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Alternatives Under Consideration
The Long-Term Vision for South I-25 & US 85 Through 2020 and Beyond (referred to as the Long-Term Vision) was developed through the extensive evaluation process and public/agency involvement process. The Long-Term Vision reflects improvements, some of which meet the purpose and need and/or are desired through community values and agency support. Because the Long-Term Vision assumes there are no fiscal constraints, not all of the elements included in the Long-Term Vision have been included in the build alternatives. Major elements of the Vision are discussed and are shown on the
Long-Term Vision map. Upon endorsement of the FEIS, these items will be conveyed to DRCOG with a request for inclusion in the long-term needs-based regional transportation plan. The alternatives that are under consideration for the South I-25 Corridor and US 85 Corridor EIS are discussed below.
Alternatives Under Consideration in the FEIS
Three alternatives were developed and are evaluated in this FEIS. These alternatives include the No-Action Alternative, Preferred Alternative, and Other Alternative. One of these alternatives, or an alternative developed from a combination of the three, will be the Selected Alternative presented in the ROD.
Based on comments received at the November public open houses, three variations along the I-25 Corridor between Lincoln Avenue and Castle Pines Parkway were suggested.
Alternatives That Were Considered in the DEIS
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US 85 Corridor
Two general alternatives (including the No-Action Alternative) and a variation are being considered for improvements for US 85.
Alternatives Under Consideration
in the DEIS
Click the map to view enlargement!
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I-25 Corridor
Three alternatives (including the No-Action Alternative) and various improvement options are being considered for I-25.
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No-Action Alternative
The No-Action Alternative consists of no major improvements other than the Early-Action projects that have already been committed. The Early-Action projects are CDOT safety improvement projects already constructed or scheduled to be constructed within the next 5 to 10 years. The No-Action Alternative also includes minor safety and maintenance improvements along I-25 and US 85. Descriptions of these projects are as follows:
Early-Action Projects
Seven CDOT projects within the study area, consisting primarily of safety improvement projects, have been previously approved. These Early-Action projects include:
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Climbing Lanes, Phase I This project reconstructs existing laneage and provides one additional lane in each direction along I-25 between Lincoln Avenue and Castle Pines Parkway designated (but not restricted) as climbing lanes for slow-moving vehicles. The final I-25 configuration is six lanes between Lincoln Avenue and Castle Pines Parkway. The project was completed in October 2000.
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Climbing Lanes, Phase II This project extends the Climbing Lanes, Phase I, project to Meadows/Founders Parkway (i.e., complete reconstruction plus one additional lane in each direction). The project is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in September 2002.
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Meadows/Founders Parkway Interchange This project improved the existing diamond interchange deficiencies by constructing a partial cloverleaf interchange. This project was completed in 1999.
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US 85/I-25 Interchange This project removes the existing US 85/I-25 Interchange ramps and reroutes traffic through the improved Meadows/Founders Parkway and I-25 Interchange. An overpass is constructed at the existing interchange location, connecting the east side of Castle Rock to the west side. This project is designed, but construction has been delayed providing a shortfall of funding.
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Wolfensberger Interchange This project removes and replaces the older south half of the Wolfensberger Road bridges over I-25 and Plum Creek. This project is designed, but construction has been delayed providing a shortfall of funding.
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5th Street Overpass This project reduces demand at the Wolfensberger Interchange and improves the local Castle Rock transportation network by providing an overpass from 5th Street on the east side of I-25 to Park Street on the west side of I-25. The project began construction in October 2000.
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US 85 and Titan Road Grade-Separated Intersection This project improves existing safety deficiencies by constructing an interchange at US 85 and Titan Road and by providing grade-separations with Titan Road and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad. With the proposed design, traffic crossing the existing Union Pacific Railroad tracks at the existing at-grade crossing will be limited to local business access. Construction is scheduled for October 2001.
Douglas Lane Interchange
Douglas County, the Town of Castle Rock, and local developers plan to construct the Douglas Lane Interchange approximately 1,450 meters (4,750 feet) south of Plum Creek Parkway. The interchange design is a single-point urban interchange with a frontage road along the east side of I-25 between Plum Creek Parkway and Douglas Lane. A re-evaluation of environmental documents, a completion of the Colorado Procedural Directive 1601 Interchange Approval Process, and an amendment to the DRCOG RTP is required before the Douglas Lane Interchange can be constructed. The Douglas Lane Interchange is being proposed as a project funded by the Town of Castle Rock, Douglas County and developers.
