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Project improvement areas are shaded in orange. URA revitalization projects are noted in blue.

More on URAs at www.renewfortcollins.com

US 287 / North College Improvements

City Council Supports Project

The North College Improvements Project - Phase II was presented at the September 1st regular City Council meeting.

City Council supported:

  1. Adoption of the North College Improvements Project - Phase II, Vine drive to the Hickory/Conifer intersection Conceptual Design Report
  2. Transferring of Truck Route Project funding into the North College Improvements Project.

North College Improvements Project - Phase II, Vine drive to the Hickory/Conifer Intersection conceptual design report

With the successful conclusion of the conceptual design phase of the project, the City's Engineering department is taking the lead role of project management.

An open house will be held later in 2009 to provide a project update.

Project open house information will be available on this webpage as well as the City's main page.

  • View an article from the Coloradoan (PDF 28KB) detailing the outcomes.

The Project

North College is undergoing a design and construction project to improve the safety, operations and aesthetics between Vine Drive and the Hickory/Conifer intersection. The project includes curb, gutter and minor street patching; redefinition and consolidation of driveways; bike lanes and sidewalks, new streetscape and other necessary improvements.

Currently there are not enough funds to complete full improvements along the project corridor. The project will be built in phases as funding becomes available. Construction on the first phase of improvements is planned to begin in 2011.

More on the project's funding »

Project Schedule

  • 2009: Planning, community engagement, visioning, alternatives analysis, development of implementation program, including prioritization and phasing for improvements
  • 2010: Project development, engineering, rights-of-way acquisition
  • 2011: Construction begins

Public Involvement

During 2009, the City held three Open Houses and various workshops to keep residents and business owners informed on the project’s progress and obtain feedback from the community, including those affected by the planned improvements. The City is meeting with numerous Boards and Commissions in the summer of 2009 to explain the project's options and get feedback to help plan the improvement area.

Project Partnerships

Throughout the development of the North College Corridor Improvements Project – Phase II, the City’s Transportation Planning and Engineering departments will work closely with many City, local and regional partners to develop a recommended design package that meets the many important local and regional needs of this corridor.

The City’s Transportation Planning, Engineering, Advance Planning, Real Estate Services, Traffic Operations, Storm Water, Utilities, Parks, Historic Preservation, Art in Public Places and Finance, are partners in this process along with the following organizations and interested parties:

  • North Fort Collins Business Association
  • Area property/business owners
  • Colorado Department of Transportation
  • Fort Collins City Boards & Commissions
  • Fort Collins City Council
  • North College Urban Renewal Authority
  • Other interested stakeholders

Project Funding

In 2005, Fort Collins voters approved a 1/4 cent sales tax to fund capital projects – Building on Basics (BOB). One of the transportation projects funded through this package is “North College Avenue Improvements Phase 2 – Vine Drive to Conifer.” This project is the next phase of the improvements that were initially funded through the Building Community Choices (BCC) capital plan, which expired in 2005. The BCC program funded improvements from Jefferson to Vine Drive.

The 2005 BOB ballot language included the following project description:
“North College Avenue Improvement Phase 2 – Vine Drive to Conifer The project will provide for the re-design of North College Avenue to bring the road to current arterial standards from Vine Drive to Conifer Street and for the acquisition of right-of-way needed for construction along North College Avenue. Construction will include curb, gutter and minor street patching; redefinition and consolidation of driveway; bike lanes and sidewalks, new streetscape and other necessary improvements.”

BOB funding for the North College improvements was set at approximately $4.8 million. To help supplement the original BOB funding set for North College/US287, Transportation staff has secured additional funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation totaling $885,000. The total funding for the project is approximately $5.5 million. This additional funding from CDOT includes:

  • $250,000 in Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality funds for bicycle & pedestrian related improvements north of the Poudre River to Hickory Street;
  • $250,000 in Enhancement funds for streetscape improvements north from the Poudre River to Hickory Street; and
  • $385,000 in Hazard Elimination/Safety funds for intersection improvements at Hickory and Conifer streets.

Additional Project Information

Contacts:
Kyle Lambrecht, Civil Engineer
(970) 221-6566 or

Jennifer Petrik, Transportation Planner
(970) 416-2471 or

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