budgets we currently face will not impact the EIS schedule. However, the final design and construction phases could be affected. Unlike T-REX, it is highly unlikely that design and construction activities will occur immediately after the EIS phase. It is possible that several years may elapse before the design and construction activities for the I-25 Valley Highway are initiated by CDOT.

   Neighborhood Concerns and Suggestions

8. Comment: Postpone the construction of this project until other projects such as T-REX, the Broadway Street Viaduct and Light Rail Transit projects are complete. T-REX and the viaduct are separate projects to CDOT, but one continuous project to local neighborhood residents.

   Response: It is highly likely that the initiation of design and construction of the Valley Highway will be several years after the EIS is developed. This should give the local residents a break from the construction activities. However, several projects are occurring within the corridor other than T-REX and the Valley Highway that will also have an impact on local residents such as RTD’s Central Connector and Fast Tracks Program and the Gates/Cherokee Redevelopment.

9. Comment: The Valley Highway EIS needs to consider impacts to neighborhoods from construction noise, increased car and large truck traffic, and location of staging areas. The project should be considering the human factors in concert with the engineering factors to design and ultimately construct the highway and intersections.

   Response: The Valley Highway will address the environmental impact not only from the highway operation perspective but also from construction activities. The EIS will require the construction contractor to develop a monitoring and mitigation plan, which will be reviewed and approved by the CDOT and the City and County of Denver before construction activities commence.

10. Comment: Lincoln Avenue is not only experiencing increased traffic but also increased vehicle speeds. There needs to be better speed enforcement for safety reasons.

    Response: It is the City of Denver’s responsibility to enforce traffic speed limits. Please contact a City representative to voice your safety concerns.

11. Comment: There should be a Citizen Advisory Committee that is not directly under the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) and without elected officials acting as a buffer. Many local citizens want to be directly involved with the decisions made in the design of the I-25 Valley Highway.

    Response: As presented in the scoping meetings, several specific workshops will be formed to address: 1) the Broadway Interchange, 2) urban design, 3) disabled mobility and access, 4) pedestrian and bicycle alignment and access, and 5) other design issues identified by the Policy Advisory Committee. Interested citizens who signed up as a workshop volunteer will be asked to participate in specific citizen workshops. There will be no formal Citizens Advisory Committee developed and coordinated by FHWA or CDOT. These citizen workshop meetings are expected to be started late in 2002.

    CDOT feels that elected officials are very important in the EIS process. Your concerns about the Valley Highway EIS process and alternative designs can be heard by your local elected officials: City Councilwomen (Ortega, MacKenzie and Martinez). Representatives from the City and County of Denver are on the PAC.

12. Comment: There is a concern about the current and future conditions at Broadway northbound on-ramp. It is unsafe, noisy, has poor vehicle access and generates dirt/pollution.

    Response: The alternative selection process will review all of these issues. It is the goal of the EIS to improve the safety and mobility of I-25 and the major intersections. Your participation in reviewing and commenting on these alternatives and environmental impacts is important to CDOT.

13. Comment: Neighborhood transportation committees within Homeowner Associations should be formed. The neighborhoods must review EIS documents that help provide the basis for the Record of Decision (ROD).

    Response: FHWA and CDOT welcome input from neighborhood associations. Two major documents will be generated during the Valley Highway EIS Study that will form the basis for the ROD: the Draft EIS and the Final EIS. There will be a public review and comment period when these documents are competed. A public hearing will also be held at these times to allow the public to voice their opinions on the proposed design alternatives and environmental impacts.

14. Comment: Could there be any transportation changes in hazmat shipments (radioactive shipment to the WIPP location in New Mexico) in the Valley Highway Corridor.

    Response: There are no known changes to the transportation of radioactive material on I-25 that will affect this EIS. The EIS and design alternatives must be in compliance to existing federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

15. Comment: The owner of the Amoco Station on Alameda (Jerry Human) was deciding whether to expand his business and wanted to know if and when his station property may be taken by CDOT. He wanted to know what are the specific CDOT Right of Way acquisition procedures.

    Response: A CDOT representative will be in contact with Jerry Human to discuss the ROW acquisition procedures. Specific areas for right of way acquisition are not known until the preferred alternative is selected.