Preferred Alternative
The Preferred Alternative was developed based on comments made regarding the DEIS alternatives and additional analysis. The Preferred Alternative consists of various improvements to the I-25 Corridor and US 85 Corridor such as mainline widening, minor realignment, and interchange improvements. All Early-Action projects and the Douglas Lane Interchange are included in this alternative (see No-Action Alternative link on Alternatives Under Consideration page). The Preferred Alternative is included in the DRCOG Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and is the responsibility of CDOT.
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US 85 Corridor
The major components of the Preferred Alternative along the US 85 Corridor include:
- Six lanes between C-470 and Highlands Ranch Parkway
- Four lanes between Highlands Ranch Parkway and Meadows Parkway
- US 85/State Highway (SH) 67 Intersection reconfiguration
- Sedalia frontage road
- US 85 minor realignment at Cook Ranch (approximate milepost (MP) 195.4)
- Bicycle/pedestrian facilities along US 85
- High Line Canal Trail grade-separated crossing under US 85
- Enhanced wildlife crossings
- Supporting measures
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I-25 Corridor
The major components of the Preferred Alternative along the I-25 Corridor include:
- Eight lanes between C-470 and Meadows/Founders Parkway
- Six lanes between Meadows/Founders Parkway and Douglas Lane
- Reconstruction of the Schweiger Interchange into a half diamond interchange (improve and reconstruct northern ramps and remove southern ramps)
- Reconstruction of the Surrey Ridge Road Interchange into a three-quarter diamond interchange (improve southern ramps and northbound entrance ramp; remove southbound exit ramp)
- Car pool lot (accommodating 500 spaces) in northeast quadrant of the I-25 and Castle Pines Parkway Interchange
- Minor I-25 realignment to the east between Wolfensberger Road and Liggett Road
- Construction of a new bridge for the Union Pacific Railroad south of the existing bridge
- Supporting measures
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Preferred Alternative Map
Other Alternative
The Other Alternative was also developed based on comments made regarding the alternatives evaluated in the DEIS and additional analysis. This alternative expands and modifies the elements included in the Preferred Alternative. The Other Alternative consists of various improvements to the I-25 Corridor and US 85 Corridor such as mainline widening, mainline realignment, and major interchange improvements. All Early-Action projects and the Douglas Lane Interchange are included in this alternative (see No-Action Alternative link on the Alternatives Under Consideration page).
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US 85 Corridor
The major components of the Other Alternative along the US 85 Corridor include:
- Six lanes between C-470 and Titan Road
- Four lanes between Titan Road and Meadows Parkway
- US 85/SH 67 Intersection reconfiguration
- Sedalia frontage road
- US 85 minor realignment at Cook Ranch (approximate MP 195.4)
- Bicycle/pedestrian facilities along US 85 (see Section 2.7, Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities along the US 85 Corridor)
- Grade-separated crossing under US 85 for High Line Canal (see Section 2.7, Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities along the US 85 Corridor)
- Enhanced wildlife crossings (see Section 2.8, Wildlife Crossings along the US 85 Corridor)
- Supporting measures
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I-25 Corridor
The major components of the Other Alternative along the I-25 Corridor include:
- Eight lanes between C-470 and Meadows/Founders Parkway
- Six lanes between Meadows/Founders Parkway and Douglas Lane
- Diamond interchange at proposed Rampart Range Development
- Reconstruction of the Surrey Ridge Road Interchange to a diamond interchange
- Removal of Schweiger Interchange ramps
- Frontage road on the east side of I-25 from Castle Pines Parkway to proposed Rampart Range Interchange
- Castle Pines Parkway Interchange reconstruction with loop ramp in southeast quadrant
- Car pool lot (accommodating 500 spaces) in northeast quadrant of the I-25 and Castle Pines Parkway Interchange
- Happy Canyon Road Bridge widening
- Minor I-25 realignment to the east between Wolfensberger Road and Liggett Road
- Construction of a new bridge for the Union Pacific Railroad south of the existing bridge
- Supporting measures
The elements that are not part of the Preferred Alternative along the I-25 Corridor include the completion of a diamond interchange at the proposed Rampart Range Development. If the Rampart Range Interchange is built, the Schweiger Interchange is no longer needed and the Surrey Ridge Road Interchange would be upgraded to a full diamond interchange. A frontage road on the east side of I-25 connecting Castle Pines Parkway to Rampart Range is included to provide local mobility within the corridor. The Castle Pines Parkway loop ramp and Happy Canyon Road Bridge widening are needed as a result of the traffic generated by proposed developments and are the responsibility of the developers.
