CORRIDOR-WIDE MEETING SUMMARY

Transcription

1 CORRIDOR-WIDE MEETING SUMMARY Date/Time: (5:00 P.M.) Location: Bruce Randolph Middle School (Denver) Project Team: Michelle Tyler Manolo Gonzalez-Estay Karen Allen Billye Clinton Peter Kozinski Kim Gambrill Deborah Cardenas Amelia Deleon Bill Sirois Farrah Pinckney Skye Barker Craig Gaskill Byron Robinson Jeremy Hanak Brent Billingsley Tom Schilling Brenda Morales-Calbart Nate Allen Gray McGinnis Kurt Kionka George Tsiouvaras Josh Phair Chris Quinn Sharon Lipp Jumetta Posey Loretta Leyba Barry Schulz Alan Ross Jess Ortiz Carrie Wallis Jeff Dawson Dave Millar Mike Turner Elizabeth Atler R.A. Plummer Brian Rantala Attendees: Donavan Paschall Mandy Paschall Georgianne Bell Minnie Cullins Anne Callison Derek Officer Brenda Vazquez Gilbert Vasquez Sandra Bougeois Jim O Connell José Rodríguez Ellen Klaver Betty Wonder Keith Dameron Brett Turner Larry Burgess Dave Beckhouse Sara Speer Jerry Piffer Leo Bransletter Isabella Marquez Roy Marquez Jo Mosby Steve Gordon Amanda Champany Ellen Salvador Tim Marquez Steve Hersey W. H Nelson Sheldon Chrysler Tim Morroni Eric Smith Greg Johnson Diana Gates Alvertis Simmons Diane Cunningham Elizabeth Hollowell Erica Landeros Veronica Holguin Mike Stone Ray Ruppert Anthony Thomas Skip Spensley Mark Wonder Joanne True Paula Purifoy Todd Inglee Penfield Tate Brendon D. Harrington Tanya Mccrey Robert Martinez Fred McPeck Hackstaff Frank Woertman Joe Schaube Paul Lopez Harold Newman Ron Speral I. PROJECT OPEN HOUSE The first two hours of the meeting was conducted as an open house with general topic areas including: Area One Project overview Area Two Existing transportation conditions Area Three Future traffic growth Area Four Project purpose and need Last revised: 02/24/04

2 Page 2 of 14 Area Five Goals and objectives Area Six Evaluation criteria Area Seven Alternative analysis process Area Eight Alternative category lists II. PROJECT PRESENTATION The corridor-wide meeting began with Jumetta welcoming everyone to the meeting. A slide show describing the project overview, goals and objectives, and draft alternatives list was presented. An outline of the presentation is provided here. A. PROJECT OVERVIEW Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process Scoping process completed in December EIS Process Chart 1. Scoping 2. Purpose and Need 3. Evaluation Criteria 4. Alternative Development 5. Alternative Screening 6. Draft EIS (DEIS) Evaluation 7. Public Comment on DEIS 8. Final EIS (FEIS) 9. Formal Public Comment on FEIS 10. Record of Decision (ROD) * Shaded areas determine where we are in the EIS process. B. DRAFT PROJECT GOALS Access Allow for reasonable access to transportation facilities Capacity Allow for realistic capacity expansion to minimize future congestion Community Support community plans and avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to neighborhoods Environmental Avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts to the natural, social, and cultural environment Implementation Provide a cost-effective transportation solution that can be implemented Infrastructure Address deteriorating transportation infrastructure Mobility Enhance mobility by providing transportation choices Safety Address safety needs by upgrading facilities to current standards Security Provide a secure transportation system Access Allow for reasonable access to transportation facilities Access versus performance Multi-modal (bicycles, pedestrians, automobile, transit) Variety of users

3 Page 3 of 14 Capacity Allow for realistic capacity expansion to minimize future congestion Transportation choices Movement of people Movement of goods Minimize delays Community Support community plans and avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to neighborhoods Consistency with plans Residential, business, and institutional property impacts Business economic impacts Economic development Community cohesiveness Transportation related impacts Environment Avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts to the natural, social and cultural environment Historic resources Regional air quality Minority and low-income populations Wetlands and waters of the US Recreational and open space resources Highway and transit noise and transit vibration impacts Hazardous materials Visual impacts Implementation Provide a cost-effective transportation solution that can be implemented Cost-effective long-term solution Flexibility for expansion Practical technologies Funding opportunities Infrastructure Address detiorating transportation infrastructure I-70 viaduct and other structures Drainage and flooding impacts Mobility Enhance mobility by providing transportation choices Connections between residential and business areas Transfers between modes Multi-modal options System reliability User needs