16. Question: There is excessive noise created by news helicopters over a residential area near I-25. Can CDOT develop a way to assess traffic conditions without the need for news helicopters?

    Response: CDOT uses sophisticated electronic equipment to assess traffic movement on I-25 that is used to help pin point accidents and congestion points. The local news stations choose to use helicopters for live and up to the minute reporting of traffic conditions. It is recommended that the news stations be contacted about the helicopter noise.

17. Comment: the EIS should consider addressing 6th Avenue to the east. There are excessive vehicle speeds from the viaduct into neighborhoods. The road and traffic condition segregates the neighborhood. CDOT should consider taking high speed traffic underground.

    Response: The project limits of the project do not include 6th Avenue east of the interchange with I-25. CDOT shares your concern about high vehicle speeds in neighborhoods that can affect the safety of pedestrians, especially children. It is suggested that local elected officials or the appropriate of City of Denver representative be contacted to help enforce the speed limits.

18. Comment: Have the construction company maintain good safe lighting under Broadway Viaduct to chase off predators; highly unsafe conditions occur at this location.

    Response: CDOT has instructed the contractor to improve the lighting conditions under the viaduct to alleviate the unsafe conditions described in your comment.

    Business Concerns

19. Comment: Local businesses need more advanced notice about highway design or construction changes that may affect their access. A representative from US Welding mentioned that concrete barriers placed in front of his business impeded truck movement in and out of his facility. The configuration of the trucks going in and out of US Welding may be different from standard truck sizes.

    Response: CDOT will contact US Welding and measure US Welding trucks. This information will be acknowledged in the design alternatives in the EIS.

20. Comment: A person’s business is directly next to I-25 and they suspect that it will be taken by CDOT. Please inform local businesses early if the area is to be taken.

    Response: CDOT will not know what properties will be at risk until after the preferred alternative is selected in the EIS process. It is recommended that businesses with these concerns contact the Valley Highway Hotline Number, and we will put you in touch with CDOT’s Right of Way Contact.

21. Comment: Access to US Welding and Home Depot area from I-25 and Santa Fe is critical; the current access is dangerous. There is a concern that local business will be cut off from customers and transportation.

    Response: Local business access to I-25 is a major priority for this EIS project. Design alternatives for I-25 and the major intersections will be thoroughly assessed. Local business owners and association leaders are encouraged to attend public meetings where design alternatives are presented for local citizen feedback.

    Meeting Coordination and Community Communication

22. Comment: CDOT must provide adequate communication opportunities to neighborhoods and local businesses. There needs to be adequate notification of highway closures. There should be an adequate hotline that is staffed to answer questions in a timely fashion. The Valley Highway EIS should communicate through the City and County of Denver’s registered neighborhood list.

    Response: The Valley Highway Project will strive to communicate with the local neighborhoods and businesses that will be impacted by the improvements to the I-25 Valley Highway. We have already contacted most of the local businesses in the corridor to notify them about the EIS study. We have contacted many of the Homeowner Associations in the project area to educate them on the EIS process, provide information in their newsletters, and give presentations to their local residents. If you are aware of any communities or Homeowner Associations we have missed, please let us know. The next set of public meetings will be December 12th and 17th. Please watch the newspapers, local news, or visit our web site (www.dot.state.co.us) for future announcements.

23. Comment: There was too short of time notifying the local communities about these public scoping meetings; two weeks would be adequate time. CDOT should consider using e-mails via Homeowner Associations, television, and newspapers. The meeting was not well coordinated since representatives from RTD, T-REX and Cherokee Redevelopment were not present for the meetings.

    Response: CDOT will provide more advanced notice for future public meetings. Local newspapers, radio, and television stations will be contacted to help get the meeting notification out. At future meetings, representatives from the RTD, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, City and County of Denver, and other agencies will attend when topics of concern will be discussed. The next public meetings will be held December 12 and 17, 2002. An announcement will be mailed to past meeting attendees.

24. Comment: There should have been more active communication between CDOT and the local neighborhoods; this meeting should have happened a year ago. The Broadway Viaduct is already being built.

