I-70 Coalition, setting the pace for the future

Traffic on I-70

Our Vision

The Collaborative Effort (CE) was a process to reach consensus on a solution to the I-70 corridor’s long-term transportation needs.   Members of the CE represented interests along the corridor from C-470 to Glenwood Springs and included local governments, resorts, highway users, transit, environmental, business and recreational interests as well as state and federal agencies.  The I-70 Coalition had several members actively involved in the process.  The CE is part of the decision-making process for the I-70 Mountain Corridor Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS.)  The PEIS is a process  guided in large measure by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which came into existence in 1970 following concerns with the Federal government's destruction of neighborhoods and the natural environment while building highways in the 50's and 60's. 

Proposed Solution
In May 2008, the CE Team agreed on a high speed mass transit and highway improvements solution that will:
• Enhance safety and mobility for all users
• Be responsive and adaptive to broader global trends
• Preserve, restore and enhance community & cultural resources
• Preserve and restore or,enhance ecosystems
• Be economically viable over the long term
• Meet all legal and environmental requirements

With a commitment to evaluate and implement an Advanced Guideway System (AGS) within the corridor, early specific highway improvements will include:
• Six lanes from Floyd Hill through the Twin Tunnels including a bike trail and frontage roads from Idaho Springs East to Hidden Valley
• Empire Junction Improvements
• Eastbound auxiliary lane from Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnels (EJMT) to Herman Gulch
• Westbound auxiliary lane from Bakerville to the EJMT

Possible Timeline
CDOT expects the Record of Decision (ROD), issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA)  for the PEIS to be completed in 2010.  It is anticipated that the ROD will include high speed rail (AGS) and specific highway improvements in the final decision.  Further, the NEPA process requires additional studies for those areas or projects within the PEIS which are either substantial in scope or have sensitive environmental considerations.  These studies can take five to eight additional years. 
Smaller highway improvement projects may start as soon as 2011.  Major highway improvements may begin in 2017.  If determined to be feasible and if funding is available, AGS planning & design may begin as soon as 2011 and if financing is secured, construction may begin between 2015 and 2020.  Of course these dates are estimates and subject economic factors, CDOT funding levels, etc.

No Easy Answers
There are no silver bullets or easy answers for this corridor. This corridor serves as an interstate highway, a tourist avenue, and as our local road. The users are many and the reasons for their trip are varied.  The government entities and geographic regions involved are numerous. The interstate also runs through some of the most pristine and rugged scenery in the country.  The solutions are complex and costly.  This all adds up to taking the time to make the right decisions, following the correct legal procedures, finding the right funding mechanisms, and designing and construction the solution in a way which minimizes the social, economic, historic, and environmental impacts. 

If you would like to follow the progress on the short term and long term efforts underway on the I-70 corridor, sign up to receive the quarterly e-newsletter, I-70 Alert!