4 Page 4 of 14 Safety Address safety needs by upgrading facilities to current standards Minimize accident potential Conform with standards Conflict points Emergency response Security Provide a secure transportation system Threats to the interstate system Access to DIA Homeland security objectives Community Forum The meeting was opened up to any questions or comments the public may have regarding the draft goals and objectives that were presented. The public had the following questions/concerns: 1. Can you explain and expand on community transportation related impacts? Answer: The project team will be addressing concerns heard through the public process related to community impacts. These include air, water, and noise impacts. 2. Talk about practical technologies. Answer: Proven or practical technologies are technologies that are currently in use in other cities and in comparable conditions. 3. Are you going to be considering health impacts? Answer: Yes, we will be evaluating health impacts during the EIS process related to noise, air quality, and water quality. 4. What does addressed mean? Answer: Addressed means analyzed 5. What is acceptable in terms of health? Answer: The Community Impacts working group will help the project team to decide the limits. 6. Are you going to address cumulative impacts in this study beyond baseline impacts? Answer: Yes, cumulative impacts will be addressed. Following the questions and answers, the draft alternatives were presented. An outline is provided here. C. DRAFT ALTERNATIVES Interstate alignment Interchanges Interstate lane types Transit alignments Station locations

5 Page 5 of 14 Transit technology Transportation demand management/transportation systems management Local System Improvements Interstate alignment Existing I-70 horizontal and vertical alignment Lower I-70 (along the existing viaduct) Add another level above I-70 (along existing viaduct, two levels of I-70) Enclose I-70 (roof/cover) Move I-70 to go along I-270 Interchanges All existing locations from I-25 to Peña Boulevard Remove some interchanges New locations o Central Park Boulevard (Yosemite Street) o Globeville o Monaco/Holly/Dahlia Transit alignments I th Avenue Broadway Street Washington Street North of I-70 Martin Luther King Smith Road Colfax Avenue Tower Road Bruce Randolph 38 th Avenue Montview Boulevard Existing Union Pacific tracks 30 th Avenue/Downing Street to 40 th Avenue/40 th Street Peña Boulevard Havana and 56 th Avenue 64 th Avenue Station locations 40 th Avenue/40 th Street Smith Road/Peoria Street Tower Road/Smith Road Peña Boulevard/Tower Road York Street Colorado Boulevard

6 Page 6 of 14 Swansea/Globeville area Quebec Street Fitzsimons Former Stapleton Within Former Stapleton development Denver International Airport Gateway 33 rd Avenue/Downing Street Union Station Airport Boulevard/Smith Road 40 th Avenue/Peña Boulevard 40 th Avenue/Colorado Boulevard Community Forum After the presentation, the meeting was opened up to any questions or concerns the audience may have regarding the draft alternatives that were presented. The public had the following questions/concerns: 1. You talked about reasonable alternatives, explain what that is. Answer: Reasonable alternatives are those that will be carried through the alternative screening process, and attempt to meet the project goals and objectives. 2. Is an elevated toll road a reasonable alternative? Why are you still considering this if communities are against it? Answer: The toll road alternative was suggested during the scoping process and will be evaluated in addition to all other suggested alternatives. 3. I am concerned that there are two Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) being conducted, the US 36 EIS and I-70 EIS, they should communicate with each other and include I-270. Answer: US 36 and I-70 are coordinating efforts and have been scheduling coordination meetings throughout this process. 4. I am concerned if this will help us in Montebello or is it for people to go from Downtown to DIA? Answer: We are looking at reasonable access for all users. 5. In Chicago they run transit to Airport and along the Highway, you should do that. 6. What cities have you looked at and studied? Answer: At the moment, we have not reviewed any other cities. Once we get further along in the process, we will compile information from other studies nationally. Many of the members of our project team have performed work in other cities and bring this expertise. 7. Once you get to DIA there needs to be a plan to go east, is there one? Answer: Currently, there are no plans to go further east. The study limits end at DIA.

