Non-Route Based Strategies

One element of this study is to develop and evaluate non-route based strategies. Non-route based strategies are used to encourage through truck traffic to use the Interstate Highway System (I-25 and I-80) without constructing a new roadway. Through traffic is classified as trucks that access SH 14 from I-25 and use the SH 14 and US 287 route to get to I-80 in Laramie. The list of strategies was developed and refined by working closely with the trucking industry, various stakeholders, and affected agencies.

The screening of non-route based strategies has been completed based on specific evaluation criteria (shown on the "Study Process" page). The screening process for non-route based strategies is described in more detail on the technical analysis page. The strategies that have been eliminated from further consideration are shown in grey and the basis for their elimination are also discussed, introduced with an . The list of non-route based strategies includes:

Financial strategies

• City contribution - Develop a mechanism for the City of Fort Collins to subsidize the additional cost for drivers/shippers to use the Interstate.
  City contributions to subsidize the additional cost to use the Interstate was eliminated from further consideration due to high cost and the lack of an adequate City funding sources.
• Driver tax credit - Establish a tax credit for drivers to offset the additional cost of using the Interstate.
  Driver tax credits to subsidize the additional cost to use the Interstate was eliminated from further consideration due to high cost and ease of implementation. Tracking the vehicles that deserve tax credits and being able to administer the credit to drivers from various states would be difficult because there is no existing taxing mechanism between the City and the drivers.
• Shippers to pay additional cost - Have shipping companies pay the additional cost for the drivers to use the Interstate.
  Having shippers pay the additional cost to use the Interstate was eliminated from further consideration because there is no legal cause for shipping companies to incur the additional cost.

Marketing/Informational strategies

• Articles in publications - Publish articles in trucking publications to encourage use of the Interstate.
• Billboards - Produce billboards that would advertise the advantages of using the Interstate, such as time savings.
• Brochures - Create brochures for distribution to encourage Interstate use.
• CDOT website: Cotrip.org - Promote the use of the CDOT website that has current weather, construction, and road condition information.
• Highway advisory radio (HAR) - Use the highway advisory radio (special radio bandwidth at 530AM) to advise trucks of weather, construction, road condition information, and to reinforce the use of the Interstate.
• Internet advertising - Provide information on the benefits of using the Interstate route on different websites such as CMCA and CDOT.
• Kiosks at truck stops - Provide informational stations at truck stops encouraging the use of the Interstate, and providing information on current weather conditions, construction delays and detours and general road conditions.
• Map routes - Work with Rand McNally, publisher of the truck route guide, to change the recommended truck route.
• Paycheck mailers - Include reminders for drivers in their paychecks to use the Interstate.
• Private trucking company outreach - Develop a forum or media to contact private companies and encourage Interstate use.
• Radio ads - Develop radio ads on popular stations to encourage use of the Interstate.
• Safety meeting reminders - Provide reminders to drivers in their safety meetings to use the Interstate.
• Variable message signs (VMS) - Provide more detailed weather, construction, and other information regarding roadway conditions on variable message signs.
• Video - Make a video that would show the benefits of using the Interstate route and would also show the congestion on the SH 14 route.

Regulatory enforcement strategies

• Compression brake law - Increase enforcement by City officers for trucks using compression brakes within city limits.
• Differential Speed limits - Establish differential speed limits on US 287 that are higher for passenger vehicles than trucks.
  Differential speed limits were eliminated from further consideration based on safety. Lowering speed limits only for trucks on a primarily two-lane roadway would create safety hazards with smaller passenger vehicles traveling at higher speeds trying to pass trucks traveling at lower speeds.
• Five-mile radius from Port of Entry (POE) - Increase enforcement of trucks avoiding the Port of Entry.
  Based on additional research after the unrealistic screening analysis, increased enforcement of the 5-mile radius from the POE was eliminated from further consideration because of consistency with study goals. Trucks that avoid the POE do so because they are either overweight or are unsafe. Through trucks have a difficult time avoiding POE locations because they would be required to find a way around every POE that was located along the route they were using. In most cases, POE locations are set in specific locations to reduce the ability for trucks to avoid them. Continuation of enforcement procedures is recommended in lieu of additional enforcement.
• Inspections on US 287 - Provide safety and weight inspections on US 287.
  Increased inspections on US 287 was eliminated from further consideration because inspections already occur along US 287 near Laramie and I-25 near Prospect Street to address truck safety and weight issues. Any through trucks would be weighed and inspected at these locations. This idea is useful to address other issues, but not effective in dealing with through truck traffic.
• Mobile weigh stations - Provide mobile weigh stations at random locations throughout the city to check weights on trucks.
  Providing more mobile weigh stations was eliminated from further consideration based on similar issues to those related to Inspections on US 287. Also, mobile inspections in certain areas create safety concerns along two-lane roadways in terms of the need to provide areas to stop and weigh trucks without impeding traffic flow.
• Profiling - Based on specific characteristics and assumptions, conduct safety and weight inspections on through trucks and increase enforcement of speed limits for truck traffic only.
  Profiling was eliminated from further consideration based on legal issues. Through trucks cannot legally be singled out and treated any differently than any other trucks.
• Redesignation - Redesignate SH 14 so it is no longer a truck route.
• Reduced speed limits - Reduce the speed limit for all traffic on US 287.
  Lowering the speed limit on US 287 was eliminated from further consideration based on consistency with study goals. To lower speed limits on a state highway, a speed study is required. Roadways are then posted at the speed that 85 percent of the traffic is traveling. Along US 287, this study could actually warrant raising the speed limit.
• Restrictions - Create time of day and route restrictions to discourage truck traffic along certain routes.
• Scenic-by-Way - Designate US 287 as a scenic corridor to discourage truck traffic.
  The concept of a scenic-by-way was designation eliminated from further consideration because there are no regulations to restrict truck traffic along these types of roadways.
• Speed limit enforcement - Increase the enforcement of speed limits for both trucks and passenger vehicles.
  Based on additional research after the unrealistic screening analysis, this strategy was eliminated from further consideration as an increased enforcement tactic. Although not seen as an effective measure for encouraging through trucks to use the Interstate, agreement to the uniform enforcement of speed limits, especially on US 287 was supported. So, although not recommended as increased enforcement, monitoring speed limits for all types of vehicles is recommended as a continuation of existing practices.
• Weight Limits - Increase weight limits on Interstate from 80,000 lbs to 85,000 to encourage use.
  Based on additional research after the unrealistic screening analysis, increasing the weight limits on the Interstate was removed from further consideration as a non-route based strategy. There is a discussion nationwide to increase weight limits on the Interstate from 80,000 to 85,000 lbs, but the effect on through trucks is minimal because through trucks are not currently violating weight restrictions. When mobile weigh stations are used to check truck weights in the City of Fort Collins, the infractions are mostly local and regional drivers that are operating overweight.

