Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Purpose/History
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What is the Mason Corridor?
The Mason Corridor is a five-mile, north-south byway from Cherry Street to south of Harmony Road. It combines a bicycle and pedestrian trail with the Mason Express (MAX) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor. The Corridor will provide a framework for economic development and environmentally sustainability, which will create opportunities for new mixed-use and transit oriented developments (TOD)that avoid sprawl and enhance our community's active lifestyle.
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What benefits does the Mason Corridor provide?
Along with expanding transportation choices, economic development, and environmental sustainability, the Mason Corridor serves as the foundation to encourage community partnerships, private investment, active living, and attractive, urban lifestyles. The Mason Corridor is a legacy project that will connect Downtown, Colorado State University, and local business and neighborhoods throughout our community. The Mason Corridor benefits all of us residents, property & business owners, students, and visitors - whether we are driving, cycling, walking, or riding transit.
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Does Fort Collins really need the Mason Corridor?
From the City’s standpoint, it is an important legacy project. It provides opportunities for infill and economic development. Previous Visionary Legacy projects include: City Park, Lee Martinez Farm, and Old Town Square. The corridor was designed to fit the vision of the community.
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Is the city big enough for it?
The city's master planning process investigated the suitability of Mason Corridor as a component of the community. BRT is a cost effective way to provide high quality transit. Denver solutions don't fit in Fort Collins at the present time, but the designated guideway can transition to other technologies as needed. The city is land locked and is growing 1-2 percent annually, with over 131,000 people now. People will move along the corridor by choice.
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Did voters approve the Mason Corridor project?
Fort Collins voters and City Council approved the Mason Corridor vision in 1998 and 2000. What wasn't approved by voters at that time were two funding initiatives that included implementation of the Mason Corridor along with funding for a variety of other community-wide transportation projects. Today, the city is seeking 80 percent of total project costs from the federal government; the remaining 20 percent of the project costs will be covered by the state of Colorado and local contributors.
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Why has it taken since the 1990s to put the Mason Corridor together?
The City needed a funding opportunity/commitment from the Federal Transit Administration. In addition, the local market is now ready for this project as it will spur economic development and re-development. In addition, the community has become land-locked, and this project addresses the current need to grow from within the city.
Funding
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What funding sources are available for this project?
By pursuing many different funding sources for the Mason Corridor, our community can leverage limited local dollars with State and Federal grants. In addition, the City can work with public/private partnerships to help spread the costs over many different sources. No one group will bear the project's full cost. The City is requesting 80% of project funding from the Federal Transit Administration. The remaining 20% will be available from the City of Fort Collins, Downtown Development Authority, CSU/Colorado State University Research Foundation, and Colorado Department of Transportation.
Based on requested Federal funds and committed State funding, the City's local share of the Mason Corridor project is approximately $4-5 Million, which is similar in cost to rebuilding an arterial intersection. Essentially, for the price of one intersection, Fort Collins' investment will leverage enough resources to build a 5+ mile corridor that will continue to generate on-going revenue for our community for many generations. -
What is the status of receiving federal funding?
The Bus Rapid Transit project was approved by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in December 2007. The City submitted the Project Construction Grant Agreement in August 2011, and final approval is expected in February 2012.
MAX Operations
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What is BRT?
BRT, or Bus Rapid Transit, combines many features of rail transit with the flexibility of buses. BRT is the most cost-effective technology for the Mason Corridor based on Fort Collins’ current population and ridership estimates. Some people refer to BRT as “rubber-tired light rail”.
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How many Rapid Transit buses will be purchased?
Six BRT vehicles will be purchased from the North American Bus Industries (NABI). These 60-foot long vehicles are articulated and will use compressed natural gas. They will also include low floor entry to accommodate wheelchairs and bicycles.
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Will the buses accommodate bicycles and shopping carts?
Buses will accommodate three or more bicycles. Safety will dictate the maximum number permitted. Personal shopping carts will also be allowed on the buses.
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How fast will MAX BRT really be?
Using prioritized signals MAX will operate faster than auto travel along College Avenue and will provide ten minute departures from MAX stations. MAX is designed to emphasize speed and convenience with an exclusive guideway and easy boarding.
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RTD's system in Denver runs 24/7. When will the BRT run?
It will run until midnight initially, not on Sundays. Service may be extended as funding becomes available and if it is deemed necessary.
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How will the project accommodate bus, rail, and vehicular traffic when a train is present along Mason Corridor?
Downtown and generally between Horsetooth and Drake Roads, buses and cars will travel together along Mason Street and McClelland Drive respectively. At the University Station and through CSU, a designated guideway will accommodate BRT vehicles only along the eastern 25 feet of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Company's tracks. South from and including Prospect, the BRT will continue on the east side of the tracks in the outside 25 feet of BNSF right-of-way. The pedestrian and bicycle trail occurs on the outer west side of the BSNF right-of-way. Design plans are available on the Engineering and Design page.
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Does MAX go where I want to go?
