Transcript SHORT OTR Presentation for Thursday Fremont County Public

Over The River
Project for the Arkansas River
State of Colorado
Application to Fremont County for a
Temporary Use Permit
The artists plan to suspend 5.9 miles of silvery,
luminous fabric panels high above
the Arkansas River
© Christo 2009; Photo: Andre Grossman
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Translucent fabric panels will emphasize the
configuration of the river as it meanders,
winds and bends
© Christo 1999; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
3
Two-week exhibition period proposed for
August of 2014
© Christo, 2008; Photo by Andre Grossman
4
Status and Phases of Over The River
Permitting Process
• EIS phase complete and BLM permit secured
• Division of Parks & Wildlife and State Land
Board approvals secured
• County permitting process currently underway
• Currently securing permit from CDOT
• CSP Event Permit
• Event Management Planning underway
Installation
• In phases over two years, beginning in July
2012, assuming all permits and agreements
are obtained
• Not continuous over two years; many breaks.
Exhibition
• Planned for two consecutive weeks in August
2014
Removal
• Approx. three months
Photo: Wolfgang Volz
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Additional Benefits of OTR Project
• Stored UP railcars have
been removed from the
Valley.
© Christo 2007; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
• New habitat for bighorn
sheep is being provided
through habitat treatment
work currently in progress.
Mitigation may increase the
population of bighorn sheep
in the Arkansas Valley.
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Comprehensive Mitigation
• OTR’s permit application
incorporates the more than 100
mitigation measures already
identified in the EIS. These
measures avoid or minimize the
potential impacts.
• Fremont and Chaffee Counties
worked closely with the BLM as
cooperating agencies to develop
this comprehensive set of
solutions for Over The River.
© Christo 2007; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
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Safety Measures Included in the FEIS
• Approximately 21 law enforcement
personnel will “be stationed
throughout the greater project area
... to ensure no-stopping
restrictions are observed, to
maintain orderly traffic flow, [and]
to ensure rapid incident response.”
FEIS at 4-201.
© Christo, 2007; Photo by Andre Grossman
• Higher than normal levels of traffic
and driver distractions “[will] be
offset to some degree by slower
travel speeds throughout the
corridor (lower average accident
severity) and a high level of
monitoring and law enforcement
presence.” FEIS at 4-230.
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Safety Measures Included in the FEIS
• Approximately 100 to 150 monitors
[will] be stationed throughout the
corridor … to maintain surveillance”
and provide communication “in the
event of an emergency.” FEIS at 4-202.
• “Local fire departments will
be provided with supplementary
www.shuttershock.com
communications equipment, if necessary.
To ensure that a small fire would be controlled quickly, smaller
caches of handheld firefighting equipment would be located at the
Vallie Bridge Limited Rest Stop. All work crews would be trained in
quick response wildfire suppression techniques as well.” FEIS at 4-202.
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Safety Measures
• Medical concerns will be addressed
every day from sunrise to sunset
during the week of fabric blossoming,
the two week exhibition, and the first
week of the removal phase. FEIS at 4-202.
• A medical helicopter will be staged at
the Texas Creek Staging Area. FEIS at 4-202.
http://www.coleparmer.com/buy/product/3862-safety-sign-first-aid-stationsymbol-7-x-10-plastic.html
• An ambulance with paramedics will be
staged at Texas Creek and Parkdale Recreation sites.
FEIS at 4-202.
• First aid stations staffed by trained paramedics will be located at
each of the limited rest stops and information centers in the
corridor. FEIS at 4-202.
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Management of Traffic – OTR Priorities
Public Safety is of prime
importance
© Christo 2007; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
•
Prevent diversion to local roads through
Adaptive Traffic Management.
•
Provide for safe passage of emergency
vehicles.
•
Minimize delays to the traveling public.
•
Use methods that have worked –
techniques currently used by CDOT on
US 50 maintenance.
•
Ensure public is fully informed through
an aggressive public information
campaign.
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Management of Traffic – OTR Priorities
Public Safety is of prime
importance
© Christo 2007; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
•
Prevent diversion to local roads through
Adaptive Traffic Management.
•
Provide for safe passage of emergency
vehicles.
•
Minimize delays to the traveling public.
•
Use methods that have worked –
techniques currently used by CDOT on
US 50 maintenance.
•
Ensure public is fully informed through
an aggressive public information
campaign.
12
Management of Traffic – Construction Phase
•
Done under CDOT Special Use permit
•
Uses temporary 400-foot work zone
lane closure
•
•
Similar to traffic control used for routine
CDOT maintenance activities
•
Expected cumulative delay 10 minutes
or less corridor-wide
•
Westbound lane (riverside lane) only
during daylight hours
•
No closures allowed from Memorial
Day to Labor Day
NEVER close both lanes in any location at
the same time
© Christo 2009; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
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Construction
• As shown, state-of-the-art
equipment to be used for
installation on the highway
side of the river requires
only a single lane of US 50.
