Miscellaneous Questions

1. Where do the Organization of West Side Neighbors meet since they know how it should be done?

Answer: Welling Clark, the president of the Organization of Westside Neighbors, can be reached at 471-4023 for information about meeting times and locations.

2. Thank you, while it is not perfect, I understand why, and how, and feel better.

Answer: We appreciate your comment. Please feel free to contact us in the future if you have any questions regarding the US 24 West project.

3. It appears that it has already been decided that a design is going to happen. It is just a matter of which design? Just leave Highway 24 as it is – 24 East is needed more. You are making decision for Westside – Westside does not want to be the designed.

Answer: Public comments received at project open houses and through the project website and hotline have been overwhelmingly in favor of making improvements to this corridor to address current and future traffic problems. The US 24 corridor currently operates at unacceptable levels of service (LOS) for a state highway. The analysis of the “no-build” option, which scored the lowest in screening of three alternatives, concluded that substantial improvements are needed along the corridor to adequately handle traffic in the year 2030. In fact, the analysis of the existing traffic operations show that significant improvements are needed along the corridor to adequately handle today’s traffic. The “no build” option will be carried through the environmental assessment and will provide a baseline to compare the benefits and impacts of potential corridor improvements.

4. Project does not improve traffic flow considering the number of businesses that have to be removed. Traffic on 24 flows as well as any highway in the Springs. You will destroy the Westside. Gross waste of taxpayers’ money.

Response: The analysis of the “no-build” option concluded that substantial improvements are needed along the corridor to adequately handle traffic in the year 2030. These traffic projections indicate that both the Midland Expressway Alternative and the US 24 Freeway Alternative dramatically improve traffic flow along the corridor. The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) has identified improvements to US 24 West as a priority in the region’s long-term transportation plan.

5. What is the justification? Little business, few tourist attractions, little open space for new business.

Answer: Current traffic volumes indicate that the corridor has insufficient capacity to accommodate today’s traffic. Traffic projections for 2030 are substantially higher and will further exacerbate the problem if roadway improvements are not made.