Master Street Plan Click to view large map (PDF 1.3MB)
The Master Street Plan (MSP) is a map-based representation of the City of Fort Collins' long-range vision of its major street network. First implemented and adopted in 1981, the MSP is intended to reflect the functional class (the category of street, e.g. arterial, collector, etc.) of the ultimate street network in the City of Fort Collins. The MSP also helps to guide the development of the future street system for the City and its Growth Management Area (GMA). The MSP provides a reference for planning and layout of existing and future development's key transportation and circulation connections. Not all City streets are reflected on the MSP. The map depicts major streets only, focusing on arterial, minor arterial, and some key collector streets. Other collector streets and all connector and local-level streets are not represented on the MSP. It is important to note that the MSP is not a detailed engineering document and does not provide precise locations for new streets; it is a planning tool that represents general, conceptual-level alignments and connections only. The actual locations of new streets shall be determined by the City Engineer. In addition to the street network with the Fort Collins GMA, the functional classification of several key regional roadways that lie outside of the Fort Collins GMA boundary are also reflected on the MSP. These roadways are included for regional context only, showing key regional connections to the Fort Collins street network. Including these regional roads on the MSP does not mean that the City has a financial stake in improving these facilities. This has recently become a concern for some critics who feel that showing these streets for contextual purposes implies that Fort Collins is somehow financially responsible for all or a portion of these streets. In order to respond to these concerns, and to make the MSP more clear, these regional facilities will now be shown using a different line type to differentiate more clearly those roads that are not the financial responsibility of Fort Collins. The City's Land Use Code speaks to the rationale for creating the MSP: "Establishment of the MSP. In order to accomplish the purposes of this Land Use Code, the location and ultimate functional classification of necessary arterial and collector streets and other transportation facilities have been established on a map entitled "City of Fort Collins MSP," dated August 20, 1996, as amended, which map is hereby made a part of this Land Use Code by reference…" (LUC 3.6.1 a) History and Background The MSP was created based upon a multi-modal vision of Fort Collins' future transportation system. Based on land use and transportation assumptions adopted in the City's comprehensive land use plan, City Plan Update (CPU) (1997), the MSP incorporates the following set of assumptions:
The MSP uses the City Structure Plan as the land use basis for the street system. Based on the urban form described by this element of CPU, travel behavior data was input to a computer traffic forecast model to help create the MSP network. Environmental concerns, development review guidelines, City street design standards and Level of Service (LOS) criteria were also incorporated into the design and development of the MSP. The MSP network is designed to achieve the following results:
In addition to all these purposes, the MSP also serves to identify those streets that qualify for Federal and State funding for general urban projects. These streets also qualify for financial assistance in times of disaster. The MSP is monitored regularly to evaluate progress and accuracy. It is amended to reflect development trends, approved developments, changes in alignment, planning and policy changes, and specific sub-area plans. Amendments are presented to the Transportation Board and the Planning and Zoning Board for recommendation of approval prior to presentation to the City Council for adoption. How the Plan Is Used As specified in the City's Land Use Code and in City Ordinance No. 228, 1998, S. 92, 12/15/98, "All development plans shall provide for or accommodate the streets and transportation facilities identified on the MSP that are associated with the development plan." (LUC 3.6.1 b) and "Streets on a project development plan or subdivision plat shall conform to the MSP where applicable. All streets shall be aligned to join with planned or existing streets. All streets shall be designed to bear a logical relationship to the topography of the land. Intersections shall be at right angles unless otherwise approved by the City Engineer." (LUC 3.6.2 a) This mandates that new development or re-development activities' impacts to the street network shall comply with the City's design standards for the category of street specified in the MSP. These standards include criteria such as, but not limited to, right-of-way widths, street width, medians, parkways, bicycle facilities and sidewalk dimensions. This requirement helps ensure that the future vision of the City's street network is achieved and helps to preclude costly, and in some instances, irreversible impacts to the City's long-range infrastructure. The City Engineering department also uses the MSP network and functional classification of streets to determine Street Oversizing Fees. These developer impact fees help pay for the cost of expanding beyond the local road portion of existing and planned roads with greater capacity to handle development-induced traffic. Street oversizing fees are determined in part by the number of lanes and miles reflected on the MSP street network. Fees are calculated for all streets, collector level and above. These fees are revisited on a regular basis and re-calibrated depending on changes to the MSP network. Amending the Master Street Plan The MSP is a dynamic plan and is regularly revisited and amended to reflect new infrastructure as a result of approved development, newly approved long range and subarea plans, or changes due to environmental, political, boundary changes, or other relevant issues. Proposed changes are first submitted to both the City Transportation Advisory Board and Planning and Zoning Board for their comment and recommendations to City Council. City Council will then decide by resolution whether or not to amend the MSP. The MSP is revisited annually at a minimum to make certain the Plan is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. Questions about the Fort Collins Master Street Plan? Call or E-mail Matt Wempe, City of Fort Collins Transportation Planner. E-mail: Phone: (970) 416-2040 |