7 Page 7 of Keep I-70 for local service and make an alternative route along I-270 Answer: I-70 to 270 is being looked at. 9. Do you know what percentage of traffic on the interstate is local? This is important to understand. Answer: Yes, we are looking at traffic models that will be able to determine this. 10. Are you going to put a transit stop in Northeast Denver? Have you decided? (People need to get to work, etc.) Answer: Station locations have not been decided at this time. Those discussions will occur over the next several months. 11. Why did you select CRL (lobbying firm) to do outreach without coming to our community? Answer: CRL is not associated with the I-70 East Corridor EIS. 12. Are you going through a weighing the evaluation process? Answer: The process starts here, but FTA and FHWA are the ultimate decision makers. The process does not give weights to goals and objectives. 13. Can you discuss transit technology in particular to low speed and high speed? How are you going to serve the new population in the E-470 area? Answer: Transit technologies will be addressed in the evaluation of alternatives. E-470 population centers will be included in the modeling process. 14. I am confused with the boundaries of RTD in particular the areas in the East, is DRCOG bigger than RTD boundaries? Answer: DRCOG model is bigger than the RTD region. 15. I was just notified for the first time, when did the study start? Answer: June 16. Did you hit all the homeowners and associations? There is concern that you are not contacting everyone, would like to see a full ad in the paper and give businesses more lead-time. Answer: Homeowners associations, and businesses were notified, and announcements were in the papers. We will look into more ways of reaching out to the communities. 18. There should be a Spanish only group, this may encourage for Spanish-speaking residents to attend. 19. Elderly people say you are going to do what you want anyway, so why should the go to the meetings? 20. Last meeting several hundred people were here (people get tired) 21. Let us know in the newsletter that food will be there and more will come.

8 Page 8 of Acquisitions of property should be addressed. 23. When is the public going to discuss draft evaluation criteria? (want weighting of criteria and be able to put on boards) Answer: The draft evaluation criteria are available on displays at this meeting. They will also be available for review on the website next week. 24. Not acceptable to on boards want to see weight factors- when finalized. Answer: We are not applying weight factors to evaluation criteria. 25. There was no visual preference survey, how will it be done scientifically? How will you deliver a true visual preference with the communities and the traffic? Answer: Computer simulations will help to determine visual impacts and visual preference will be discussed in the working groups. 26. Study lacks creativity, how can we change the dynamics to offer a more positive process? Answer: We will need to explore this comment. 27. Health has come up at every meeting. It seems like it has been ignored. There should be more attention given to health. Answer: There are federal standards and we will look at them as part of the analysis. FHWA, FTA, and EPA are all working together to discuss methodology for health. D. HOW TO STAY INVOLVED Following the community forum, a short presentation on How to stay involved was provided. An outline of the presentation follows: How to stay involved Future public meetings Presentation/updates Project office (3840 York Street, ) Newsletters Website: Technical/Issues Working Groups Technical/Issues Working Groups The Technical/Issues Working Groups (T/IWGs) are Groups that will meet to discuss issues and approaches to various project concerns. Sign-up sheets for the T/IWGs were made available at the public meeting for any interested parties. The Technical/Issues Working Groups established thus far, include: Stations Community impacts Bicycle/pedestrian/open space Economic development Interchanges/ramps

9 Page 9 of 14 Alternative routes Trucking/motor carriers The Stations and Community Impacts working groups have already begun meeting. The other groups will begin meeting shortly. Opportunities to sign-up for these groups are also available on the I-70 East Corridor EIS website. III. WRAP-UP The next corridor-wide meetings will continue to be held at each major milestone. Summary of Comment Forms The following section summarizes the comments by question received to date from the comment sheets distributed at the meetings. 1. Do you have any comments or question on the project purpose and need or project goals and objectives? Mitigate/Prevent impacts on human health. Health is a huge concern. 36% of the Globeville, Elyria, Swansea population are children ( 18 years old) and three schools are adjacent to I-70, their health is on the line. I feel the project should explicitly address the potential health impacts on the residents of the community. I think it is important to keep in mind how these changes will affect community members, children, school, homes, as well as how it will change the amount of pollution in the area. Is it possible to address the issue of property acquisition (Eminent Domain) to property (i.e. business owners)? This would help for future planning. Please mail me a copy of the draft evaluation criteria. (M. Cullins) I d like to see some kind of focus on how this study could be used to improve the neighborhoods as apposed to just preventing the destruction of neighborhoods. 2. Do you have any comments or questions on the alternative screening process or the evaluation criteria? Have a Federal Highway Administration representative around at meetings. Sometimes access to these officials generates an air of trust. I am concerned about real consideration that will be given to community input regarding final decisions. Use community input on criteria for screening process.