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Other Alternative Map
Variation 1
Variation 1 is the
Preferred Alternative with the addition of an east-side frontage road between Schweiger and Surrey Ridge Road. The new east-side frontage road would provide vehicle access to and from I-25 without disrupting the Surrey Ridge residential area.
Click to view enlargement of the Variation 1 Map:
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Variation 2
Variation 2 eliminates the Surrey Ridge Road Interchange and provides an east-side frontage road from Schweiger to Castle Pines Parkway. Under this variation, residents of the Surrey Ridge area access I-25 from either the Schweiger Interchange or Castle Pines Parkway Interchange.
Click to view enlargement of the Variation 2 Map:
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Variation 3
Variation 3 eliminates the Schweiger Interchange and Surrey Ridge Road Interchange, provides a new interchange at Rampart Range, and provides an east-side frontage road from Rampart Range to Castle Pines Parkway. Under this variation, residents of the Surrey Ridge area access I-25 from either the Rampart Range Interchange or Castle Pines Parkway Interchange.
Click to view enlargement of the Variation 3 Map:
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Long Term Vision
The final result of the EIS process is a Long-Term Vision (Preferred Strategy) that meets the project objectives and avoids, or minimizes, or mitigates environmental impacts. The Long-Term Vision is developed through an extensive evaluation process that was created in the initial stages of this process. The South I-25 Corridor and US 85 Corridor Long-Term Vision consists of an I-25 Plan and a US 85 Plan that are compatible with each other. The Long-Term Vision will be refined throughout the environmental analysis period.
As a result of the extensive alternative evaluation process, the draft "Long-Term Vision for South I-25 and US 85 through 2020 and Beyond" has been developed. The major elements of the vision for each corridor are listed below:
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US 85 Corridor
- Additional General Purpose Lanes from C-470 to the I-25 Interchange
- Bus Feeder Service from Highlands Ranch Parkway to the Mineral Avenue Fixed-Guideway Station
- US 85 Transit Demonstration Project
- Preservation of Future Fixed-Guideway Corridor along Existing Rail Corridor
- Supporting Measures
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I-25 Corridor
- Additional General Purpose Lanes from C-470 through Castle Rock
- Fixed-Guideway Transit from Lincoln Avenue to Castle Rock
- Various Interchange Improvements (recommendations from the I-25 Interchange Study)
- Preservation of Future Transportation Options
- Supporting Measures
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Some of the elements within the South I-25 Corridor and US 85 Corridor Vision will not begin construction until after 2020 due to the lack of available funding. An implementation plan will be prepared during the next steps to determine the timing of construction of the various elements. The elements that will begin construction within a reasonable time frame will be environmentally cleared through the EIS process.
Long-Term Vision Through 2020 and Beyond
Click to view enlargement!
Responsible Agencies
The agencies responsible for each element of the project are also listed. This list is preliminary and will be refined as the project progresses.
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Major Element of Draft Vision
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Responsible Agency(s)
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I-25 Fixed-Guideway Transit
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To Be Determined
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I-25 General Purpose Lanes
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Colorado Department of Transportation
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I-25 Interchanges/Frontage Road
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To Be Determined
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I-25 park-n-Rides/Stations
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To Be Determined
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US 85 General Purpose Lanes
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Colorado Department of Transportation
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US 85 Transit Demonstration Project
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To Be Determined
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US 85 Bus Circulation Service
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Regional Transportation District
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US 85 park-n-Ride
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To Be Determined
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Alternate Routes
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Varies - Douglas County
& Castle Rock
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Early-Action Projects
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Colorado Department of Transportation with Assistance from Douglas County & Castle Rock
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Supporting Measures
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Varies - CDOT, Douglas County,
Castle Rock, Private Developers
& Others
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Project
Website!