    Response: The design and construction of the Broadway Viaduct is not part of the Valley Highway EIS Study. The viaduct replacement project was initiated several years ago to address safety concerns posed by the deteriorating condition of the existing viaduct. The planning and design process for the viaduct replacement included a public involvement process and full consideration of potential environmental concerns.

25. Comment: A near-by resident (Dave Harris) asked for an aerial depiction of where the viaduct will be built. His residence is very close to the existing viaduct.

    Response: CDOT will obtain an aerial photo or design that depicts the future alignment and orientation of the viaduct relative to Dave Harris’s residence.

26. Comment: The CDOT Valley Highway Website should not be stagnant. It should contain up-to-date information, designs, provide scoping documents to participants, and summary documents.

    Response: The Valley Highway EIS Website (www.dot.state.co.us) is currently being constructed and should be operational by December 2002. It will be updated regularly and contain meeting presentations and summaries, documents, and highway and interchange designs. It will also allow visitors to provide comments or questions about the project. These comments and questions will be responded to within 72 hours. There will be links to R-TEX, RTD, and the City and County of Denver to aid the public in gathering additional information.

27. Comment: Better engage the Spanish speaking community. Provide incentives for their attendance.

    Response: The Valley Highway Project Team will strive to improve the communication among all minority communities including the Spanish speaking population. At a minimum, local Spanish newspapers and radio stations will be contacted to help notify the Hispanic population about the next public meeting.

28. Comment: Please work more closely with the Baker Historic Neighborhood Association.

    Response: We plan on working closely with the Baker Historic Neighborhood Association and other Homeowner Associations throughout the duration of the project. CDOT will attend these neighborhood meetings to inform local residents about the progress and status of the project and will provide timely articles in homeowner association newsletters.

    Transportation Interchange and Design Feedback

29. Comment: There is concern about closure of Alameda and Broadway Interchanges and the Santa Fe/Kalamath railroad crossing. CDOT should considering working with the City of Denver on Alameda on the underpass retaining wall.

    Response: No decisions have been made regarding redesign or elimination of any interchanges in the project area. The design improvements and elimination of these interchanges will be reviewed and screened by the EIS alternatives selection process. Access, traffic, cost, and environmental impacts and technical feasibility will be assessed to develop a preferred alternative for the corridor. The Alameda underpass will be reviewed in this EIS. CDOT is working with the City and County of Denver, who are Cooperating Agencies for this EIS and active members of the Technical Working Group (TWG).

30. Comment: The City needs public transportation in the area. There needs to be Light Rail Transit consideration for I-25.

    Response: There is agreement that public transportation is needed in the Denver Area. The Regional Transportation District has plans for public transit in the Valley Highway Corridor. For more information on Light Rail Transit and other public transportation projects contact RTD at (303) 299-6000.

31. Comment: Adjust highway curvature to avoid sun related congestion on or near the Broadway Viaduct.

    Response: This suggestion will be reviewed under the EIS design alternative analysis.

32. Comment: West side access to light rail at Broadway and Alameda presents a significant problem that should be corrected. It would be nice to have access from the west side of tracks, many employees and local people in the area would like to use light rail.

    Response: CDOT recognizes that pedestrian access to the light rail station is important and presently difficult at this location. The EIS process will be looking at various alternatives to improve pedestrian light rail transit access and mobility.

33. Comment: Correct flooding problem at Alameda, underneath the train overpass.

    Response: Alameda at this location is a city street and under the responsibility of the City and County of Denver. However, the CDOT will be upgrading drainage features to current standards within the affected areas of the preferred alternative.

34. Comment: Consider a railroad grade separation at Santa Fe/Kalamath to increase safety and decrease congestion and traffic back up.

    Response: The railroad grade separation at Santa Fe/Kalamath will be investigated as part of this EIS.

35. Comment: Look at the alignment and access of Santa Fe and Alameda.

    Response: Various design alternatives at Santa Fe and Alameda will be considered in the EIS process.

    Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation

36. Comment: Pedestrian/Bike Access throughout the corridor and to the South Platte River is difficult in many locations in the corridor such as the 8th Avenue Bridge and Alameda. CDOT should consider enhancing pedestrian and bicycle mobility by providing overpasses at the following locations: 1) an east/west crossing of I-25 near Exposition, 2) crossing at 1st or 2nd Avenues, 3) between Alameda and Louisiana, and 4) Virginia. Some of these crossovers could be used by automobiles, pedestrians, and bicycles.

