U.S. 287-S.H. 1 to LaPorte Bypass
Environmental Assessment

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has retained J.F. Sato and Associates (JFSA) to perform the Environmental Assessment for U.S. 287-S.H. 1 to LaPorte Bypass.

US 287-S.H. 1 to La Porte Bypass Background

Planning and construction of improvements along U.S. 287 have been ongoing for more than 20 years. Improvements began in the early 1970 ’s with the widening of U.S. 287 from two lanes to four lanes between Ft. Collins and Loveland. Farther to the North, the La Porte Bypass construction was completed in 1988. The section of U.S. 287 between S.H. 1 and the La Porte Bypass, the last section of U.S. 287 that requires improvement, has been identified as a bottleneck inhibiting an efficient flow of traffic for several years. At present, there are numerous traffic access issues as well as circulation and capacity problems that are anticipated to worsen as the area grows and traffic increases. In 1996, traffic volumes along this segment of U.S. 287 varied from 16,800 Average Daily Traffic (ADT) between S.H. 1 and Shields Street and 15,700 ADT between Shields Street and the La Porte Bypass. These volumes far exceed the capacity of this road to adequately accommodate traffic.

Click to see Project Area Map

Coordination/Public Involvement

Coordination of this effort will be through CDOT and its consultant, JFSA. As part of the Scoping Process, and in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), input will be solicited from all identified Federal, State, Local and private agencies that might have any interest in the project, as well as the public at large.

Future Public Workshops will be advertised and updates on the status of the EA will be provided through a quarterly Project Newsletter.

Proposed Action

U.S. 287, between S.H. 1 and the La Porte Bypass, has been selected by the Northern Front Range Transportation Board for improvements, perhaps widening the current road from two to four lanes.  CDOT has initiated an EA to evaluate the potential impacts of reasonable alternatives. The general alternatives include: taking no action, widening the existing U.S. 287 corridor between S.H. 1 and the La Porte Bypass from two to four lanes or constructing a new U.S. 287 alignment.

The preferred alternative will:

• Increase capacity to carry existing and future traffic more efficiently and at a higher Level of Service
• Investigate opportunities for alternate modes of transportation
• Improve Safety

The EA will be conducted in compliance with NEPA and will encourage public involvement throughout the process. CDOT is committed to maintaining the environmental integrity, both natural and social, of the study area.

Project Schedule

A tentative schedule of the EA process is listed below to give you an outline of the anticipated project progression.

• Scoping Process: Fall 1999-Spring 2000
• Alternative Analysis: Winter 1999-Spring 2000
• Environmental Analysis: Fall 1999-Summer 2000
• Preferred Alternative: Summer 2000
• EA Document Preparation: Fall 1999-Fall 2000
• NEPA Decision Document: Winter 2004