The Mason Corridor will link many major activity and community centers throughout Fort Collins including: the Downtown Transit Center, CSU's main campus and Veterinary Teaching Hospital/South Campus, National Resources Research Center (NRRC), Foothills Mall, and the planned South Transit Center. The Mason Corridor will connect major retail and businesses located along College Avenue and many adjacent neighborhoods. Sixty percent of jobs in Fort Collins are located within one mile of the Mason Corridor. In the future, MAX will connect people between Fort Collins, Loveland, and other North Front Range communities. Ultimately, connections will be expanded to the Denver/Boulder Metro area via regional plans by the Colorado Department of Transportation.
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Can I see where stations will be located and how MAX will travel along Mason Corridor?
-- Check out this map for a simple breakdown --
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Will I still be able to drive on Mason Street?
The Mason Corridor will continue to allow auto traffic on Mason Street and McClelland Drive just as it does today. Converting Mason and Howes Streets downtown back to two-way traffic will make it easier to drive along the corridor.
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When will the Bay Farm (NRRC) pedestrian overpass open?
Construction of the pedestrian overpass will occur alongside BRT construction, which is expected to begin in 2012 and be completed in 2014. It will include elevators and stairs east and west of the railroad tracks to provide a safe crossing over the BNSF railway. Currently at-grade crossings are not allowed on this private railroad property.
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Will this project enhance wheelchair accessibility across the railroad tracks?
MAX stations will provide pedestrian and wheelchair access along the corridor. The Drake and Swallow Stations will provide direct and safe access. Pedestrian structures are planned at the Troutman and Bay Farm Stations to improve bicycle and pedestrian access across the corridor.
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The Mason Corridor is situated behind K-Mart and other stores. How will people access these businesses?
New infill development will face the corridor. Barnes and Noble already has two front doors facing east and west. Newer structures must be designed to provide service to the Mason Corridor.
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Does this project include parking at stations?
Parking is planned at the following locations*:
South Transit Center - 175 spaces
Troutman – 20 public on-street spaces
Horsetooth – 30 to 55 spaces
Swallow – 50 spaces
Drake – 75 spaces
University Mall – 10 to 15 spaces
Downtown – City parking garages, 125 spaces
*final space counts are still under development/review - some spaces will be shared with retail or other establishments. -
The Mason Corridor project stops at the Downtown Transit Center. How can travelers plan trips farther north from this location?
The comprehensive land use plan uses enhanced transportation corridors to connect north-south travel along College, east-west travel on Vine to Mountain Vista, north-south travel on Timberline, and east-west travel on Harmony Road to the South Transit Center. Transfort will examine future service changes as part of its Strategic Operating Plan.
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With the new South Transit Center, what happens to the existing transfer point at the Mall?
Transfort will examine future uses of the current Mall Transfer Point in its Strategic Operating Plan.
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How many businesses will be displaced as a result of this project? What about car dealerships?
No businesses will be displaced as part of this project. The City continues to work closely with existing businesses, including car dealerships, to address questions and concerns.
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How much time will a trip require from the Downtown Transit Center to the planned South Transit Center?
Approximately 20 minutes.
Transfort Operations/ Buses
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How can Transfort patrons provide input on the bus system?
Transfort's Strategic Operating Plan was recently adopted. Development of this plan included extensive public outreach. The Transit Strategic Plan process included a collaborative partnership between the City of Fort Collins-Transfort, the City of Loveland-COLT, and the Poudre School District. The plan addresses coordinating transit service with the MAX project and examined how best to meet the needs of residents and communities of Northern Colorado.
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Plans show the Transfort bus system will connect with the Mason Corridor BRT using existing and future routes. Are funds available to enhance the system, and what is the time table to complete this system?
In 2002, the Transfort Strategic Operating Plan was developed. Phase 1 was implemented in 6 years. The plan includes three additional phases, for which funding is available.
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Why is the Mason Corridor project underway but not the planned improvements to Transfort's bus routes?
The changes in bus routes are scheduled to occur over the next ten years under a separate type of funding than MAX. MAX includes a one-time capital expense. Bus route improvements include long term increases in operating costs, for which funding must be identified.
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Once MAX is operating, how will the public know when new bus connections are available?
An extensive public information campaign accompanies design and construction of the BRT corridor. The City will announce opening of the MAX BRT using every media possible.
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What service will be provided to the new Front Range Village on Harmony?
Harmony is an enhanced transportation corridor. People will be able to travel by bus along Harmony.
Economic Development
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Currently retail shopping is present on the south part of the corridor. A large mall on the east side of Harmony is being developed. Major anchors are deciding to move elsewhere. What are the plans to get retailers back?
Community economic development is taken seriously. The City has prepared a special TOD overlay for the Mason Corridor and is working to identify interested businesses.
Regional Planning
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Regional connections (including rail) have been proposed in Northern Colorado. What is the likely time frame for implementation and what type of project is most likely to occur?
The current Environmental Impact Statement examining connections between Northern Colorado communities and Denver includes two choices: (A) Commuter rail along existing tracks following US 287 and (B) BRT commencing at I-25 and the Harmony Corridor. Rail is expensive and would require a phased approach. Federal funding has not been identified for this connection, and the project is in early phases.
Federal representatives are currently reviewing cost effective strategies. The project includes important considerations as the population in Northern Colorado will continue to grow significantly over the next 20 to 30 years. The rail option (A) could be linked to the Mason Corridor at the South Transit Center, and the Bus Rapid Transit option (B) could be linked at the existing Harmony Transit Center.