10 Page 10 of 14 How would this system compare to other systems in the U.S.A.? 3. Do you have comments on, or are there additional alternatives that should be looked at in each of the following categories? Interstate alignments Lowering I-70 to ground level will only increase the amount of pollution felt by the community and will create situation of freeway speeds alongside an elementary school. Safety and pollution are huge factors. Highway 36, I-270, I-70, I-225 Take I-70 below grade help revitalize the neighborhood Do not want or need a triple-decker highway on I-70 Interchanges Please improve the safety/access to the York Street exit and on-ramp, it s very dangerous. Westbound I-70 access to York Street North and South. Property acquisition eminent domain. Peoria over pass/tunnel, Tower Road over pass/tunnel, Havana over pass/tunnel, service roads on each side of each to the interstates, Lower I-70 Improvements to 38 th and Brighton Boulevard interchanges. York Street needs some love. The poor sand filled barrels fall off the interchange into our parking lot all the time. Interstate lane types No toll roads on I-70. Please consider limiting freight truck, semi tractor-trailer, and traffic from traveling in left lanes similar to Atlanta. Property acquisition eminent domain. No toll roads on I-70 put them on I-270. Transportation Demand Management/Transportation System Management Traffic is noticeably lighter on government observed holidays. Please consider structuring government employees work hours around rush hours; especially given the Denver annexation of Denver International Airport area.

11 Page 11 of 14 Weighing/evaluation access. Look at staggering different agencies work time (start/end). Example: Washington DC. Make better train crossings 40 th /York and 40 th /Josephineand 46 th /York. Use I-70 for local use only, other traffic should rotate to I-270 to protect air quality in local neighborhoods. Transit alignments Shift/split traffic along I-70 and 270 Station locations: Station stop at Colorado Boulevard, Havana, Quebec, Dahlia, Holly Globeville 31 st, Brighton Boulevard, Blake Need lots of stations in the low-income areas - they provide opportunities for development and jobs Station needed at or near Colorado Boulevard Transit technologies These communities already have a lot of pollution from industry and highways/interstates, Diesel Multiple Unit will only add to these environmental burdens. Light rail is preferred. Clean technologies-not DMU Local system improvements Bus services/connection to access light rail commuter rail stations stops. Transportation down Brighton Boulevard from Downtown to National Western (47 th /Brighton Boulevard) 4. Any other comments or questions? I would like a more detailed MAP. Would like more mailings, since this is my first meeting and notice! I am not receiving ANY notification about the T/IWG meetings or corridor-wide meetings. Please call me. Community members have a general distrust (because of

12 Page 12 of 14 I-70 construction in 1961) of the involved governmental agencies and feel that you guys will do what YOU want, thus will not participate in the EIS process. You need to address how you are going to address right of way acquisition in a sensitive and timely fashion. Keep your promises and visit businesses in the corridor when the time comes; especially if you plan on acquiring their property. What other cities will you visit to compare notes? What pedestrian-friendly aspects will be included? Are there considerations for how to connect to citizens east of Denver International Airport going toward E-470? Please be sure to communicate by all means. Does reasonable get defined as least expansive? Consider routing heavy traffic (large trucks) via I-270 (which needs to be widened) and I-76 during heavy traffic. I believe FortWorth,Texas has accomplished routing large trucks around the city during heavy traffic times. When is the current viaduct obsolete? Please leave fliers at Cross Community Coalition; we get a lot of community members coming in. Give COPEEN money to do outreach. Have you forgotten about monorail? Summary of Comments Cards The following section summarizes comments by the project exhibits received during the corridor-wide meeting. Would like to see station at Colorado Boulevard At 40 th /40 th, access on the west side should be provided to give access to Brighton Boulevard Would like to see a station near National Western Add sidewalks adjacent to I-70 Add bicycle route downtown to Union Station Toll Road on 270 instead of I-70 How effective are HOV lanes? Are there studies on HOV lanes? Safety Concern: Westbound I-70 exit of Washington Street near the bottom of the ramp the pavement is too smooth and slick Health is a big concern in relation to transportation (i.e. air pollution). Please look at current air quality along I-70 corridor and how it affects health Instead of having truck-only ramps at Steele, close the Pilot Station Human health should be a separate goal Health impacts to community are more important than travel time

