Director: 
 John McCarty

Baptist Road

Baptist Road Improvement Project Update (August 2005)

Project Goals

• Improve safety
• Improve access
• Improve traffic flow and reduce delays

Project Description

Baptist Road is currently a 2-lane road in El Paso County that serves as a major east-west arterial connecting to I-25. Project limits are from the UPRR railroad tracks west of Old Denver Highway to I-25 and from I-25 east to Desiree Drive . This roadway corridor has emerged as a transportation priority.

Proposed improvements include: widening to a 4-lane divided arterial; changes to access; intersection improvements; intersection signalization; the addition of left and right hand turn bays; drainage improvements; and utility relocations to accommodate 2025 traffic projections. Additional right-of-way will be acquired to accommodate the improvements at various locations along the corridor.

Because of the magnitude and cost of the project, it will be performed in phases as funding becomes available. The initial phase may include improvements to Baptist Road from I-25 to Leather Chaps and will be accomplished by the developers. Subsequent phases will be based the ability to obtain funding.

Project History (Phase 1)

The Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority (BRRTA) was created to provide a funding mechanism for the design and construction of improvements to Baptist Road . The BRRTA Board of Directors consists of:

• Byron Glenn, President
• Wayne Williams, Vice President
• David Mertz, Secretary/Treasurer
• Dennis Hisey, Assistant Secretary
• Jim Bensberg, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

Conner Shepherd with R.S. Wells L.L.C. provides management services to BRRTA. El Paso County Department of Transportation is responsible for project oversight and contract administration. El Paso County ’s Project Manager is Andre Brackin.

Phase 1 of the project is complete and resulted in the development of a preferred alternative for improvements to Baptist Road through Meetings and Work Shops with the Public. Phase 2 will now carry forward the preferred alternative to preliminary and final design, and eventual construction. Please see summaries of the Public Meetings and Workshops below.

Next Steps (Phase 2)

On March 29, 2004 BRRTA entered into an agreement with PBS&J, an engineering firm with offices in Colorado Springs and Denver , to provide preliminary and final design services as well as construction support services for improvements to Baptist Road . PBS&J will be supported by: Wilson and Company Inc. for survey, utility identification, and right of way acquisition; Smith Environmental, Inc for environmental delineation and mitigation; and Terracon for geotechnical investigation and pavement design. PBS&J’s Project Manager is Steve Sandvik.

Survey and utility investigations are currently underway. Once completed, PBS&J will begin laying out access alternatives for property owners on the south side of Baptist Road west of Leather Chaps based on the preferred alternative. As the design progresses PBS&J and El Paso County will be meeting with individual property owners adjacent to, and south and west of Leather Chaps Drive, to work out design details and identify property owner concerns.

Additional task that will be ongoing over the next several month include:

• Coordination with developers proposing improvements along the corridor.
• Determine phasing for additional design beyond what is ultimately required by developers along the Baptist Road corridor.
• Preparation of a Railroad Funding application through the Federal Rail-Highway Crossings Program. This application is due July 1, 2004 and there may be a chance that approximately 20% of the cost of a railroad grade separation, Baptist Road bridge over UPRR west of Old Denver Highway, could be secured by 2008. Other funding sources for the grade separation will be pursued in the interim.
• Wetland identification along the corridor and preparation of a Wetlands Findings Report. (Completed by Smith Environmental) Future mitigation requirements will be determined as design progresses.
• Review multiple traffic studies along the corridor and consolidate 2025 traffic volumes into one Technical Memorandum to be used for design of improvements along the Baptist Road Corridor.
• Continue to work with BRRTA and El Paso County to obtain funding for improvements.
  

Up Coming BRRTA Board Meeting  

Notice of Regular Meeting 04/14/06 (pdf)

Notice of Special Meeting 03/10/06 (pdf)

Contact Information

El Paso County Department of Transportation
Andre Brackin
719-520-6460
E-mail: andrebrackin@elpasoco.com

Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority
Denise Denslow, Project Manager
Phone: 303-779-4525
E-mail: denise.denslow@cliftoncpa.com

PBS&J
Steve Sandvik, Project Manager
Phone: 303-933-4982 ext. 323
E-mail: ssandvik@pbsj.com

Corridor Maps

The plans are super-imposed on the aerial map. Plans are in progress for the update of the design.

• Smaller map (pdf) 4mb
• Medium map (pdf) 10mb
• Large map (pdf) 13mb

Information is available about the Baptist / I-25 interchange at the Colorado Department of Transportation website located here: http://www.interstate25.com

Photos
click thumbnails to view larger photo.

East of Jackson Creek	West of Jackson Creek Parkway
I-25 Off Ramp	West of Leather Chaps

Following are the Minutes and Agendas for the Baptist Road Rural Transportation Authority. Select the year and agenda or minutes below to view current and archived documents.

Phase 1 Public Involvement Process

Public Is Invited to Review Plan for Baptist Road Improvements April 7, 2003 (read more) (PDF)

Baptist Road Improvement Plan Open House Response Form. (PDF)

Notice of regular meeting April 11, 2003 (PDF)

2003 Notice of regular meetings (PDF)

Baptist Road Improvement Project Results from first community meeting, March 18, 2002

Baptist Road Improvement Project Summary of first community meeting, March 18, 2002

Baptist Road Improvement Project Individual Comment Form Results Oct. 28, 2002

Baptist Road Improvement Project Small Group Work Results Oct 28, 2002