 | Baptist Road is owned by El Paso County.
Administration is the responsibility of the El Paso County Department of
Transportation. The Town of Monument has expressed interest in taking over
ownership. The Tri-View Metropolitan District is involved in designing and
implementing changes to Baptist and the intersecting roads and streets. The
Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority (BRRTA) is responsible for
coordinating the efforts of these other Governmental bodies. |
| BRRTA has a
Concept Plan for Baptist Road that calls for
the road to become a major east-west arterial.
 | It would be expanded to six lanes
(three in each direction) with a median from Old Denver Highway on
the west to Jackson Creek Parkway on the east. |
| There would be four
lanes (two in each direction) with a median from Jackson Creek
Parkway east to Fox Run. |
| The BRRTA is preparing to contract for
development of a Preliminary Design for the changes to Baptist Road. |
| There is no money yet allocated for these
changes. Best estimates are that these changes will not be
implemented for four years or more. |
|
| According to the Wal*Mart Developer's traffic
study, current traffic averages about 9,500 trips per day west of Jackson
Creek Parkway. |
| The Coalition's role is to review the plans
and provide resident input on the proposed changes. Those who travel the
road everyday observe the current congested and hazardous conditions and
stress the urgency of making improvements to Baptist Road. Volunteers are
needed to help with this effort.
|
| December 1, 2000: Baptist Road Rural Transportation
Authority (BRRTA) meeting: 
|
Speaking as a member of the Jackson Creek community,
Monument Trustee Nick Liebovitz stressed the importance of improving
sight distances and lane alignments at the intersection of Leather Chaps
and Baptist Road. The County Dept. of Transportation was asked to
analyze the situation and develop recommendations. |
|
The County Dept. of Transportation reported that the
Request for Proposals for the Baptist Road Corridor Study and
Preliminary Design will be issued next January or February. The study
and design effort will cover east and west of I-25. By mid-year, the
project should identify spot improvements that need immediate attention
such as the Leather Chaps intersection. |
|
Struthers Ranch and Forest Lakes Residential are
included in the BRRTA area. |
|
During 2001-2002, Hodgen Rd. will be extended from
Highway 83 west to connect to Baptist Rd. at Roller Coaster Rd. |
|
Due to the passage of Amendment 23 on School Funding,
delays in some transportation projects are expected. |
|
Retained earnings as of September 30th were reported as
$308K. |
|
A 2001 budget was approved showing $115K income from
permit fees (e.g., $500 per house in Jackson Creek), $12.5K management
fee expense, $150K for engineering design expense, $100K as a
contingency for construction. |
|
An audit is being conducted by J.W. Simmons and
Associates regarding BRRTA permit fee collection. It was noted that
Lewis-Palmer District 38 owes $50K in permit fees for Jackson Creek
Middle School which is scheduled to open in August 2001. Previously paid
permit fees were also reported as follows: King Soopers $110K, Texaco
$18.5K, First Bank $5.4K. If approved, Wal*Mart would pay a BRRTA permit
fee of about $230K. |
|
| April 13, 2001: The Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority
(BRRTA) decided to review the fee to be paid by Lewis-Palmer School District 38
for the new middle school. This
fee has been estimated as high as $160,000 depending on how one applies the
BRRTA fee of $1 per square for industrial and institutional uses. This will be discussed further July
13th. |
|
April 2001: A redesign of the Baptist Road/I-25
Interchange is scheduled to begin in mid-2001. Improvements are
projected to cost about $11M. The work would be completed in 2004 or
2005. |
| September 27, 2001: At the Triview Metro District Board meeting the
highlights were given of a September 17th meeting hosted by the County
Department of Transportation on plans to improve Baptist Road.:
| The County has agreed to take responsibility for adding a deceleration
lane at Leather Chaps. |
| The area of focus from I-25 toward the west has been reduced from
Mitchell Avenue to Old Denver Highway. This ignores problems with the
railroad and creek crossings. |
| Seven alternative conceptual designs for the interchange at Baptist
and I-25 have been developed. Some of them show the bridge moved far
south and have considerable impact on the Forest Lakes commercial
properties. Colorado DOT plans to complete an Environmental and mouse
habitat assessment by March 2002. |
| Regarding the issue of whether Lewis-Palmer School District 38 should
pay a $100K+ fee to the Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority,
Peter Susemihl noted that the new districts for improvements to Woodman
and Meridian roads are structured around mill levies, permit fees, and
plan review fees and so schools are exempt from paying any fees
directly. Ron Simpson was still in favor of a fee but felt the amount
could be negotiated. |
|
