Commissioner Partridge turned the meeting over to Commissioner Mark Waller to make a few comments.

Transcription

1 I-25 GAP COALITION MEETING #4 October 26, 2017 Douglas County Fairgrounds Main Event Center 500 Fairgrounds Blvd., Castle Rock MEETING SUMMARY Attendees Chuck Attardo Rachel Beck Linda Black Steve Cook Carrie DeJiacomo-Wiedner Andrew Dunkley Diane Evans Emeka Ezekwemba Frank Gray Art Griffith Wendy Holmes Jennifer Irvine Paul Jesaitis Derek Lindwall Representative Polly Lawrence Ron Papsdorf Commissioner Roger Partridge David Poling Mayor Ron Rakowsky Pam Ridler Roger Sherman Rick Sonnenburg Mayor John Suthers (by telephone) Commissioner Lora Thomas Commissioner Mark Waller Larry Warner Jennifer Webster Mandy Wharton Mayor Pro Tem Don Wilson Richard Zamora Welcome and Introductions Douglas County Commissioner Roger Partridge welcomed everyone to the fourth meeting of the I-25 Gap Coalition. Commissioner Partridge noted that CDOT Executive Director Shailen Bhatt announced this morning that he was leaving CDOT at the end of the year. He will be taking on a new job as the President and CEO at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. Commissioner Partridge acknowledged Shailen s support in advancing the I-25 Gap project. He then asked those in attendance to introduce themselves. Commissioner Partridge turned the meeting over to Commissioner Mark Waller to make a few comments. Commissioner Waller noted we are 2-3 years ahead of where he thought we would be at this point in the process. The early momentum is a testament to the tenacity of the Coalition. He recognized both the City of Colorado Springs and Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce for their support with the two ballot initiatives. El Paso County and the PPRTA are trying to raise $25 million in local money for the Gap project. He reported ballots are being returned at a higher rate than projected, which he believes is a good sign for the two ballot questions. 1

2 Administrative Items Larry Warner noted that the Meeting #3 summary was sent out with the agenda and are posted on the website. The next Coalition meeting is January 25, No meetings are scheduled for November or December. CDOT will be hosting two I-25 South PEL Study & I-25 Gap NEPA public meetings on December 5 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds and December 7 at the El Paso County Office of Emergency Management. These meetings were rescheduled from previously announced meetings in October. CDOT I-25 Gap Project and Schedule Update Carrie DeJiacomo provided an update on the I-25 Gap project and CDOT s goal of issuing a notice to proceed to construction by November 2018 or sooner subject to funding availability. To meet that goal, CDOT is advancing the NEPA process to have a Decision Document by June 2018 and complete final design by the summer of This is a very aggressive schedule. CDOT has determined the best delivery method to meet the schedule is Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC). The project cost is estimated to be $350 million with proposed funding of $250 million in state SB-267 funds, $35 M in local funds, and $65 M from a federal INFRA grant. CDOT anticipates advertising for a Contractor by the end of the year to allow them to participate in the final design process in Carrie reviewed the proposed action for the Gap project which includes adding one managed lane in each direction to the 18-mile segment between Monument and Castle Rock; widening shoulders for safety and incidents; reconstructing/rehabilitating structures and pavement as needed; and improving wildlife crossings. The purpose and need for the Gap project that CDOT is advancing to the NEPA process is to enhance safety, reduce delays, and improve reliability for travel on I-25 through the 18-mile, four-lane bottleneck (the Gap) between Colorado Springs and the Denver South region. Improvements are needed on I-25 to Improve safety and reduce crashes; enhance incident management, enforcement, and maintenance, including in inclement weather conditions; reduce travel delay; and improve travel reliability. The $350 million project is considered an interim early improvement and the PEL will identify long-term and mid-term vision for the 34-mile Corridor (Monument to C-470). Questions on Gap Project and Schedule: Is the NEPA study starting in November? It started this month. It is the reason CDOT rescheduled the public meetings. CDOT wanted to be able to present the updated schedule to the public. In addition to the NEPA process, CDOT also has started working on design this month. You mentioned you want to have a CMGC contractor identified by the end of the year. That doesn t leave much time to issue an RFP and give contractors to respond? It is an aggressive schedule and may end up extending into early next year, but the team is working to get the RFP out as soon as possible. Since you have a set budget, are you going to be asking how much can a contractor deliver for the set amount or will CDOT be looking for specific design parameters that would limit that question? Typically, that approach is seen on a design-build delivery. With CMCG, CDOT knows 2

