Meeting Notes
Meeting:	Trucking Industry Issues Workshop #3
Date:	August 16, 2001
Location:	CMCA Offices 4060 Elati Street Denver
Attendees:
Mark Jackson (City of Fort Collins)     R.A. Plummer (PBS&J)     Carrie Cloud (PBS&J)     David Millar (PBS&J)     Pete Graham (CDOT)     Teresa Carrillo (CDOT)     Joe Gerdom (FCPD)	Alan Rutledge (Department of Revenue) Rick Peterson (Wy Patrol/POE) Art Ballah (Ballah & Associates) Carla Perez (Carter & Burgess) Hank Hersh (Henry Hersh Trucking) Greg Fulton (CMCA)
Agenda: Welcome Meeting Purpose Study Update Comparative Screening of Strategies Non-Route Based Strategy Recommendations Strategy Feasibility Discussion Alternate Route Discussion Other Business

I.   Welcome
Greg Fulton opened the meeting and discussed the involvement of the trucking industry in the study. Introductions were made by all in attendance.

II.   Meeting Purpose
The purpose of the meeting was to complete the recommendation of non-route based strategies and begin comparative evaluation of alternate routes.

III.   Study Update
R.A. handed out the study schedule to the group. Currently non-route based strategy recommendations are being finalized and in the next month an alternate route will be identified. Funding and next step determination will begin in October, the next round of public meetings are planned for November, and the final report is scheduled for December.

The list of evaluation criteria was distributed to the group. Evaluation criteria was separated by non-route based strategies and alternate routes. The first phase of screening, unrealistic alternative screening, has been completed and is shown shaded in gray. The second phase of screening is comparative screening, which is used to do more of a strategy-to-strategy comparison to determine the most feasible option. Comparative screening has been completed for non-route based strategies, and is described in further detail later in these notes.

A list of the non-route based strategies through elimination of unrealistic alternatives was then distributed to the group. Criteria used to screen unrealistic non-route based strategies were legality, consistency, and safety. If any of the strategies violated legality or safety issues, or were not consistent with the goals of the project they were removed from further consideration.

A copy of the list of evaluation criteria and non-route based strategies are attached to these notes.

IV.   Comparative Screening of Strategies
The list of non-route based strategies was reviewed with the group. Comments on strategies included:

• Reducing speed limits on US 287 would require a speed study to be done that could cause an adverse affect and raise the speed limit to meet the 85 percentile of the existing traffic speed
  
• There are 9 ports of entry in Colorado located on major highways and entrances and exits to the state
  
• Traffic would increase on SH 14 if the port were to be moved north
  
• To avoid the 5-mile radius, trucks would use other exits such as Windsor or Harmony
  
• Many trucks in the city have revocable permits which allows them to conduct business within the 5-mile radius and not have to pass the port of entry
  
• The Fort Collins port has more revocable permits than all other ports combined in the state
  
• Pre-pass is planned in Laramie in 5-6 years

The matrix of non-route based strategies was distributed to the group and is attached to these notes. This matrix details the comparative evaluation of each strategy broken down into four categories: financial, marketing/informational, regulatory enforcement, and physical. For each strategy the cost of implementation, operation/maintenance, first year cost per through truck removed, percent of through trucks removed, and number of through trucks removed is shown.

The number of through trucks removed is found by multiplying the estimated percentage of through trucks that would use the Interstate due to a particular strategy by the number of through trucks in town per day (600 from the Origin and Destination study). The first year cost per through truck removed is then found by dividing the sum of the estimated implementation and first maintenance cost by the number of through trucks removed from the existing route per day. Some comments on the comparative matrix included:

• Adding in the cost of impact to the economy
  
• Restrictions would not be needed through town if a reasonable alternate route is chosen and built
  
• If restrictions were enforced in Fort Collins, there would be twice as many trucks on the streets during travel times causing more congestion
  
• That redesignation and restrictions should not be considered non-route based strategies

V.   Non-Route Based Strategy Recommendations
The list of non-route based strategy recommendations was also distributed to the group. This preliminary list of recommendations includes:

Financial Strategies

• No strategies recommended

Marketing/Informational Strategies

• Develop a marketing committee to develop messages highlighting the benefits for using the Interstate system over the existing route
  
• Prioritize the media used to communicate the message

Regulatory Enforcement Strategies

• Continue current practices regarding safety and weight inspections, ticketing for speed limit infractions, and enforcement of port-of-entry requirements
  
• Provide training to local law enforcement regarding compression brake law conformance in the City
  
• Evaluate potential for redesignation of existing route including restrictions if a reasonable alternate route is identified, but discuss potential problems to local trucking interests

• Establish an Incident Management Program to address traffic in and around Fort Collins during road closures
  
• Install variable message signs (VMS) as necessary to support potential marketing/informational strategies

Comments on recommendations included:

• Add more explanation to the redesignation and restrictions section to show that this strategy would not be as easy and inexpensive to implement as the matrix may indicate
  
• Change weight limits to increased weight limits on the Interstate in the future

A copy of the non-route based strategy recommendations is attached to these notes.

VI.   Strategy Feasibility Discussion

The marketing strategies were presented to the group to prioritize. The most effective strategies as felt by this group are listed as high priority and strategies that would not be as effective are listed as low. The prioritization of marketing strategies is as follows:

High Priority Articles in publications Brochures Map routes Private trucking company outreach

Medium Priority CDOT website: Cotrip.org Highway advisory radio (HAR) Internet advertising Safety meeting reminders Variable message signs (VMS)

Low Priority Billboards Kiosks at truck stops Paycheck mailers Radio ads Video

VII.   Alternate Route Discussion

A list of the alternate routes through elimination of unrealistic alternatives was then distributed to the group along with a map of the alternatives still under consideration. Criteria used to screen unrealistic alternate routes were safety and length of route. If any of the routes violated established design criteria or added excessive miles to the existing route, they were removed from further consideration. Comparative screening will involve cost issues, traffic operations, route utilization, environmental resources, right-of-way relocations, directly affected properties, community planning/land use, and length of route.

Comments on alternate routes included:

• Colorado Lien may only have 10-12 years of production left
  
• Rumors of the Holnam plant moving to Pueblo