    Response: Bicycle and pedestrian access to the South Platte and overall mobility needs improvement in the corridor. The Valley Highway EIS will reference already existing bicycle and pedestrian plans for this corridor. Bicycle and Parks/Greenway representatives from the City and County of Denver and local interest groups will be contacted to provide input into future enhancements.

37. Comment: There is flooding on the Platte Bike Trail at Alameda and on Mississippi. Future designs should address this issue.

    Response: : The drainage off of the proposed I-25 design alternatives will be evaluated and any flooding of roads and bikes paths will be addressed by the EIS to alleviate flooding problems. Stormwater and flood management will need to be coordinated with the City and County of Denver, since large volumes of stormwater come from streets and impervious areas under their management control.

38. Comment: Consider adding pedestrian and bike access to Home Depot on Santa Fe from Alameda Light Rail Transit Station and from Mississippi Avenue.

    Response: The Valley Highway EIS will review this potential pedestrian and bicycle option in the alternatives analysis.

    Coordination with Other Projects

39. Comment: It appears that the Valley Highway EIS is not well integrated with other transportation programs. There are several transportation projects in the Valley Highway Corridor that need to be considered during the EIS such as 1) integrated solution at Broadway (RTD Bus Rapid Transit/Light Rail), 2) Cherokee Development (Citizen’s Advisory in existence), 3) 13th Avenue EIS with RTD, and 4) Coordinate efforts with T-REX.

    Response: As part of the NEPA EIS process, the Valley Highway EIS Study must take into account the entire existing and planned future transportation projects. The design alternatives selected in the EIS process cannot preclude any future public transit system in the area. The CDOT Project Manager meets monthly with RTD representatives about the Valley Highway Corridor and the need to coordinate actions and reduce impacts. CDOT also meets regularly with representatives from the Cherokee Redevelopment to address the increase in traffic volumes at the former Gates property. Representatives from the T-REX project have routinely attended technical EIS project meetings. CDOT will make it a point to have representatives from these and other agencies attend future public meetings (December 12 and 17, 2002).

    Visual Quality and Aesthetics

40. Comment: It is important to the neighborhoods that CDOT make I-25 a “pretty” highway; aesthetics using artwork and streetscape are important. There was a question about whether a certain percentage of project funds are earmarked for art work for urban design enhancement.

    Response: Urban design of the I-25 corridor is important for CDOT. CDOT has identified urban design as a major design feature for the Valley Highway EIS. There will be a citizen workshop specifically for urban design elements. There is no required percentage of highway and transportation funds that is targeted for art work/urban design enhancement.

    Natural Resource Impacts

41. Comment: There could be impacts to the South Platte River habitat and water quality due to the Valley Highway Project. An area of concern is where the corridor becomes very narrow and the highway goes between the South Platte River and commercial businesses next to railroad tracks. There is a concern about the impact to water quality from drainage coming off the highway.

    Response: Several interstate alignment options will be developed and assessed during the design alternatives process of the EIS. It is certain that some stream and water quality impacts will occur if the design moves the interstate west over or into the South Platte River. Water quality impacts will be less if the interstate alignment is to the east. It is envisioned that the drainage coming off the interstate will be collected into structural features (retention or detention ponds, sediment traps, etc.) and treated before entering the South Platte River. This collection and treatment of water is consistent with State of Colorado and EPA stormwater regulations.

42. Comment: There is a concern about the impact to the river due to construction and operation of the highway in light of the river’s current condition.

    Response: According to the current Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Water Quality Division regulations, construction activities greater than 5 acres will require a General Stormwater Permit. The conditions of the permit are for construction activities to institute best management practices to protect surface water conditions. A stormwater permit will need to be obtained by the Valley Highway Project during construction. It is expected that water quality conditions will actually improve by the improvements to I-25. Currently, stormwater drainage off of I-25 runs directly into the South Platte River. The improved I-25 will have stormwater “treatment” systems that will improve the stormwater runoff before it enters the South Platte River; thus improving the system’s overall water quality.