National Society of Professional Engineers-Colorado Engineers Week Forum

February 19, 2010

Mission

The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) is a voluntary association of municipal and county governments.

Since 1967, PPACG has worked to ensure that local governments have a forum to discuss issues that cross their political boundaries, identify shared opportunities and challenges, and develop collaborative strategies for action.

Celebrating 40 years of regionalism

PPACG Service Area

Regional Approach Works

• “Four-legged stool” for funding

• Federal funding: DOT, DoD• State funding: gas tax, general fund• Local governments: road, bridge, public

transportation and regional authorities• Private Sector: special districts, developers• All partners represented in process

Transportation

PPACG serves as the state designated metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Colorado Springs metro area, which includes all the area military bases.

• 2035 Regional Transportation Plan• 2008-2013 Transportation Improvement Program• Human Services Transportation Coordination Plan• Regional Non-Motorized Plan

Transportation:Plans and More Plans

PPACG adopted the Moving Forward: 2035 Regional Transportation Plan in March 2008. The plan includes regionally significant projects in the region for the military bases valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.

Transportation:Long Range Planning

Fort Carson Gate 20/I-25/SH 16 Interchange ($70 million) SH 115 Safety Improvements ($10 million)

Peterson AFBPowers Boulevard/Stewart Avenue Interchange ($45 million)DAR Project from A/DACG to South Powers Boulevard ($8 million)

Air Force Academy I-25/North Gate Interchange ($125 million)

Schriever AFB SH 94 Safety Improvements ($500,000)

I-25 Widening N. Academy Blvd. to Interquest Pkwy. ($35 million)

Powers Blvd. (SH 21) Environmentally Cleared ($1.0 billion+)

Transportation:Short Range Planning

The mobility management team coordinates with area transportation providers to share resources and improve services for seniors and people with disabilities or low income. Partners include:

• Metro Rides• Front Range Express• Mountain Metropolitan Transit• Metro Mobility• Community Intersections• Fountain Valley Senior Services• The Resource Exchange• Mountain Community Transportation for Seniors• Pikes Peak Partnership• Silver Key• Teller County Senior Coalition• Yellow Cab

Transportation:Mobility Management

PPACG’s regional non-motorized plan prioritizes investments in bike paths, trails, and sidewalks including:

• New Santa Fe Regional Trail funding• Fountain Creek Trail system• Fort Carson pedestrian/bicycle access• Multiple on-street and off-street components

TIP is the Source of Projects List

Transportation:Bike and Pedestrian Projects

Environment

PPACG serves as the state designated water quality management agency and air quality planning agency for the Pikes Peak region. Works with military bases on sustainability projects/programs.

PPACG ensures the region remains “in attainment” for air pollutants, including:

• Carbon Monoxide• Ozone• Particulate Matter• Nitrogen Dioxide• Sulfur Dioxide• Lead

Environment:Air Quality

PPACG employs a watershed planning approach to the region, which is home to 5 major watersheds.

The 208 Water Quality Management Plan, updated every few years, identifies water quality issues and recommends policies and technical strategies for communities.

Environment:Water Quality

Military Impact

PPACG conducts impact planning to prepare communities for growth at the region’s 5 military installations.

The Fort Carson Regional Growth Plan identifies needs and makes recommendations to prepare the Pikes Peak region for 30,000 plus new soldiers and family members.

Military Impact:Fort Carson Growth

Regional Economic Planning

PPACG compiles data and conducts research to support regional planning efforts. We look at diverse topics such as affordable housing, economic development, land use, and the environment.

Area Agency on Aging

PPACG serves as the state designated Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for the Pikes Peak region, helping older adults live independently in their own homes and avoid costly institutionalization.

• Senior Information and Assistance Center

• Family Caregiver Support Center

• Senior Insurance Assistance

• Ombudsmen Program

Area Agency on Aging:Programs and Services

PPACG administers the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA), an innovative mechanism for local transportation funding.

In 2004, voters of El Paso County, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, and Green Mountain Falls voted to create the PPRTA, granting it the authority to levy a one-cent sales and use tax for specific transportation projects.

PPRTA

PPRTA Projects Overview

• $70 million annual revenue• $385 million for 72 Capital projects to be built

over 10 years• $245 million for Maintenance Programs:

paving, bridges, sidewalks, traffic signal systems in first 10 years.

• $70 million for Public Transportation make-over in first 10 years

Allocation of Funding

• 10% Reserve $7.0 million• <1.0% Administration $475,000

Allocation After Reserve• 55% Capital Projects $38.5 million• 35% Maintenance Programs $24.5 million• 10% Public Transportation $7.0 million

PPRTA Capital Projects

• Woodmen Road Widening - $60 million (COS)• South Metro Access Projects - $51 million (COS)• South Metro Access Projects - $26 million (EPC)• Austin Bluffs/Union Interchange - $36 million (COS)• Marksheffel Road Widening - $29 million (EPC)• Austin Bluffs Corridor - $24 million (COS)• I-25 COSMIX Companion Projects - $10 million (COS)• Baptist Road Widening - $9 million (EPC)• Roadway Safety/Traffic Operations - $7 million (COS)

More PPRTA Capital Projects

• Cimarron Street Bridge - $6 million (COS)• Powers Blvd. R-O-W Acquisition - $5 million (COS)• Struthers Road Extension/Jackson Creek Parkway - $4

million (EPC)• Manitou Avenue Improvements - $2.7 million (MS)• Baptist/Hodgen Connection - $2 million (EPC)• Congestion/Incident Management - $2 million (COS)• Ute Pass Avenue Widening - $284,000 (GMF)

Annual Maintenance Programs

• Colorado Springs - $19 million

• El Paso County - $6 million

• Manitou Springs - $264,000

• Green Mountain Falls - $41,000

Robert MacDonaldExecutive DirectorPikes Peak Area Council of Governments15 S 7th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80905(719) 471-7080 x101rmacdonald@ppacg.org

www.ppacg.org

Contact Information