V.   Alternate Route Recommendations
A handout detailing the alternate route recommendations was distributed to the group along with an alternate route map. These recommendations emerged out of input from the different committees and affected agencies.

Alternate Route Considerations
After the comparative evaluation of routes was completed, it was found that a more detailed analysis is needed to assess the potential impacts of the remaining alternate routes. This increased level of detail would be an environmental analysis based on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This level of analysis would be required based on the need for federal funding. Under a NEPA analysis, all reasonable alternatives must be considered including a no-action alternative and potential routes south of the CR 58 boundary. The current conflict between the language of the Ballot Initiative and the requirements of NEPA would need to be resolved within the City before the environmental analysis could begin.

An alternate route solution would require the full cooperation of CDOT, Larimer County, and Fort Collins. Joint submission of the project to Upper Front Range and North Front Range by Larimer County and Fort Collins would be a likely first step to move an alternate route forward. To solidify support for the pursuit of an alternate route, CDOT’s Project Priority Planning Process should be used including establishing the project as a high priority in both Upper Front Range and North Front Range Transportation Planning Regions.

Alternate Route Recommendations
Although the initial goal of the study was to develop a single alternative, given the nature of the issues and need for further analysis as part of an environmental evaluation, selection of one alternative is not feasible. The following alternatives were removed from further consideration during the comparative screening process:

Based on the remaining routes after the screening process has been completed, if a NEPA study convened, the following corridors should be considered among the full range of alternatives, as seen on the route map:
       County Road 70 and 70/72 corridor
       County Road 66 corridor
       County Road 58 corridor

VI.   Funding Recommendations
A handout detailing the funding recommendations was distributed to the group. The funding recommendations were as follows:

Innovative/Private Funding Sources
A user pay system (tolls) could be used to recover the initial capital investment, but a detailed revenue assessment would be required to evaluate the likelihood of generating adequate revenue. Another key issue is that typically toll ways have very limited access which does not meet the features or needs of the alternate routes that have been developed.

County and Local Funding Sources
Most County and local funding sources are committed to existing priorities, so a new source of funding (tax) would most likely be required. The idea of a Special or Local Improvement District would require solid support to generate substantive financial benefit. County and local sources could potentially fund design and environmental planning efforts.

State Funding Sources
Significant portion already committed to regional projects. There is an existing $4.0 billion shortfall for prioritized projects in the North and Upper Front Range Planning Regions. A reprioritization of projects would be required and there would be strong competition with programmed projects.

Federal Funding Sources
Significant portion of the Federal funding sources are already committed to regional and statewide plans. A reprioritization of projects would be required. Coordinated federal lobbying efforts with Colorado Congressional members could be helpful to pursue Federal earmarks, but agreed upon local support from the city, county, and CDOT would be crucial.

VII.   Question and Answer
Members attending this workshop were asked to make a final comment on the study and voice any questions or concerns they might have. They were as follows:

• The study needs to be relabeled to reflect more of a mobility study rather than a truck route study
  
• Non-route strategies need to be implemented sooner rather than later
  
• The flawed language of Ballot Initiative 200 makes the routes difficult
  
• The longer the construction of an alternate route is put off, the further north is will have to be built due to the significant growth in the Fort Collins area
  
• Public expectation needs to be addressed, what are the citizens that voted on the ballot expecting
  
• Fuel tax being proposed to widen US 287 in Wyoming
  
• Non-route based strategies are the way to go, more traffic exists than has been documented
  
• Trucks seem to choose US 287 in winter due to adverse weather conditions, some trucks may prefer to use an alternate route if it would save them time and money
  
• An alternate route needs to benefit the entire community rather than a few select individuals

VIII.   Other Business
This was the final meeting in the series of trucking industry workshops.