ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR I-70 MOUNTAIN CORRIDOR NOW AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW

DENVER – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have released the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor.  This document is available for public review and comment for a 90-day period beginning December 10, 2004, ending on March 10, 2005.

The DPEIS identifies and describes the alternatives that address the future transportation requirements of the I-70 Mountain Corridor – between C-470 and Glenwood Springs.  The primary need is reducing congestion and improving mobility and accessibility, while meeting the environmental, community and safety requirements of the corridor.  Alternatives also must be economically feasible.

Nine alternatives are being considered in the DPEIS as the “Preferred Group”, including two guideway bus alternatives, three highway-widening alternatives and four highway widening alternatives that include preserved corridor segments for future transit options.* Eleven alternatives are included in the “Other Group” and are not recommended because they do not effectively address congestion or are not economically feasible.

The project website www.i70mtncorridor.com contains an electronic version of the DPEIS.