Summary of the February 2004 Open Houses

A total of approximately 150 people attended the February 2004 Open Houses. The content of the meetings focused on screening criteria and disposition of the various proposed alternatives. The displays also included updates on the Express Lane Feasibility Study and the Santa Fe interchange. Representatives from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and its consultants, Wilson & Company and PBS&J, including experts in traffic management, transit, and noise assessment, were available to talk with those who attended.

Topics brought to the team’s attention again included concerns about highway noise. Noise experts were on hand to explain the regulatory process of a noise impact study. Results of the noise impact study for this project will be available at the summer 2004 open house.

Attendees also asked about the possible impacts on bike and pedestrian trails and sought assurance that the team would coordinate with bike groups and local officials regarding trail maintenance and improvement.

Transit and Light Rail Transit (LRT) were also topics of discussion. Our recommendations, developed in cooperation with RTD, were to carry forward non-fixed guideway (bus) transit to be considered in combination with the mainline alternatives, while eliminating fixed guideway transit (including LRT). Fixed guideway does not meet the purpose and need for the 20 year planning horizon.

The environmental constraints map is always a popular feature at the open houses and people willingly shared their historic knowledge and wildlife observations.

In sum, no major points arose that required additional efforts to verify the pre-screening recommendations presented at this open house. The project will move forward with the original recommendations. A third series of open house meetings is planned for summer 2004.