FAQs

What is the West Vail Pass Environmental Assessment (EA)?
Answer: The West Vail Pass EA is a study being conducted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) that aims to improve safety on the west side of Vail Pass, where the highway's steep grades frequently result in conflicts between vehicles traveling at substantially different speeds. The need for safety improvements was identified in the I-70 Mountain Corridor Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).

The need for safety improvements on West Vail Pass is based on its accident history and observed traffic behaviors. The predominate issue of concern is a high speed differential between slow-moving vehicles and passenger traffic, which results in erratic, evasive maneuvers that can result in crashes. There is a secondary need to improve the safety on the adjacent multi-use trail, which is contiguous with the roadway in several locations.

The PEIS recommended the implementation of slow-moving vehicle auxiliary lanes on West Vail Pass between milepost (MP) 180 and 190 to address safety concerns associated with conflicts between vehicles traveling at different speeds. The EA will evaluate this and other alternatives in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

What are slow-moving vehicle auxiliary lanes?
Answer: Slow-moving vehicle auxiliary lanes allow safer operations on a highway by providing a separate lane dedicated to vehicles that move at much slower speeds than the general flow of traffic. Slower speeds are a result of vehicles that have difficulty pulling the steep uphill grades or which must maintain slower speeds on steep downhill grades to maintain safe speeds. When passenger vehicles overtake these vehicles at speeds near the speed limit, the speed differential can be considerable. Having a dedicated lane for these slower-moving vehicles would allow two lanes of traffic to pass these vehicles more safely.

Who is conducting the West Vail Pass EA and who makes the final decision on what will be done?
Answer: CDOT is the project sponsor and is preparing the document for FHWA. Other federal agencies may also participate in the study as cooperating agencies, but as yet have not been determined. As the lead federal agency, FHWA will make the final decision on whether a proposed action would have significant effects on the environment. If it is found that there would not be, the project could move forward; if it is found that significant effects would be expected, then an Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared before a project could proceed.

What is the study process the West Vail Pass EA will follow and what is the study schedule?
Answer: The EA will follow the study process required under NEPA. NEPA is a federal law that requires agencies to assess potential environmental consequences of their proposed actions and fully evaluate them. It requires agencies to document the assessment and make the findings available to the public for comment before implementing the proposed action. The process consists of scoping, screening alternatives, documenting the effects and any necessary mitigation, conducting a public review of the document, then issuing a decision document.

The West Vail Pass EA is anticipated to be complete in late 2008.

What are the study boundaries?
Answer: The West Vail Pass EA boundaries span along I-70 from MP 180 to MP 190, or approximately from the East Vail interchange to the Shrine Pass Road interchange.

The I-70 Mountain Corridor PEIS is still in Draft form. How can the West Vail Pass EA begin before the PEIS is completed?
Answer: FHWA and CDOT are pursuing The West Vail Pass EA project independently of the PEIS because the project:
• Addresses a safety need on a specific section of I-70
• Is a reasonable and independent expenditure of funds and does not rely on other improvements to be effective
• Does not restrict consideration of alternatives being studied by the PEIS.

Will the West Vail Pass EA be responsible for recommendations identified in the Draft PEIS, for example sediment control and wildlife?
Answer: The EA will evaluate recommendations in the Draft PEIS within the EA study area. These would include things such as the Black Gore Creek Sediment Control Action Plan (SCAP), the Stream and Wetland Ecological Enhancement Program, wildlife crossings, and historic resources.

How does the West Vail Pass EA fit into the Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) project currently underway?
Answer: The CSS project will develop guidance on design, aesthetics, mitigation, and construction approaches to be used on all recommended improvements from the PEIS, including the West Vail Pass EA.

Is the West Vail Pass EA studying the vegetated wildlife overpass I’ve heard so much about?
Answer: The vegetated wildlife overpass study was funded through the 2006 Public Lands Highway Program. The purpose of that project is to improve wildlife linkage between the Eagles Nest Wilderness on the north side of I-70, and the White River National Forest on the south side. The EA will investigate whether the potential auxiliary lanes would cause effects to wildlife and whether mitigation is necessary, then would evaluate whether the proposed vegetated wildlife overpass would meet those mitigation requirements.

Will the Vail Pass multi-use trail be affected? Will any improvements be made?
Answer: One of the objectives of the EA is to improve the safety of, and ability to maintain, the trail. Such improvements would most likely entail increasing the separation between the roadway and the trail wherever potential auxiliary lane improvements impact the trail and require relocation. Under those scenarios, a relocated trail would be designed to achieve the goals of improved safety and maintainability.

Will noise effects be considered by the study?
Answer: Yes. A noise analysis will be performed and, if deemed necessary, mitigation for potential noise impacts will be evaluated.

How will recreation in the vicinity of Vail Pass be affected by the potential improvements?
Answer: Effects to recreation within the West Vail Pass EA study area will be studied as part of this project; however, it is not expected that the extent of improvements being considered would have any effect on the recreation resources in the study area. If there are effects, mitigation measures will be evaluated.

Will the scenic characteristics of the Pass be changed in any way?
Answer: Vail Pass is a valuable scenic resource, and any effects within the study area will be evaluated as part of this project. If there are effects, mitigation measures will be evaluated.

Will the EA implement improvements to sediment control and water quality in Black Gore Creek?
Answer: The improvements being studied by the EA will investigate implementation of the Black Gore Creek SCAP. Implementation of the SCAP would reduce the amount of sediment deposited in Black Gore Creek, and would allow some stream restoration to begin.

As a critical water supply source for the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District that provides water to the Vail Valley, this improvement would provide a public benefit.

When will construction start?
Answer: Construction funds are not currently available for improvements, so no timeframe can be estimated. No improvements could be initiated before a decision document is issued by FHWA, which is not expected until late 2008. After that, design work would also have to be conducted before construction could begin.

Are transit alternatives from the Draft PEIS being considered in the West Vail Pass EA?
Answer: The West Vail Pass EA will ensure that no improvement being considered precludes implementation of any alternative being considered in the Draft PEIS, including transit.

How can I be involved in the West Vail Pass EA?
Answer: There are several ways you can get involved, including:

-   Attend public meetings
 -  Participate in virtual open houses
 - View project information on the West Vail Pass EA website: www.westvailpass.com
· Submit questions and comments to the project team:
-Hotline: 1-866-WVP-CDOT (1-866-987-2368)
-E-mail: westvailpass@pbsj.com

-Complete a comment form