Physical strategies

• Bypass in Cheyenne - Provide a bypass in Cheyenne to improve truck traffic flow.
  A bypass in Cheyenne was eliminated from further consideration because there are currently no traffic operation problems in the Cheyenne area. This strategy is located outside of the project study area and the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) has no plans to modify I-25 in the area.
• Emergency bypass - Provide an emergency bypass that could handle the truck traffic, but would only be utilized in closure situations.
• Port of Entry relocation - Relocate the existing Port of Entry along I-25 near Prospect north of the SH 14 interchange.
  Relocation of the Port of Entry was eliminated from further consideration because it would encourage truck traffic to bypass the relocated Port of Entry to use the SH 14/US 287 route.
• Pre-pass in Laramie - Add the pre-pass technology to the Laramie Port of Entry.
  Implementing the Pre-pass system in Laramie was also eliminated from further consideration because it actually encourages truck traffic to use US 287 since the Port of Entry is located south of Laramie on US 287.
• Signage on I-25 - Remove signs on I-25 that direct Laramie bound traffic through Fort Collins.
  Based on additional research after the unrealistic screening analysis, removing or changing the existing signage on I-25 was eliminated from further consideration based on consistency with study goals. Signage on I-25 directs travel to and from major cities as required for mobility along Interstates. Removing the signage violates standards for providing mobility and would not have an impact on the travel patterns of existing drivers.
• Traffic control devices - Add traffic signals and stop signs along the existing SH 14 and US 287 route to increase travel time.
  Additional traffic control devices (signals, stop signs) were eliminated from further consideration based on safety concerns and traffic warrants. Additional signals have to be warranted based on certain issues, not just put into place to impede the flow of traffic.
• Variable message signs (VMS) - Install additional variable message signs to provide weather, construction, and other information regarding roadway conditions.
• Weather stations - Install additional weather stations along the Interstate route to inform drivers of weather conditions such as ice and wind.
  Based on additional research after the unrealistic screening analysis, additional weather stations were eliminated from further consideration based on consistency with study goals. Additional weather stations have no real affect on moving through truck traffic and could actually encourage the use of the existing route when adverse weather exists on I-25 and I-80.
• Wind socks - Install wind socks on the existing Interstate route to provide wind direction information for drivers.
  Based on additional research after the unrealistic screening analysis, wind socks were eliminated from further consideration based on consistency with study goals. Wind socks have low visibility on the Interstate and have no real affect on moving through truck traffic and could actually encourage the use of the existing route when adverse weather exists on I-25 and I-80.

Alternate Routes

A second part of the study is to develop and analyze alternate truck routes. As stated in Ballot Initiative 200, the alternate truck route must be located at least two miles north of the Fort Collins Growth Management Area. This requirement means that the southernmost alternate route that is eligible for evaluation in this study is County Road 58. The following list and accompanying map show the alternate truck routes that were developed with input from the various stakeholders.

The screening of alternate routes has been completed based on specific evaluation criteria (shown on the "Study Process" page). The screening process for alternate routes is described in more detail on the "Technical Analysis" page. Alternate routes that have been removed from consideration are shown in grey on the list. For more information on each alternate route and its status, click on the icons on the enlarged map.

Alternate Route List and Map

CR 82 Alternatives Alternative A Alternative B CR 80 Alternatives Alternative A Alternative B CR 78 Alternatives Alternative A Alternative B CR 76 Alternatives Alternative A Alternative B

CR 72 Alternatives Alternative A Alternative B CR 70/72 Alternatives Alternative A Alternative B CR 70 Alternatives Alternative A Alternative B CR 68 Alternative CR 66/68 Alternative

CR 66 Alternative CR 64 Alternative CR 62E/64 Alternative CR 62E Alternative CR 58 Alternatives Alternative A Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D

Alternative Routes Map

Alternate routes that have been removed from consideration during the alternative screening will have their descriptions shown in grey. The reasons for elimination are included and are introduced with an .

Click the icons on the map to view descriptions of each alternative and the alternative's status after the unrealistic alternative screening:

The route recommendations map can be found on the Study Recommendations page!