DENVER – The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has recognized the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) with its Notable Practices Award for the U.S. 285 Environmental Assessment (EA).

CDOT Chief Engineer Pam Hutton presented the award to Region One’s Regional Transportation Director Jeff Kullman at the Colorado Transportation Commission’s monthly meeting today. The award, from AASHTO’s Center for Environmental Excellence, recognizes the best practices in context sensitive solutions (CSS).

“I’m very proud of our team,” said Kullman. “To be one of only four entities to receive this honor – out of more than 60 applicants – is truly high praise to the hard work and dedication that each person performed so effectively for this project. I want to thank everyone who was involved with CDOT and our consultant Carter-Burgess.”

The project started in 2001 to closely examine and recommend safety and mobility improvements for U.S. 285 between Foxton Road in Conifer and Fairplay. It eventually developed into an EA study between Foxton Road and Bailey.

CDOT worked cooperatively throughout the process to avoid or minimize impacts to wetlands and historic properties, reaching out to many stakeholders, including the public, natural resource agencies and environmental organizations. The environmental review process included scoping, development of alternatives and communicating recommendations for the preferred alternative.

Community values also were incorporated into the project, including:

• Using grade-separated intersections, eliminating one grade separation altogether and using underpasses rather than overpasses to minimize the “urban feel.”
• Working with local planning and open space agencies to identify parcels that could be preserved through acquisition or open space set-asides.
• Integrating numerous design enhancements to improve safety, including improved access control and clear zones and elimination of hazardous curves.
• Incorporating a corridor management plan to improve access and safety while maintaining mobility
• Adding wildlife crossings at five separate locations. When possible, the 72 culvert crossings will be modified to incorporate small animal crossings.
• Citizen input on colors, textures and styles of constructed elements, such as bridges and retaining walls.
• Commitments to rock and slope cutting in a natural manner.

The process was so successful in building public support and in avoiding or minimizing environmental impacts that CDOT and the Federal Highway Administration agreed to downgrade the project from an Environmental Impact Statement to an EA. In addition, AASHTO’s CSS Competition Panel commended CDOT’s “great multi-disciplinary team, good communication tools and use of wildlife crossings.”