[BikeLongmont] meeting this Wednesday

[Richard Masoner]

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 19:32:17 -0600, Nenad <nenad at bicyclelongmont.org> wrote:

> In addition, we have been asked for input on the North I-25 EIS project.

Thanks for mentioning this, Nenad.

Summary (as I see it):

The "North 40" project is significant to Longmont because the study
area reaches west from I-25 to U.S. 287 from Ft. Collins to SH 7.

An Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is required by the National
Environmental Policy Act to fully consider the economic, social, and
environmental effects of transportation projects to assure that
possible adverse effects are fully considered before committing to a
course of action.

The chapters of an Environmental Impact Statement include (1) Purpose
& Need; (2) Alternatives; (3) Affected Environment; (4) Environmental
Consequences & Mitigation Measures; and (5) impacts on resources such
as parks, historic properties & wildlife refuges.

(1) Purpose and Need is stated at the website: The purpose is to
improve traffic flow all along the North to accomodate continued
growth and increasing traffic. I-25 is a major freight traffic
corridor and this will double over the next 20 years. Commuter traffic
is congested. Structures are near the end of their life span. There
will continue to be increased development all along the corridor.
Improving now is better than doing it later because of increasing
property costs to acquire right-of-way.

(2) Proposed alternatives include "no action," adding lanes to
existing highways, building a brand-new north-south highway somewhere
else in the corridor, various transit modes including rail proposals,
HOV lanes, bus lanes, etc. These are all detailed on the website.

(3) Affected area is shown on the map, but is roughly bounded by SH14
by Ft. Collins & Greeley, SH 7, U.S. 287, and U.S. 85.

(4) Environmental Consequences: the web pages detailing the
alternatives also have a "Pass/Fail" matrix that includes this
category. All of the proposed alternatives, including paving 8 lanes X
40 mile of farmland, "Pass" on their impact on the environment.

(5) I didn't see any information about impact on local resources, but
St. Vrain State Park, Union Reservoir, Sandstone Ranch, and the Sugar
Mill are all certainly within the study area, as is a good portion of
St. Vrain Creek, Lefthand Creek, and a zillion ditches and small
reservoirs consituting the wetlands in this area. The proposed Front
Range Trail also passes through the EIS area.

I'll outline some of my thoughts on these issues in the next email.

Richard Masoner
-- 
http://www.masoner.net/bike/