13 Page 13 of 14 Address health issues of children from fumes, particulates, garbage, etc. Why not construct on 56 th Avenue? Problem with Magnesium Chloride, corrodes aluminum car parts Do more transportation education for all modes Bike education (bike safety) Construction routes/updates Transit availability More transit opportunities and oriented development north of I-70 in Elyria/Swansea neighborhood Do not want an elevated highway Traffic is moving nice there is no need for change. We do not need any more impacts to the community (4700 Brighton Boulevard) Downtown needs two transit connections with rail Additional parking spaces for park-n-ride, especially if light rail goes to airport Bus feeder to light rail that operates at frequency greater than 15 minutes does not work If and when light rail goes to DIA, keep the option open for connection to North Front Range area Fix expansion joints that are bumps not a smooth ride Why isn t RTD proposing any stops in Northeast Denver? Station Locations: Would like to see more stops, not necessarily more stations (i.e. park-n-ride). Community people want access Consider Sky Tram. (diagram drawn on note card) Transit stop on Steele Need more stops than FasTracks. Not to many stops because it will take too long to get to the airport Consider HOT Lanes We need a stop at Colorado Boulevard and 40 th Avenue. We need more than just a stop at 40 th /40 th Avenue Look at adding shoulders on I-70. It is dangerous without them We would like to see light rail go up north of I-70. We are hoping to get a light rail stop 4900 York Street Local System improvements: Widen 56 th to four lanes probably would not be enough would probably need six lanes How are previous studies being incorporated into this EIS? Consider truck-only lanes on I-70 Provide both express and local trains for transit 45 th and Tower/56 th and Tower: Would be good station locations for Tower alignment Would like to see light rail feeder system along Tower and serving Green Valley Ranch, Singletree and the Hotels

14 Page 14 of 14 Smith Road, I-70, 40 th /40 th does not make sense to serve people along corridor. To far away from people It is crucial that the rail line be accessible to the neighborhoods, Northeast Park Hill, Swansea, Clayton, Cole and Five Points-stops in Stapleton and DIA. Any Northeast rail alignment must tie into the current line that dead ends at 30 th and Downing 40 th Airport Park-n-ride, doesn t work. Doesn t think light rail or RTD rail services will work either. Works on Santa Fe and Oxford and lives in Green Valley Provide emergency lanes on I-70 to allow traffic to keep flowing when vehicles break down Ray Ruppert has submitted three separate comments with his recommended alternative (56 th Avenue) he wants someone to get in touch with him Consider people traveling from the east to DIA Transit alignment should consider Picadilly and E-470 Too many grade crossings on the non-up rail corridor. Would work if it was elevated. Using existing railroad right of way is cheapest. No.40 bus on Colorado is busy, should have interchange with whatever rail solution is selected No.40 cross-town bus needs connection to rail stop at or near Colorado Boulevard. Environmental/Health concerns: Impact to Swansea Elementary health of children (transportation next to schools) What about a transit connection between US36 and I-70 East before Union Station. Add a transit line along Brighton Boulevard between downtown and I-70. This could bus or rail Add a station in between Union Station and 40 th and 40 th approximately at 31 st Street Transportation Demand Management: Concern with effectiveness of ramp metering Transportation Improvement: Make longer merge lanes Transportation Improvements: Better lighting and lane marking I would like to see light rail down Martin Luther King Boulevard On the graphics, put more cross streets and local streets to better identify location Increase bus service/connections to get people to the light rail stops/stations For this project we need to do a better job than was done for T-REX to inform the public about upcoming construction Denver.com says that 13,000 cars go up Brighton Boulevard