Connect MultimodalIncluding more than one mode of transportation. For example, a facility that accommodates lanes for motorized vehicles, bike lanes, sidewalks, and transit stops. Transportation
Goal SC-1: Multimodally connect people and land uses throughout the city and region.
Policy SC-1.A: Plan for and implement transportation projects for the overall mobility of people and to manage the impacts of cars on our built environment.
- Strategy SC-1.A-1: Approach the Intermodal Transportation Plan update as an overall mobility plan, with a focus on maximizing the multimodal capacity of the current and future transportation system, thereby reducing the overall need for land and pavement. Focus and brand this effort as an intermodal mobility plan (IMP).
- Strategy SC-1.A-2: Focus attention on increasing multimodal east-west transportation capacity.
- Strategy SC-1-A.3: Continue to coordinate with State and regional partners, and the development community to plan, phase, and secure funding to complete connections and upgrades of key developing north-south corridors including Powers Boulevard, Marksheffel Road, and the future Banning Lewis Parkway.
- Strategy SC-1.A-4: Take full advantage of advances in technology to increase the capacity of the primary transportation system to move people and goods.
- Strategy SC-1.A-5: Build “complete streets” by safely and reasonably incorporating multiple modes in the design of new and redeveloped transportation corridors.
- Strategy SC-1.A-6: Focus planning and design attention on the transportation hubs and other elements that provide for safe and convenient interconnections between modes.
- Strategy SC-1.A-7: Specifically continue to invest in and adapt facilities and services, including multimodal transportation improvements, in order to increase the number, range and cost-competitiveness of airline flights to and from the Colorado Springs Airport.
- Strategy SC-1.A-8: Design land uses and transportation improvements with an emphasis on “first and last mile” trips having desirable and safe options for non-motorized travel.
- Strategy SC-1.A-9: Reduce the emphasis on requiring transportation facilities to be designed to fully address peak hour traffic demand forecasts, especially in Downtown and other identified higher density multimodal corridors and centers.
- Strategy SC-1.A-10: When applicable, use a multistreet corridorA transportat6ion corridor consisting of two or more parallel streets planned and managed in a coordinated and integrated fashion. in the planning and implementation of transit routes in order to manage impacts while maintaining a high level of service (Typology 1: Urban Core Streets).
Policy SC-1.B: Proactively consider and incorporate the needs of our senior population in all relevant transportation planning and project decisions.
- Strategy SC-1.B-1: Continue to promote and support collaborative and adaptive partnerships among service providers across the region to cost-effectively meet transportation needs of seniors with limited mobility options.
- Strategy SC-1.B-2: Particularly focus on the needs of seniors by creating more walkable environments that provide Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, short and direct connections among parking, buildings, other destinations, transit stops, and drop off locations.
- Strategy SC-1.B-3: Improve safety for older pedestrians with improved visibility, sufficient timing for street crossings, and enhanced facilities such as bump outs and pedestrian refuges in medians.
Policy SC-1.C: Improve transportation connectivity to the Denver metro area through I-25 capacity expansion.
- Strategy SC-1.C-1: Continue to advocate for and support funding and completion of the I-25 Gap improvements.
- Strategy SC-1.C-2: Support plans for I-25 that allow for future accommodation of alternate high speed transportation modes such as passenger rail, connected vehicles, or vacuum tube transport.
Policy SC-1.D: Establish and maintain convenient multimodal connections between neighborhoods, local destinations, employment and activity centers, and Downtown.
- Strategy SC-1.D-1: Encourage well connected system of streets, sidewalks, bike facilities, and off system trails in areas defined by Recent Suburban (Typology 3) and by Future Streets (Typology 4) typologies for new developments and redevelopments areas.
- Strategy SC-1.D-2: Enhance street connectivity in new developments with shorter, pedestrian scale blocks and narrower local streets to improve walkability and connectivity.
