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C-470 Express Lanes Feasibility Study

Final Report June 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ES.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ES.1 BACKGROUND
ES.2 STUDY PROCESS
ES.3 SCREENING PROCESS
ES.4 CONCLUSION

1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 C-470 CORRIDOR HISTORY
1.2 C-470 CORRIDOR NEEDS

2.0 METHODOLOGY
2.1 C-470 STUDY AREA
2.2 STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
2.3 STUDY APPROACH
2.3.1 C-470 Corridor Environmental Assessment
2.3.2 Value Engineering (VE) Study

3.0 BACKGROUND
3.1 COLORADO TOLLING ENTERPRISE
3.2 MANAGED LANES
3.2.1 Value Pricing Lanes
3.2.2 Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP)
3.2.3 Value Pricing Corridors Currently in Operation around the Country
3.3 PUBLIC PRIVATE INITIATIVE

4.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS
4.1 HIGHWAY GEOMETRIC FEATURES
4.1.1 Typical Section
4.1.2 Horizontal Alignment
4.1.3 Vertical Alignment
4.1.4 Interchange and Ramp Configurations
4.1.5 Pavement Conditions
4.1.6 Structure Conditions
4.1.7 Santa Fe Drive over C-470
4.1.8 C-470 over the Platte River
4.1.9 Planned Transportation Improvements
4.2 EXISTING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
4.2.1 Existing Average Daily Traffic Volumes
4.2.2 Hourly Distribution
4.2.3 Vehicle Classification
4.2.4 Travel Time Observations
4.2.5 Levels of Service/Densities
4.2.6 Congestion/Queue Observations
4.2.7 Speed Profiles
4.2.8 Safety

5.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
5.1 OVERVIEW
5.1.1 Project Management Team
5.1.2 Technical Working Group
5.1.3 Executive Working Group
5.1.4 Open Houses/Workshops
5.1.5 Newsletters
5.1.6 Small Group Meetings
5.1.7 Project Web site
5.1.8 Agency Coordination/Project Stakeholders
5.1.9 Public Acceptance
5.2 C-470 FOCUS GROUPS
5.3 STATED PREFERENCE SURVEY
5.3.1 Toll Sensitivity Curves
5.3.2 Value of Time Calculations

6.0 FUTURE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS (346KB)
6.1.1 Average Annual Daily Traffic
6.1.2 Peak Hours
6.1.3 Travel Time Observations
6.1.4 Levels of Service/Densities
6.2 TRAFFIC MODELING
6.2.1 Initial Toll Diversion Forecasts Using Travel Demand Model
6.2.2 Forecasts and Traffic Operations Using Micro-simulation Model 6.2.3 Calibration of AIMSUN Model

7.0 PROJECT ELEMENTS
7.1 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
7.1.1 Design Criteria
7.1.2 Key Design Issues
7.1.3 Methods of Separation
7.1.4 Buffer Separation
7.1.5 Tubular Marker Posts
7.1.6 Curb and Marker
7.1.7 Concrete Barrier
7.1.8 Selection of Final Typical Section
7.1.9 Access Types
7.1.10 Toll Collection Scheme
7.1.11 Signing
7.1.12 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
7.2 COST ESTIMATES
7.2.1 Roadway Capital Costs
7.2.2 Toll Equipment Capital Costs
7.2.3 Operations Costs
7.2.4 Maintenance Costs
7.3 FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS
7.3.1 Debt Financing Considerations
7.3.2 Determination of Toll Structure
7.3.3 Revenue and Feasibility Calculations

8.0 ALTERNATIVES SCREENING
8.1 STEP 1. CORRIDOR CAPACITY ANALYSIS
8.1.1 Existing Conditions Analysis
8.1.2 2025 Conditions Analysis
8.1.3 Cursory Feasibility Assessment of I-70 to Morrison Road
8.1.4 Four-lane Barrier Separated Concept
8.1.5 Reversible Express Lane Concept
8.1.6 Single Express Lane Concept
8.1.7 Conclusions of the I-70 to Kipling Parkway Analysis
8.1.8 Phasing Plan for Kipling Parkway to I-70
8.2 STEP 2. PRELIMINARY SCREENING OF ACCESS LOCATIONS
8.3 STEP 3. QUALITATIVE SCREENING OF ACCESS LOCATIONS
8.4 STEP 4. QUANTITATIVE SCREENING OF ACCESS LOCATIONS
8.4.1 Access Alternatives
8.4.2 Direct Access
8.4.3 Fourth Level Screening Criteria
8.4.4 Projected Traffic Volumes
8.4.5 Interchange Reserve Capacity
8.4.6 Geometric Constraints
8.4.7 Express Lane and General Purpose Lane Operations
8.4.8 Access Spacing
8.4.9 Financial Feasibility
8.4.10 Selection of Final Access Configuration

9.0 OPTIMIZATION OF FINAL ALTERNATIVE
9.1 ACCESS LOCATION REFINEMENT
9.1.1 I-25 Interchange
9.1.2 Quebec Street
9.1.3 Colorado Boulevard
9.1.4 Lucent Boulevard
9.1.5 Wadsworth Boulevard
9.1.6 Final Access Alternative
9.2 FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY OF FINAL CONFIGURATION
9.2.1 Toll Rate Optimization
9.2.2 Roadway Design Capital Cost Estimates
9.2.3 Toll Collection Fees
9.2.4 Financial Feasibility of Final Configuration
9.3 TRAFFIC OPERATIONS OF LOCAL ARTERIAL NETWORK
9.4 ROW REQUIREMENTS
9.5 HIGH-OCCUPANCY VECHICLE COMPONENT
9.6 TRANSIT COMPONENT

