Title
A Resolution Authorizing a Land Exchange of Real Property with the Colorado Department of Transportation for the Cimarron Street Reconstruction Project
Body
From:
Karen Palus, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
Chris Lieber, Parks Development Manager
Summary:
The attached Resolution authorizes staff to enter into a Colorado Department of Transportation Memorandum of Agreement for the purpose of the Midland Trail relocation as part of the I-25 Cimarron Interchange Design-Build Project.
Previous Council Action:
On April 27, 2004, the City of Colorado Springs unanimously passed Resolution No. 81-04 which supports the proposed Interstate 25 improvements through the Colorado Springs Urbanized Area, as detailed in the Interstate 25 Environmental Assessment.
Background:
In 1959, I-25 was built over the Midland railroad line that had been unused since 1949. In 1997, the City of Colorado Springs purchased the railroad corridor for future east west trail use (shown on Attachment A). Improvements to this interchange have been examined twice, first in March 2004, and then in May 2012. The Colorado State Historic Preservation Office noted the Midland Railroad grade under I-25 is NOT eligible for listing as an historic resource. Numerous alternatives for the Midland Trail were considered due to the widening of I-25 over the Midland Trail. For the trail to remain in its current location, the crossing under I-25 would need to more than double in length.
In 2003, the City of Colorado Springs applied for and received a $150,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for development of the Midland Trail which was completed by the end of 2004. Now that funding for the reconstruction of this interchange has become available, CDOT conducted a re-evaluation of the 2004 I-25 Environmental Assessment and determined that the I-25 proposed action will result in a Section 6(f) impact to the Midland Trail due to the fede...
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