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Streetcars -- Place Making, People Moving |
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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 22 April 2010 12:06 |
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Streetcar Feasibility Study Update
April 2010
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Upcoming meetings
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April 26, 2010
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Public meeting
Watch for a future announcement about our next public meeting in May 2010.
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Study Sponsors
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The Colorado Springs Streetcar Feasibility Study is a citizen-driven initiative funded by a federal transit planning grant and donations from local organizations. The federal funds cannot be used for transit operations.
Local match funds were provided by:
- Colorado College
- University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
- Downtown Development Authority
- Urban Renewal Authority
- Business Improvement District
- PIkes Peak Rural Transportation Authority
- Old North End Neighborhood
- Bircham's Office Products
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Place Making & People Moving
April 26 Streetcar Public Meeting at UCCS
The Streetcar Feasibility Study is going on the road (so to speak) to hear what citizens, businesses, students, faculty and others think about the possibility of a streetcar system in Colorado Springs. One of the potential expansion routes for a system is along North Nevada for a connection to UCCS. During the meeting, citizens will have an opportunity to provide input on:
- potential route alignments for the starter system as well as system-wide extensions
- funding options and streetcar vehicle designs
- environmental benefits of a streetcar system
- and, to hear the latest status of the feasibility study as well as what's next as the study moves into the final two months of analysis
Meeting details
Monday, April 26, 2010
5:30 - 7 p.m.
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
University Center (3-story glass tower building)
Room 116 A&B.
1420 Austin Bluffs Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
UCCS
Free parking is available in Lot #4 or park at Four Diamonds Sports Complex (5025 N. Nevada Ave.) and take the free shuttle to the front door of the University Center (allow 20 minutes round trip for the shuttle).
Mountain METRO bus service is also available via Routes 9 and 14.
For more information or special ADA accommodations, call 719-533-7859.
Meeting details will also be posted on our Web site (www.csStreetcar.com) and our Facebook page.
The final public meeting for the feasibility study will be in May 2010. Please click on the "Forward email" button below to forward this information to others who may be interested in the Streetcar Study and the April 26 meeting.
Sincerely,
Streetcar Feasibility Study Project Team
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Stakeholders provide valuable ideas during March meeting
Of the 65 citizens and organizations participating in the March Stakeholders Meeting, 65% indicated they are in favor of continuing to explore the benefits a streetcar system could bring to Colorado Springs. They provided the following input:
Vehicle options: The presentation included an update on vehicle preferences, including a mixed fleet option. Based on community feedback to this point, there is no consensus regarding a vehicle type (modern, vintage restored or vintage replica); however, vehicles must be ADA compliant and there is a desire for vehicles to accommodate bicycles.
Financing options: Financing opportunities from development are limited currently, so the primary focus for financing is on:
Tax Increment Financing
Livability grants and other federal financing
Merchandising and naming rights
Alignment options: The presentation also addressed general and specific comments regarding alignment options, including:
The viability of using Nevada Ave., Weber and Wahsatch
The need to coordinate with bike lanes
Priorities of potential outlying extensions to UCCS, Fort Carson, Powers Blvd./Air Force Bases, Colorado Springs Airport and Old Colorado City/Manitou Springs
For the complete meeting report, click on March Stakeholders Meeting Report. Click on presentation for the March Stakeholder's Meeting presentation.
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Frequently Asked Question
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Q: Where would the funding come from to pay for a streetcar system's construction and operations?
A: The federal government has several programs that can help pay for the construction of a streetcar system. The study will examine all of them for their potential use on a local system.
Other cities have worked with local neighborhoods and businesses to create special taxing or assessment districts to help pay for systems with the increase in revenues generated by new development along streetcar routes.
Other potential sources of funding include advertising and local sponsorship and naming rights for vehicles and stations.
This study will examine a range of options for financing a streetcar system and will make recommendations on the best and most reasonable and logical combinations of funding sources over the short run and long term.
You can read all the streetcar study frequently asked questions on the study Web site.
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The Colorado Springs Streetcar Feasbility Study, anticipated to be complete by June 2010, is funded primarily by private sources and federal government planning grants that can only be used for planning studies and not for transit operations.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 22 April 2010 12:50 |