- Strategy SC-1.D-3: Consistent with City adopted plans, restripe select streets to optimize the use of existing right-of-way and street pavement to provide bike lanes for Urban Core (Typology 1) and Established Suburban Streets (Typology 2).
- Strategy SC-1.D-4: Continue to fund Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) program and other programs for adding, replacing, and maintaining sidewalks in neighborhoods with missing or substandard sidewalk connections.
- Strategy SC 1.D-5: Pay particular planning attention to addressing and reasonably mitigating the impacts multimodal transportation decisions have on traditional, historic, and established neighborhoods, and apply a multistreet corridor planning approach where appropriate and feasible.
- Strategy SC-1.D-6: Continue to coordinate bicycle and pedestrian planning, design, and implementation with other infrastructure projects and land use decisions. Specifically, coordinate implementation among elements of the Intermodal Transportation Plan, the Bicycle Master PlanA plan for the development of a portion of the city that contains proposed land uses, a generalized transportation system, and the relationship of the area included in the plan to surrounding property., as well as Parks and Trails Master Plan.
- Strategy SC-1.D-7: Implement and if necessary adapt key priorities of the Bicycle Master Plan.
- Strategy SC-1.D-8: Complete the system of hard and soft surfaced trails for off-street non-motorized and non-equestrian uses, with an emphasis on addressing identified high priority gaps and connections.
- Strategy SC-1.D-9: Create multimodal corridors between key activity centers and local tourist attractions that emphasize all modes of travel equitably.
- Strategy SC-1.D-10: Implement designs and technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of mass transit and connections to other modes.
- Strategy SC-1.D-11: Create and implement a scale and project-appropriate methodology for analyzing and responding to the multimodal opportunities and impacts associated with proposed development plans.
- Strategy SC-1.D-12: Promote interjurisdictional collaboration for consistent design along shared facilities, including signage, amenities, and design, where feasible.
Policy SC-1.E: Develop a “Smart CitySmart Cities utilize technology and the Internet of Things to address challenges facing our community and improve the quality of life for our citizens, particularly in the areas of connectivity, energy, and resilience. Colorado Springs identified four organizational pillars to implement a vision for Smart Cities: Energy and utilities, transportation and mobility, City services, and buildings and sustainability.” plan that includes comprehensive recommendations for multimodal projects and priorities the City can implement over time.
- Strategy SC-1. E-1: Create a “mobility marketplace” to allow residents and visitors to find and pay for a variety of transportation options: bikeshare, carshare, transit, rideshare, and transportation network companies, all in one place.
- Strategy SC-1.E-2: Create the communications infrastructure needed to accommodate connected vehicles and autonomous vehiclesVehicles in which some aspect of operational control is automated. AVs do not necessarily need to communicate with infrastructures or other vehicles since they usually have their own sensors and cameras equipped in the car..
- Strategy SC-1.E-3: Create an integrated data exchange to collect, process, analyze, and share data.
- Strategy SC-1.E-4: Promote the early use of autonomous vehicles to connect visitors and residents between popular destinations including tourist routes.
- Strategy SC-1.E-5: Create and implement a long term Electric Vehicle (EV) Plan in collaboration with Colorado Springs Utilities and other stakeholders.
- Strategy SC-1.E-6: Develop priority Smart Roadway corridors to be developed for smart cars, communications, and Intelligent Transportation System applications.
Policy SC-1.F: Maximize multimodal transportation options serving the Downtown area to reduce the need for individual car ownership and use by visitors, residents, and employees.
- Strategy SC-1.F-1: Consistent with City-adopted plans, repurpose identified wide rights-of-way of Urban Core Streets (Typology 1) to provide and enhance non-motorized travel in the Downtown area.
- Strategy SC-1.F-2: Plan for and preserve options for location of a high speed commuter rail station serving the Downtown area.
- Strategy SC-1.F-3: Complete the new Downtown transit center as the main multimodal hub for Mountain Metro transit service and augment with smaller hubs as the transit system matures.
