RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITIONS AND RELOCATIONS TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM FOR RTD SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR EXTENSION PROJECT January 2010 Prepared By Southwest Corridor Extension Project Team In some cases, information in this Environmental Technical Report may have been refined or updated as preparation of the Draft EE advanced. In such cases, the information and conclusions presented in the Draft EE supersede all previous background material included in this Technical Report.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION... 1 1.1 REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT... 1 2.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT... 2 3.0 IMPACT EVALUATION AND MITIGATION... 4 3.1 METHODOLOGY... 4 3.2 IMPACTS... 4 3.2.1 Direct Impacts... 6 3.2.2 Indirect Impacts... 7 3.2.3 Construction Impacts... 7 3.2.4 Cumulative Impacts... 7 3.3 MITIGATION... 5 4.0 REFERENCES... Error! Bookmark not defined. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Project Location... 2 Appendix A... Right of Way Requirements i
1.0 INTRODUCTION This Technical Memorandum focuses on information regarding the land acquisitions (partial or full) and relocations that would occur as a result of the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Extension project. Federal and state laws require that property owners be paid fair market value for their land and improvements, and that they be assisted in finding replacement business sites or dwellings. Relocations result from right-of-way acquisitions that require the use of a property occupied by a residence or business. Partial acquisitions occur when only a portion of an existing land use is required and as such may not result in relocations. Full acquisitions occur when a complete parcel is required and may result in either a residential or business relocation. The study area for land acquisition and relocations is the estimated limits of construction for the alignment and the proposed stations and facilities. 1.1 REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT Under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policy Act of 1970, all federal agencies are required to meet certain standards for the fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced by federally supported actions. Relocation assistance guidelines are set forth in Title 49, Part 24, of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR Part 24). RTD intends to follow the intent of the Uniform Act regardless of project funding sources. Between Mineral Station and C-470, the alignment is located within existing UPRR and BNSF rights-of-way. The railroad rights-of-way vary in width, but are generally between 200 and 300 feet wide. RTD owns a 40-foot-wide easement within this right-of-way to accommodate dual light rail tracks. RTD will coordinate with both railroad companies to determine the final location of the new light rail tracks and the relocations as needed for UPRR and/or BNSF facilities. The alignment crosses CDOT s right-of-way over C-470 and returns to grade on a strip of rightof-way deeded to RTD by Douglas County. From there, the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Extension project continues east in a 40-foot-wide strip of right-of-way owned by RTD, crossing Erickson Boulevard and the High Line Canal, just south of the C-470 bike path. RTD will have to acquire a permanent easement from the Denver Water Department for the High Line Canal crossing. The RTD-owned right-of-way ends at a small vacant parcel currently owned by Shea Homes. The Shea Homes parcel is undeveloped at this time. The alignment traverses the northwest corner of the Shea Homes parcel before entering CDOT s right-of-way immediately south of C-470. The alignment then proceeds in CDOT s right-of-way to its terminus near Lucent Boulevard. The 5.6-acre parcel needed to accommodate the potential Intermediate Station and park-n-ride facility is currently owned by Douglas County but has been reserved for RTD. RTD currently owns the 10-acre parcel needed for the Lucent Station and park-n-ride. 1
2.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT The Southwest Corridor Extension project would extend light rail service in the Southwest Corridor along the C (Union Station to Mineral) and D (30th and Downing to Mineral) lines by 2.5 miles (Figure 1). The project passes through the City of Littleton and Arapahoe County, between the Mineral Avenue end-of-line station and County Line Road, where it crosses into Douglas County and Highlands Ranch. Between Mineral Avenue and County Line Road, the light rail alignment will run adjacent to Santa Fe Drive, crossing Dad Clark Gulch along the existing UPRR alignment. A new structure is added at Dad Clark Gulch to accommodate a double-tracked light rail crossing. Further south the alignment crosses County Line Road, both freight rail lines and C-470 on a fly-over bridge. The tracks will follow CDOT s right-of-way south of C-470, crosses High Line Canal over an extended box culvert, and continues east to Lucent Boulevard. 2
Southbridge e South P la tt k Jac MINERAL ass H ill Rd Ave Ja G e Lin ck as s gh Hi Mine ra l u Southpark W Fe Dr Can al Ci ty Ditc h h lc Southbridge Park n Lo g nt a South Platte Park LITTLETON Jackass Hill Park pa RTD rk n-r id Ri v e er C D Aspen Grove Shopping Center Sa r Ci lch Writers Vista Park Wolhurst Sou thp a rk Cir u rk G d C la Low er D a 85 McLellan Reservoir County Line Rd Eri ck so n B lv d ARAPAHO E CO DOUGLAS CO Cit y of Little to n c Lu en t vd Bl INTERMEDIATE STATION Line Can al Pl az a Dr C-470/ LUCENT Rd Hig h SF Wind Crest BN U PR R (Not part of FasTracks Plan) Vista Highlands Ranch Golf Club 0 500 1,000 bo ns rou gh Dr Wa y ee Gr Creeksi de Mill HIGH LANDS RAN CH 2,000 Feet Source: Southwest Corridor Extension Project Team, 2009 Stations Existing Southwest Light Rail Line County Boundary Southwest Light Rail Extension City Boundary Freight Railroad Proposed Future Figure 1 Southwest Corridor Extension
3.0 IMPACT EVALUATION AND MITIGATION 3.1 METHODOLOGY To identify potential acquisitions and displacements that would occur from implementing the project, mapping of the limits of disturbance for the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Extension project were overlaid onto corridor parcel maps. Each of the parcels was analyzed to determine if an acquisition was necessary and if a relocation would occur. 3.2 IMPACTS The No Action Alternative would not result in any direct, indirect, construction-related, or cumulative impacts as a result of land acquisitions and relocations. The direct, indirect, construction-related, and cumulative impacts of the Build Alternative are described below. 3.2.1 Direct Impacts All right-of-way needs for the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Extension project will be met through agreements with the UPRR and BNSF Railroads, CDOT, Douglas County, the Highlands Ranch Metro District, and Shea Homes. Further, no relocations will be necessary. No developed residential or business (commercial or industrial) parcels will be acquired. Access to the Lucent Station and park-n-ride will be met through cross-access easements between RTD and the Englewood McLellan Reservoir Foundation, which owns the surrounding 40 acres of land and would like to see transit-oriented development on the site. As plans for development evolve and progress, the necessary easements will be negotiated and acquired. Appendix A details the parcels of land that would need to be acquired by RTD. 3.2.2 Indirect Impacts Indirect effects are not anticipated. 3.2.3 Construction Impacts Temporary construction easements may be needed on adjacent property to gain access to the dedicated right-of-way during construction activities. If needed, these construction easements will be obtained for a short period of time and the land will be returned to its original condition prior to the easement lease termination. Further, to access the CDOT right-of-way, special use and occupancy permits would be needed. 3.2.4 Cumulative Impacts Partial property acquisitions required for the Build Alternative may compound property needs associated with other local actions in the area. The acquired properties are small portions adjacent to the dedicated right-of-way boundary. As a result, no cumulative acquisition impacts are expected from the Build Alternative. 4
3.3 MITIGATION Mitigation measures for potential acquisitions and displacements that would occur from implementing the project include returning any adjacent property used during construction activities to original conditions, once construction is complete. Also, special use permits to access CDOT right-of-way, during construction, will be obtained. 5
4.0 REFERENCES U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs Act of 1970, as amended. 42 U.S.C. Chapter 61. 6
Appendix A