Information provided by Town of Castle Rock

After receiving public input, the Town of Castle Rock Council directed its staff to resume attempts to have Union Pacific railroad tracks moved so a new road between The Meadows and I-25 could be built at-grade.

It was previously thought the at-grade alignment for the North Meadows Extension no longer was an option, and Council was set to state a preference for the road’s alignment – a connection to U.S. Highway 85 and I-25 at Atrium Drive or Castlegate Drive.

The at-grade option would not require an interchange like the other two options would, saving about $10 million in initial construction costs. However, Union Pacific has said it will not allow the track relocation that would make that option possible.

According to Town of Castle Rock Public Works Director Bob Goebel, “They [Council] felt that they owed a greater effort to the Castle Rock tax payers to provide further consideration of the lowest cost alternative, by approximately $10 million in the environmental assessment.”

Council directed staff to resume efforts to persuade the railroad and to solicit help from state and federal legislators from the area in doing so. Council also directed staff to research the cost of hiring lawyers or lobbyists to assist in the effort.

Because the at-grade option – which would intersect U.S. 85 at Atrium Drive – is again under consideration, a public meeting that was scheduled for this fall will not be held until late this year or early next year.

“We are currently looking at mid-December to complete these negotiations and have the EA [environmental assessment] ready for an open house and public comment,” said Goebel. “ However, if negotiations progress and are working toward resolution, it may take longer.”

At that meeting, the public will be able to provide input on the three alignment alternatives being considered. All would connect to I-25 at the same point, about one mile north of the Founders/Meadows Parkway interchange.

The Colorado Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration will have the final say on where the road goes.

A second route from The Meadows to U.S. 85 and I-25 is needed to relieve traffic congestion on Meadows Parkway and improve traffic flow on I-25.

The two options that involve interchanges each would cost about $62 million, and the at-grade option about $52 million, including land acquisition, project design and construction. The town currently has about $22 million it could use toward the project and continues to explore sources of additional
funding.

The project is part of the Town’s Transportation Action Plan (TAP), for which voters approved a $30 million bond issue in 2005.

Updates about the North Meadows Extension can be found at CRgov.com. For additional information about the North Meadows Extension Project, contact Goebel at 720-733-2462 or e-mail contact by e-mail.