- Strategy SC-1.F-4: Actively support car share programs beginning in Downtown and in higher density activity centers, as a means of reducing the footprint of car storage and the need for household car ownership in these areas.
- Strategy SC-1.F-5: Plan for and implement shuttle services, bike-share, and other programs to help travel among Downtown destinations and the airport, in coordination with a Downtown parking plan (see Strategy 1.F-7).
- Strategy SC-1.F-6: Establish additional and more robust multimodal connections between Downtown and tourist destinations such as the Old Colorado City, Garden of the Gods Park, and the City of Manitou Springs.
- Strategy SC-1.F-7: Complete, periodically update, and implement a fully strategic Downtown parking plan to support economic and residential development of Downtown.
Policy SC-1.G: Reduce the barrier and other negative impacts of major transportation corridors without unreasonably reducing their capacity and function.
- Strategy SC-1.G-1: Where feasible and economical, incorporate additional or enhanced local roadway and non-motorized crossings to better connect neighborhoods and communities on either side of major roads, including I-25, the Powers Eastern Ring, and Hwy 24.
- Strategy SC-1.G-2: Support separate non-motorized connections with single point urban interchanges in order to accommodate safe and effective non-motorized traffic connections (e.g. separate non-motorized trail incorporated with the I-25/Cimarron Interchange).
- Strategy SC-1.G-3: Proactively design Future Streets and Corridors (Typology 4) with a focus on mitigating their impacts to local connectivity, including local non-intersecting crossings and limited or specialized access locations and designs.
- Strategy SC-1.G-4: Redesign and make changes to Multimodal Corridors (Typology 5a) with an emphasis on enhancing intermodal connectivity.
- Strategy SC-1.G-5: Retrofit Urban Core Streets (Typology 1) to focus predominantly on increasing connectivity and multimodal utility while maintaining their needed capacity.
- Strategy SC-1.G-6: Incrementally and strategically redesign and retrofit Established Suburban Streets (Typology 2) to adapt them to their evolving transportation needs and to incorporate state-of-the-art designs for intersections and non-motorized crossings.
- Strategy SC-1.G-7: Retrofit key corridors and crossings to accommodate high-frequency transit options in a manner that is responsive to impacts on adjacent neighborhoods.
- Strategy SC-1.G-8: Design safe pedestrian crossings along major arterials that are coordinated with transit stop locations.
Policy SC-1.H: Improve neighborhood livability by providing connections between neighborhoods and Neighborhood Centers (Chapter 3: Typology 1) and by reducing vehicular speeds.
- Strategy SC-1.H-1: Make non-motorized connections between recreational trails and on-street non-motorized facilities across the city.
- Strategy SC-1.H-2: Identify streets in areas defined by Recent Suburban Streets (Typology 3) and Future Streets and Corridors (Typology 4), where streets can be repurposed to provide non-motorized facilities.
- Strategy SC-1.H-3: Modify local streets to be consistent with their purpose by implementing speed control measures using enforcement, intersection control, and design.
- Strategy SC-1.H-4: Continue to work with Colorado Springs Utilities and the Fire Department to allow narrower streets and on-street parking for local “first and last mile streets.”
Application: The City's Bike Master Plan, the Trails Master Plan, the Year 2040 Transit Plan, and the updated Intermodal Mobility Plan will guide the implementation of these goals as part of the City's transportation system. The Region's PPRTA program, the City's capital improvement program and other public funding tools will provide the resources to support infrastructure improvements needed to meet these goals. Potential improvements to transportation, stormwater and utility systems will be a major consideration in the review of development and redevelopment proposals.
Take Transit to the Next Level
Goal SC-2: Lay the groundwork for an intercity transit connection along the Front Range and for more robust, choice based transit within the city and larger region.
Policy SC-2.A: Systematically support and encourage the density and design needed to support this network beginning with Downtown, key corridors, activity centers, and trip generators.
- Strategy SC-2.A-1: Design and construct the new Downtown Transit Center to include immediate capacity for intercity bus trips and for eventual integration with potential commuter rail service.
