I-70 West Operations Plan (2015-2016)

Study complete

Study Overview

The I-70 West Operations Plan is being developed for the interstate corridor between mile post (MP) 133 in Dotsero to MP 269, at approximately Wadsworth Boulevard.

The purpose of the plan is to identify and prioritize operational improvements for the I-70 West Corridor to improve safety, mobility and reliability without adding new capacity to the corridor. To ensure corridor-wide collaboration with stakeholders, CDOT will follow a Context Sensitive Solutions process (CSS), which will include a chartering meeting to review the I-70 corridor context statement, review corridor core values and review the six steps of the CSS process.

Using the CSS six-step process, the project will be guided by a project leadership team, and project data will be reviewed by a technical working group.

For more information, see the project leadership team materials page.

Project Phases

The I-70 West Operations Plan will be completed in several phases.

The first phase targets the region between Copper Mountain (MP 195) eastbound to the Veterans Tunnels (MP 242). The project builds upon previous recommendations in the I-70 Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (2011), the I-70 Mountain Corridor Mobility and Operations Assessment (2011), and the FHWA Coordinated Freeway and Arterial Operations Handbook (2006). The Operations Plan will:

  • inventory and evaluate existing and planned strategies to improve corridor operations;
  • analyze existing I-70 West corridor conditions data for safety, mobility and reliability;
  • develop alternative strategies;
  • review benefit-cost of alternative strategies;
  • use corridor values to evaluate and screen operational strategies; and
  • develop a plan that prioritizes operational strategies to be implemented on the corridor over the next one to three years, three to five years, and five to 10 years.

The project will have periodic meetings with corridor stakeholders. CDOT anticipates completing the project in 2017.

For more information, please contact Project Manager Lisa Streisfeld.

Operations Strategies Workshop

Plan Overview

The purpose of the I-70 Mountain Corridor Operations Plan is to address recurrent and severe non-recurring congestion in the I-70 corridor between Dotsero and Wadsworth Boulevard, with a particular focus from Copper Mountain to Idaho Springs.

Recognizing the corridor has already deployed an array of operations strategies identified in previous efforts, this plan will be oriented toward articulating new improvements over the next five years that are likely to achieve high benefits relative to costs, and are affordable within known budgetary parameters. The plan will incorporate prioritized solutions that are desirable with corridor stakeholders, and yield a clear implementation plan for phasing and adoption of strategies that fulfill the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) recommendations.

Operational improvements to address congestion may include elements of:

  • highway infrastructure improvements;
  • additional Active Traffic Management systems;
  • managed lanes;
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) infrastructure;
  • improved maintenance techniques;
  • work zone management;
  • better management of traffic flow during adverse weather or special events;
  • improvements for freight transporters;
  • improved traffic incident management and clearance times;
  • improved public information; and
  • preparation for connected and/or automated vehicle technologies.

Operations Strategies Workshop Overview

The workshops will each include two parts:

  1. A study overview for corridor stakeholders, which will:
    • cover study goals and objectives, and the purpose of the workshop;
    • define an operational improvement;
    • introduce subject matter experts and the operational strategy inventory process; and
    • facilitate stakeholder input on the focus of the second session.
  2. The second part will be more technical in nature, and will include:
    • a review of existing traffic conditions;
    • recommended operational strategies; and
    • best practice strategies from subject matter experts.
    The second session will also include interactive activities to identify and prioritize operational strategies.

The primary outcome of the workshop will be to identify appropriate measures of effectiveness and potential viable strategies to be carried forward for further evaluation.

Agenda
 

  • 9 a.m. - Workshop kickoff (Andy: workshop facilitator)
    Welcome and introductions (Andy)
  • 9:10 a.m. - Overview of study and desired outcome of workshop (Ina)
    Discuss overall goals and objectives for plan
  • 9:20 a.m. - Introduce subject matter experts and roles for discussion (David)
    Define operational improvement
  • 9:25 a.m. - State of the practice (David, Scott S., Diego, Les)
  • 10:05 a.m. - Introduction to operational strategy inventory process (Ken)
  • 10:10 a.m. - Stakeholder input on focus of technical session (Les)
    • Level 1 evaluation criteria overview
    • What should be the focus of this workshop?
  • 10:40 a.m. – Break/Interactive map activity (All)
  • 11 a.m. – Technical review (Les - session leader)
    Review of existing traffic conditions (Scott T.)
  • 11:15 a.m. - Review existing strategy inventory (Ken)
  • 11:25 a.m. - Review of deployed strategies (Ken)
  • 11:40 a.m. - Introduction of unimplemented recommendations from inventory (Ken)
  • Noon - Brainstorming operational strategies (Les - session leader)
    Working lunch (lunch provided)
    • Identify new strategies and strategy refinements (David, Scott S., Diego, Les)
  • 1 p.m. - Identify strategies for further consideration (Les - session leader)
    • Categorize strategies based upon goals/objectives (Les)
    • Propose range of anticipated contribution of strategies to measures of effectiveness (Les)
    • Identify strategies for consideration and screening (David)
  • 1:45 p.m. – Next steps (Lisa)
  • 2 p.m. – Adjourn

Locations

The workshop will be conducted over the course of two consecutive days, with one at CDOT's Trail Ridge Conference Room (425 Corporate Circle, Golden, CO 80401), and the other occurring at the Silverthorne Town Hall Council Chambers, 601 Center Circle, Silverthorne, CO 80498.

Participation

Invited participants include CDOT, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), county, municipality, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Motor Carriers Association (CMCA), and key corridor stakeholders involved with the delivery of operations strategies on I-70.

Organization

The workshop will be facilitated by Andy Mountain (GBSM) and (Les Jacobson (WSP|PB). Les is the current committee chair of the TRB Regional TSM&O Committee, and WSP|PB's international director for TSM&O activities.

Other project team participants include:

  • topical experts David Ungemah (managed lanes, TDM, pricing topics);
  • Les Jacobson (flow metering, ATM, shoulder utilization);
  • Diego Carroll (managed lanes, ITS, lane control systems, arterial systems); and
  • Scott Shogan (traffic management, modeling, connected / automated vehicles);
  • as well as ITS experts Scott Thomas and Ken DePinto of Apex Design.

Project Leadership Team Meetings

May 19, 2016

Agenda

  1. Introductions

  2. Charrette results

  3. Project progress
    • Draft inventory report
    • Level 1 Evaluation


  4. Project Schedule
    • Processes


  5. Next Steps

Download Level One Screening Scores