DECEMBER 2020 - Update
Residents Learn More about the South Downtown Rail Underpass Project

On Tuesday, Nov. 4 City of Colorado Springs Project Manager Aaron Egbert, and consultants from TRS and FHU were socially distanced at the UCCS downtown facility for residents to drop by and discuss the preferred alternative for the South Downtown Rail Underpass project and ask questions.

In addition, the City of Colorado Springs held a digital public information meeting Thursday, Nov. 19. For the safety of the community during this COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting was digital and included a PowerPoint presentation and opportunity to ask questions. Approximately 25 members of the public participated virtually in the meeting. The presentation focused on the project overview, community outreach summary, the planning process review which guided the team to a preferred alternative, and the project schedule.

The earliest the project could go to construction is 2025, once revenues have accrued from the next Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) ballot initiative, anticipated to go to a vote in November 2022.

CLICK HERE to view the November 19 virtual meeting PowerPoint presentation.
Visit the Project Website - Public Engagement Tab to view the recorded digital public meeting presentation: ColoradoSprings.gov/RailUnderpassReconstruction

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are you only looking at M1 as the preferred alternative at this point?
A. That is correct. M1 is the preferred alternative based on the technical analysis and is the alternative with the least number of property impacts and least cost.

Q. What are the benefits of the preferred alternative identified through the Rail Underpasses planning process?
A. The preferred alternative for the reconstruction of the rail bridges and the ideal location of the rail line effectively addresses railroad operational, maintenance and safety needs as well as numerous other project goals:
  • Maintains and improves traffic operations on Nevada Avenue, Tejon Street, and intersecting streets.
  • Will enable the City to achieve current clearance standards underneath the Nevada and Tejon rail bridges.
  • Includes a neighborhood desired Quiet Zone.
  • Addresses pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and safety across the railroad tracks
  • Bridge design and associated improvements are compatible with and improve access to surrounding neighborhoods and land uses. They are supportive of potential development opportunities after planning for the Drake Power Plant decommissioning, passenger rail and other community improvements (such as the bridge under Las Vegas Street and connecting the Shooks Run trail to the Legacy Loop)
  • Addresses cost-effectiveness to construct and maintain the bridges. The preferred alternative is the lowest cost of all the alternatives analyzed.

CLICK HERE to view additional questions and answers about the project.
Preferred Alternative Alignment Recommended for Two South Downtown Railroad Bridges
The City of Colorado Springs is working on a study and design to determine the best approach and optimal placement of two railroad bridges at the south end of downtown Colorado Springs. The aging bridges over South Nevada Avenue (70 years old) and South Tejon Street (115 years old) have reached the end of their service life and have become a safety concern and, therefore; require replacement by the City in conjunction with the railroad. In addition, the height of the underpass beneath each bridge does not currently meet minimum standards. Although the earliest the project can proceed with construction is 2025, pending renewal of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) initiative, involvement by the community early in the planning phase has provided extensive advance notice of potential impacts and helped to determine an associated construction cost estimate.
 
The City’s project team has conducted extensive and multi-faceted community outreach and engagement program to receive community input through the project’s planning phase. Over the past three years, numerous meetings and information sessions have been held with Mill Street neighborhood property owners, businesses, organizations and stakeholders to provide input on nearly a dozen different alternatives. Based on community input, technical considerations, stakeholder and railroad requirements, and analysis of the Mill Street Neighborhood and Envision Shooks Run plans, a preferred alternative for the project is being recommended by the City’s project team.

Summary of Features of the Preferred Alternative
The features of the railroad bridges and roadway underpasses reconstruction preferred alternative will improve safety, connections, accessibility and contribute to quality of life for residents of the Mill Street neighborhood based on the Mill Street Neighborhood Plan, and include:
  • Two New Railroad Bridges over South Tejon Street and South Nevada Avenue 
  • New Rail Mainline Double Track Realignment 
  • BNSF Railroad Spur & Yard Reconstruction/Relocation improvements to existing Sierra Madre, Las Animas and Conejos at-grade Railroad Crossings to create a railroad quiet zone 
  • Reconstruction of Railroad Bridge over the Shooks Run waterway 
  • South Nevada Avenue and South Tejon Street Reconstruction as required for bridge replacements, increased height of the underpasses to meet minimum standards, and to address sidewalk deficiencies 
  • Water quality, floodplain and utility improvements as required
  • Accommodate the critical Shooks Run Trail connection to Legacy Loop between Old Stone Rail Bridge and Fountain Creek 
  • Provide property access as required for railroad realignment and bridge replacement

CLICK HERE for enlarged Preferred Alternative map.
South Nevada Bridge (70 years old)
South Tejon Bridge (115 years old)
Project Process and Schedule
  • 2018: Project Initiation and start of stakeholder and public outreach
  • 2019: Planning – Alternatives evaluation and recommendation 
  • 2020-2021: Preliminary design and property owner/stakeholder engagement (current effort)
  • 2022: November construction ballot initiative election
  • 2023-2024: Final design and railroad negotiations
  • 2025: Earliest year for start of construction

Project Team
  • City of Colorado Springs Project Manager - Aaron Egbert
  • Design Engineering Consultant - Felsburg Holt & Ullevig
  • Planning Consultant - Design Workshop
  • Public Engagement - Bachman pr

To Learn More, Visit the Project Website: ColoradoSprings.gov/RailUnderpassReconstruction

To receive project updates, send an email to [email protected] and request to be added to the project database.
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