• All temporary lane closures
will comply with CDOT
regulations.
• Variable Message Signs
(VMS) to inform motorists
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Management of Traffic – Construction Phase
Lane closure schedule
•
Two temporary work zones corridor wide for only 27 days.
• 10-mile spacing of temporary lane closures.
• Will create gaps for left
turns off of US 50.
• Average traffic delay will
be 3-5 minutes per work
zone.
• No diversion to County
roads.
© Christo 2007; Photo: André Grossmann
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Management of Traffic – Construction Phase
Lane Shift with Continued Two-Way Traffic
• Shifts westbound lane while maintaining two-way traffic
• Allows two full lanes open to traffic
• Use in 3 lane sections
and areas with wide
shoulders
• Occurs only during
allowable time periods
© Christo 2007; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
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Management of Traffic – Exhibition Phase
• No pedestrian travel along US 50 within 0.5 miles of panel
areas and/or other areas as deemed necessary by BLM and
State Parks Staff.
• All pullouts on US 50
and County Road 45
within 0.5 miles of any
fabric panel section
will be closed.
• CDOT will not divert
traffic to County roads.
© Christo 2010; Photo: André Grossmann
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Management of Traffic – Exhibition Phase
© Christo 2007; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
•
Bicycle travel along US 50
prohibited on Fridays, Saturdays
and Sundays.
•
No organized bicycle events would
be allowed on US 50 during the
exhibition.
•
Overweight, oversize and
hazardous cargo trucks will be
restricted from the site during the
exhibition period (by CDOT permit)
and banned from County roads.
Local traffic only on county roads.
•
Temporary speed reductions of 10
mph will be posted near all fabric
panel areas.
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Management of Traffic – Exhibition Phase
• Vehicles will not be
allowed to stop within
0.5 miles of a fabric
panel section.
• Install temporary signals
at intersection of US 50
and: Royal Gorge, SH 9,
SH 69, road to the back
side of Royal Gorge,
Harvey Bridge, Cotopaxi,
CR 45, Pinnacle Rock,
and Spikebuck.
© Christo 2008; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
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Exhibition Phase-Reduce peak period travel
delays and enhance visitor experience
•
Strategies used for Glenwood
Canyon ribbon-cutting and SH 82
Entrance to Aspen project
•
Plan will include measures to shift
anticipated peak period visitation
to off-peak periods
- Increase carpooling
- Use of vans, shuttles and
buses
•
Includes targeted messages
- Traditional media (television,
radio, newspapers)
© Christo 2006; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
- Social media (YouTube,
Facebook, Twitter and newer
tools that emerge by 2014) 20
OTR Priorities-Event Management
Public Safety is of prime
importance
© Christo 2007; Photo: Wolfgang Volz
•
Event Management Plan will define
responsibilities and roles.
•
CSP and CDOT will have primary
authority, supported by OTR resources.
•
Prevent diversion to local roads through
signing and enforcement.
•
Public will be fully informed through an
aggressive public information campaign
•
Conduct a safe, enjoyable viewing
experience.
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A Growing List of Supporters
Many organizations have already pledged their support of Over The River. Below is a partial list
of the individuals and organizations that have submitted statements of support to date.
• Action 22
•
Fremont Center for the Arts
• Arkansas River Outfitters Association
•
Fremont Community Foundation
• Art Works For the Heart of the Rockies
•
Fremont County Tourism Council
• Mike Bandera, President of Royal Gorge Bridge
& Park
•
Governor John Hickenlooper
•
Dr. Robin Gooldy, Superintendent of Cañon City
Schools
• City Council of Cañon City
•
Colorado State Senator Kevin Grantham
• Cañon City Chamber of Commerce and Doug
Shane
•
Mike King, Director of Colorado Department of
Natural Resources
• Chaffee County Visitors Bureau
•
U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn
• Colorado Council on the Arts
•
The Mountain Mail
• Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors
Bureau
•
Andy Neinas, President of Echo Canyon River
Expeditions
• Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
•
George Turner, Former Executive Director of the
Cañon City Chamber
•
The Pueblo Chieftain
•
U.S. Senator Mark Udall
•
Visit Denver – Denver Convention & Visitors Bureau
•
Western Colorado Center for the Arts
•
Whitewater Adventure Outfitters
• U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
• Colorado Springs Gazette
• COPPeR
• Denver Art Museum
• Maggie Divelbiss and the Sangre de Cristo Arts
Center Board of Trustees
• Bill Dvorak, President of Dvorak Expeditions
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