3 what it wants to build and will bring a Contractor on board to participate in the final design and move into construction. Can you discuss the criteria used to select a CMGC delivery method and other projects it has been used on? This is a very straight-forward project with very little opportunity for innovation. We may build a few walls to stay within the right-of-way, and a few bridges may be widened, but because it will stay within the right-of-way, it is really a pavement project. Pecos/I-70, Twin Tunnels, and I-70 Mountain Express Lanes are three CDOT projects that utilized the CMGC delivery method. It will also help us optimize the schedule. CDOT can break the project up into segments to allow us to issue a construction package early. Reasons and advantages for advancing the I-25 Gap NEPA Process concurrent with the overall I-25 PEL Study from Monument to C-470 Chuck Attardo provided an update on the PEL. Approximately a year ago, CDOT developed a vision for the PEL that included developing and maintaining corridor partnerships; advancing an Early Action Project; and identifying long-term and mid-term vision for the 34-mile Corridor (Monument to C-470). During the past year, CDOT has defined safety, mobility, and trip reliability problems; evaluated over 100 alternatives; completed a detailed engineering survey; completed advanced environmental data collection; conducted a detailed traffic counts and prepared a travel demand model; and coordinated with both resource agencies and local governments. These types of activities are not typical in a PEL, but were necessary to ready the project for NEPA. CDOT also learned more time is needed to identify long-term corridor solutions. We also know the Gap project is the most urgent and highest priority, and in order to make meaningful improvements the project needs to provide an additional lane in each direction, improved / wider shoulders, improved wildlife crossings, better lighting, and improved bus operations. To be ready for construction in November 2018, CDOT decided to extend the schedule to complete the PEL Study. This allows CDOT to focus attention on completing the Environmental Assessment and NEPA Decision Document and design required to begin construction. CDOT anticipates completing the NEPA Decision Document by June 2018 and will then refocus on the PEL Study between Summer 2018 and Winter Questions/comments on the PEL: Can you touch on the possibility of a Categorical Exclusion? Is that something you are hoping for? Categorical Exclusions are used in NEPA for projects that have very minimal environmental impacts and no public controversy. It might be a stretch on this project. CDOT did discuss the option with FHWA and after looking at the schedule, the risks, and considering the way CDOT is doing the design, there wasn t a schedule advantage. It also minimizes risk because an EA provides for the opportunity for more public comment. The goals relating to right-of-way is the same using either a Categorical Exclusion or an Environmental Assessment, correct? Yes, our goal under either scenario is to minimize or eliminate impacts to right of way. Will you be providing the public with advanced notice that the Gap Project will be the focus of the public meetings? PEL s tend to attract specific advocacy groups (e.g. transit advocates) and 3

4 you won t for discussing the PEL Vision in December, correct? There will be a little bit of discussion about the PEL, but the focus will be the Gap. We will make sure to clarify that as we publicize the meetings. INFRA Grant Application for I-25 Gap Update Paul Jesaitis provided an update on the INFRA Grant application for the I-25 Gap project. The program was authorized by the FAST Act in 2015 and called FASTLANE under the Obama administration. There were two solicitations. In the Spring of 2016, 212 applications were received totaling $9.85 billion. $758 million was awarded to 18 projects (11 large, 7 small). In Fall 2016, $80.0 million was awarded to 10 small projects. Under the Trump administration, the program is now called Infrastructure for Rebuilding America, or INFRA. FY 2017 and 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity was issued July 2017 and there is funding of $1.56 billion available for distribution as follows: $1.4 - $1.5 billion for large projects (>$100m) and $81 - $85 million for small projects (<$100m). At least 25% most be allocated for rural projects. Applications are due November 2, The Gap project application is being finalized. The applicant will be El Paso County and will be requesting $65 million (18.6%) of INFRA funding with local funds totaling $285 million (81.4%). The grant process will be highly competitive. Paul reviewed the five selection criteria (economic vitality, leverage federal funding, innovation, performance and accountability and project readiness) and how the project relates to each. Criteria Description I-25 S Gap Project Economic Vitality Leverage Federal Funding Innovation Performance and Accountability Project Readiness Address urban congestion Use congestion Pricing Deploy advanced technology Support national or regional economic vitality Maximize State, local, private funding Raise revenue directly Local self-help Federal credit assistance Environmental Review and Permitting Project delivery Safety and technology Milestones Policy changes Performance measures Risks-schedule, permitting, delivery Obligate funds and begin construction 4

5 Paul noted there are four INFRA Grant applications being coordinated and submitted by CDOT. Project I-25: Colorado Springs-Denver I-25: SH 402-SH 56 (Segment 6) I-70: Westbound PPSL (CDOT) US 85: Centennial Highway (Weld) TC Match Commitment Other CDOT Funding Local Funding INFRA Request Total $250,000,000 $0 $35,000,000 $65,000,000 $350,000,000 $200,000,000 $15,000,000 $80,000,000 $295,000,000 $75,000,000 $0 $0 $25,000,000 $100,000,000 $58,400,000 $10,000,000 $19,000,000 $38,300,000 $125,700,000 Total $583,400,000 $79,000,000 $208,300,000 $870,700,000 Questions/comments on INFRA: Is CDOT prioritizing the applications or just submitting? CDOT has not asked the Transportation Commission to prioritize. However, this project is a very high priority and that is being communicated. The Governor has made it clear he wants this project done, so the Department is under a lot of pressure to deliver it. Are other applications being submitted? These projects are the four CDOT is involved with. Several local applications are being submitted without CDOT involvement for both TIGER and INFRA. We were told by USDOT the INFRA grant request needed to be between 20-60% of the overall project. We are just under 20%. Should we be asking for more? There may be some miscommunication. There is not a requirement you must ask for 20% of the project cost to be eligible. INFRA may only fund up to 60% of the project s cost and the notice made it clear projects that ask for less than 60% will be more competitive. There is a minimum dollar request requirement of $25 million for large projects. Any idea when awards will be made? Given the anticipated interest and the timing of the submittals, likely the end of March before we hear. What is the status of the delegation s letter of support? Andrew Dunkley noted Congressman Lamborn s office is circulating a letter of support to the rest of the delegation. It will be a letter specific to the Gap project. Are there opportunities to leverage the Gap project to mobilize other projects such as the Crystal Valley interchange and frontage roads? The Gap project won t encompass them, but will not preclude them. Commissioner Partridge noted, in addition to the $10 million committed to the Gap project, Douglas County has identified $7.9 million for safety improvements on adjacent facilities, incident management improvements and planning/study costs. The County also identified $5 million to the west frontage road project. 5

6 Review Letter of Support from I-25 Gap Coalition for INFRA Grant Application Commissioner Partridge circulated a Letter of Support from the Coalition to be signed by the Chair and Vice-Chair. The letter will be included in the application packet along with individual Letters of Support from local jurisdictions and stakeholders. Commissioner Partridge asked and received approval from the Coalition members to sign the Letter of Support. The deadline to submit letters to CDOT is Monday, Oct