10.0 FUNDING PLAN
10.1 STRATEGIES TO LEVERAGE TOLL REVENUES
10.2 SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING
10.2.1 Metropolitan Planning Organization Process
10.2.2 TABOR

11.0 CONCLUSIONS
11.1 PHASING PLAN
11.2 IMPLEMENTATION STEPS
11.2.1 Carry Express Lanes Alternative Forward into EA
11.2.2 Complete Funding Package
11.2.3 Amend RTP to Include Express Lanes Alternative
11.2.4 Issue Design Build Contract
11.2.5 Traffic & Revenue Study
11.2.6 Bonding
11.2.7 Construction

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure ES.1 Proposed/Access Configuration
Figure ES.2 Proposed/Phasing Plan
Figure 1.1 Vicinity Map
Figure 2.1 Study Area
Figure 4.1 Existing Freeway Volume (View 1)
Figure 4.2 Existing Freeway Volume (View 2)
Figure 5.1 Time Saved Per Mile as Function of Cost Per Mile
Figure 5.2 Cost Per Mile as Function of Time Saved Per Mile
Figure 6.1 Projected AM Peak Hour Volumes
Figure 6.2 Projected PM Peak Hour Volumes
Figure 6.3 PM Peak Hour Travel Times
Figure 7.1 Methods of Separation
Figure 7.2 Typical Section
Figure 7.3 Access Types
Figure 7.4 Typical Toll Collection Zone
Figure 7.5 Toll Collection Scheme
Figure 7.6 Conceptual Signing Plan
Figure 7.7 Example Dynamic Message Sign Sequence
Figure 8.1 C-470 Corridor Map
Figure 8.2 V/C Comparison - Existing (2003)
Figure 8.3 V/C Comparison - Projected (2025)
Figure 8.4 Access Configuration for Alternatives 1 through 10 (560KB)
Figure 9.1 I-25/C-470 Interchange
Figure 9.2 Projected AM Peak Hour Volumes Final Configuration
Figure 9.3 Projected PM Peak Hour Volumes Final Configuration
Figure 9.4 Proposed Typical Section
Figure 11.1 Proposed Final Alternative
Figure 11.2 Potential Phasing Plan

LIST OF TABLES
Table ES.1 Summary of Financial Feasibility Analysis
Table 4.1 Existing Hourly Distribution
Table 4.2 Heavy Vehicle Volumes along C-470
Table 4.3 Summary of AM Travel Time Observations (sec)
Table 4.4 Summary of PM Travel Time Observations (sec)
Table 4.5 AM/PM Peak Hour C-470 Freeway Segment LOS/Density Summary
Table 4.6 Summary of AM Average Speed (mph)
Table 4.7 Summary of PM Average Speed (mph)
Table 5.1 Value of Time Summary Table
Table 5.2 Value of Time Calculation for Corridor Users
Table 6.1 AM/PM Peak Hour Intersection Delay and Levels of Service
Table 6.2 AM Peak Hour Freeway Levels of Service/Density
Table 6.3 PM Peak Hour Freeway Levels of Service/Density
Table 7.1 Roadway Design Criteria
Table 7.2 Roadway Capital Cost Unit Prices
Table 7.3 Toll Equipment Capital Costs
Table 7.4 C-470 Express Lane Operations Costs
Table 7.5 C-470 Express Lane Maintenance Costs
Table 7.6 Toll Rate Structure
Table 8.1 Preliminary Access Location Screening
Table 8.2 Qualitative Access Location Screening
Table 8.3 Fourth Level Screening Summary
Table 9.1 Toll Schedule Final Configuration
Table 9.2 Financial Feasibility Analysis with 5.5% Bond Rate and
1.75 Senior Lien/ 2.19 Subordinate Lien
Table 9.3 Financial Feasibility Analysis with 6.0% Bonding Rate and
1.75 Senior Lien/2.19 Subordinate Lien
Table 9.4 Financial Feasibility Analysis with 5.5% Bonding Rate and
1.75 Senior Lien/2.99 Subordinate Lien
Table 9.5 Financial Feasibility Analysis with 6.0% Bonding Rate and
1.75 Senior Lien/2.99 Subordinate Lien
Table 10.1 Toll Revenue Leveraging Techniques

APPENDICES
Appendix A CDOT Draft Traffic Safety Chapter
A1 Cover to Page 3
A2 Page 4 to 8
A3 Page 9 to 12
A4 Table 1
A5 Page 14 to 18
A6 Page 19 to 21
A7 Pages 22 to 23
A8 Page 24 to 25
A9 Page 26 to 27
A10 Page 28 to 29
A11 Page 30 to 32
A12 Detailed Accident Summary Report
Appendix B C-470 Focus Groups Executive Summary
Appendix C Stated Preference Survey Executive Summary
Appendix D I-25/C-470 Conceptual Signing Layout
Appendix E I-25/C-470 Interchange Design Alternatives
Appendix F Colorado Boulevard Interchange Analysis
Appendix G Roadway Cost Estimate for Final Alternative
Appendix H Operational Analysis of the C-470 Ramp Complex

Document Actions
Contact Information

Colorado Department of Transportation
Ron Buck, Project Manager
Jerad Esquibel, Project Engineer

Consultant Team
Jim Brady, Project Manager
Allan Brown, Deputy Project Manager
Jen Babbington, Assistant Project Manager
Melissa Allen, Planning Manager

C-470 Corridor
c/o Wilson & Company Inc.
999 18th St. Suite 2600
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 297-2976 - phone
(303) 297-2693 - fax
c470@wilsonco.com

 
 
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