As this plan looks to increase connectivity, accessibility, and sustainability, the stakeholder and public perspectives play a pivotal role in informing regional decisions. This plan serves as a conduit for dialogue between stakeholders and policymakers for priorities and preferences. Full details of the public engagement process and responses received are in the Appendix 2.
Focus Groups and Stakeholder Interviews
The project engaged the following stakeholders
- El Paso County
- City of Fountain
- Manitou Springs
- Green Mountain Falls
- Woodland Park
- Town of Palmer Lake
- Monument
- City of Colorado Springs
- Colorado Department of Transportation – Region 2
- Bike COS, RMFI (Rocky Mountain Field Institute), Trails & Open Spaces
- Pike Ride
- UCCS Stakeholder Meeting
- Colorado Springs School District 11
Key Takeaways
The key takeaways and themes heard throughout the stakeholder process are summarized in the following list. These considerations were woven into the plan as critical guidance in project and non-infrastructure recommendations.
Safety
- Crime, perceived and real
- Visibility of users and infrastructure
- Speed differential of modes and users in the same corridor
- Intersection treatments
- Homelessness on trails
Connectivity
- Efficient and high-quality connections between existing infrastructure
- Between Live, Learn, Work, and Play locations
- Facilitate a robust trail system throughout PPACG
- Leverage planned improvements
- Connectivity to transit
Communication
- Between departments
- Between jurisdictions
- Education that collaborates with other efforts and safety advocates
- Drivers
- Bicyclists
- Pedestrians
- Students
- Regional Safety Campaign with local Police Departments
- Articulate the desire/need for active transportation infrastructure
Regional Guidelines
- Clearly define different types of facilities, such as design or desired minimum widths
- Define best-use locations for defined facility types
- Utilize a Complete Streets approach
PPACG Committees
Transportation Advisory Committee
The project met regularly with the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) to seek direction on various aspects of the plan. The TAC provided important input on the goals, drafted corridors, corridor cross section, and many other aspects of the recommendations. In addition to meeting with the TAC in regularly scheduled committee meetings, the project hosted a TAC Workshop to solicit feedback at a critical point in the project process.
TAC Workshop
This regional plan workshop with the TAC was a structured event with four key input activities. First, a dot exercise where attendees noted which characteristics they found important in a regional active transportation infrastructure such as servicing residents, access to to regional destinations, or if on-street facilities should be included. The second exercise focused on highlighting important trails and connections for TAC jurisdictions, where attendees wrote out key “must have” projects and corridors around the region. Next, a discussion about the potential for the plan to generate new projects. This was accompanied by another post-it note exercise where participants could propose example projects that hadn’t been previously proposed in local plans. The final key discussions related to non-capital projects, strategies, and programs that should be looked at for the region such as wayfinding and maintenance related topics. The input gathered from the workshop was instrumental in the development of the regional plan.
Citizens Advisory Committee
The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) was also a critical voice in the project proccess. The project team presented to the CAC five (5) times, seeking feedback on direction, provide perspective as citizens and representatives of the region, and ensure that the project addresses issues they have or have heard.
Public Outreach
Project Webpage
The project leveraged the PPACG website and webpage previously dedicated to the regional non-motorized plan. The page was updated with current project information, schedule, a sign-up feature for future email awareness, and hosted the public input materials.
Webpage: https://www.ppacg.org/transportation/walk-bike-ride/
Public Surveys
Two surveys were conducted specific to the ATP. A general public survey ran from February through mid-April to gather public sentiment, perception, and preferences for active transportation improvements in the PPACG region. The general survey was hosted on the project webpage. An additional survey leveraged a yearly membership mailer for the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) by including an additional simplified set of questions.
Public Input Map
Alongside the public survey, an online mapping exercise allowed participants to identify different characteristics about the PPACG region. The map asked about Strengths, Weaknesses, and Opportunities for bicycle or pedestrians in the region.
Input Map: PPACG Public Input Map (arcgis.com)