- Strategy SC-2.A-2: Continue to update zoning and other regulations to allow mixed use and high density development as uses by right.
- Strategy SC-2.A-3: Plan and promote “high capacity” transit in the Urban Core (Typology 1) and Established Suburban areas (Typology 2) in such corridors as Academy Blvd., Nevada Ave., Weber St., Colorado Ave., and Platte Ave.
- Strategy SC-2.A-4: Rewrite the zoning and subdivision codes to better support densification and mixed use to support multimodal transportation.
Policy SC-2.B: Continue to enhance the existing transit system to make it a more viable option and strategically expand the existing system in response to new needs.
- Strategy SC-2.B-1: Expand transit service frequency and times within the Urban Core area (Typology 1) and along existing key routes.
- Strategy SC-2.B-2: Expand transit service into the Recent Suburban areas (Typology 3) with partnerships to serve major destinations such as hospitals and military installations.
- Strategy SC-2.B-3: Pursue the implementation of a new governance structure for transit, consistent with agreed upon funding structure.
- Strategy SC-2.B-4: Identify sufficient funding sources to support the desired level of transit service.
- Strategy SC-2.B-5: Provide convenient and inexpensive transit connections between the Colorado Springs Airport and key locations within the city.
Policy SC-2.C: Actively plan for a high speed commuter rail or similar service along the Front Range.
- Strategy SC-2.C-1: Support Colorado Department of Transportation’s operation and expansion of Bustang between Pueblo and Denver, as an interim connection.
- Strategy SC-2.C-2: Preserve existing and potential railway corridors within the city for possible use as future rail corridors between Colorado Springs and Denver.
Remain Focused on Stormwater
Goal SC-3: Manage our stormwater and flood control system as a vital and integrated community asset. (See Chapter 7 for additional stormwater policies and typologies.)
Policy SC-3.A: Design new and redeveloped projects to reduce their contribution to regional stormwater flows and to improve the quality of the runoff that is generated.
- There are no strategies for this policy
Policy SC-3.B: Design stormwater infrastructure as an integral and connected part of new development and redeveloping areas and preserve or incorporate naturalistic stream profiles and features where feasible.
- Strategy SC-3.B-1: Design and construct stormwater improvements to incorporate recreational opportunities and protect infrastructure.
- Strategy SC-3.B-2: Incorporate complete creek stormwater corridors as part of the City’s overall non-motorized transportation network where feasible and environmentally sustainable.
Policy SC-3.C: Continue to invest in upgrading and maintaining facilities and infrastructure to manage stormwater.
- Strategy SC-3.C-1: Update City Code and implement programs that enhance sustainable long term operations and maintenance of stormwater facilities on property not owned by the City.
Support Smart and Connected Utilities
Goal SC-4: Achieve a more environmentally sustainable utilities system for the city.
Policy SC-4.A: Efficiently use the existing utility system capacity.
- Strategy SC-4.A-1: Support a combination of density, infillDevelopment of vacant land within previously built areas. These areas are already served by public infrastructures, such as transportation and utilities. Parks and open space are also considered infill, since they are permanent uses for vacant parcels., redevelopment, and design to reduce the rate of addition of pipeline and conductor miles that need to be maintained by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) or other entities.
- Strategy SC-4.A-2: Support programs to upgrade older buildings so that they are more efficient, use less energy, water, and gas, and partner with public, non-profit, and private entities to collaborate on home retrofitting programs.
- Strategy SC-4.A-3: Coordinate with CSU in their plans for terminal water storage, conservation, distribution, and recreation.
Policy SC-4.B: Support CSU and other investments in smart technologies to reduce energy consumption.
- Strategy SC-4.B-1: Coordinate with CSU energy conservation initiatives and programs including installation of systems to support demand side management.
- Strategy SC-4.B-2: Plan and integrate implementation of Smart City technologies and infrastructure in coordination with CSU.