corridor management plan€¦ · in 2019 huerfano and las animas counties contracted for a pel...
TRANSCRIPT
Corridor Management Plan Scenic Highway of Legends — 2020
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CorridorManagementPlan
Scenic Highway of Legends Byway Close to Heaven, Down to Earth January2020
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Acknowledgments
Thisplanwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithouttheparticipationofbywaystakeholders,currentandpastmembersoftheGoverningBoard,andelectedofficialsofHuerfanoCountyandLasAnimasCounty.
ThisCorridorManagementPlanfortheScenicBywayofLegendswasadoptedonJanuary3,2020,ata
StakeholdersmeetingattheLaVetaMercantilebythefollowingcurrentandpastBoardMembersandCountyOfficials:
VickiKoepel,DirectorofCountyPlanning
CarlYoung,DirectorofHuerfanoCountyTourismBoard&HuerfanoCountyEconomicDevelopment
EvanKsander,HuerfanoCountyEventsCoordinator
MikeMoore,President,ScenicHighwayofLegends
CarolynNewman,HuerfanoCountyHistoricalSociety
JohnGalusha,HuerfanoCountyAdministrator
MartyHackett,TourismManager,CityofTrinidad
BobKennemer,DirectorFranciscoFortMuseum
DebraMalone,ProjectDirector,ScenicHighwayofLegends
.
DocumentProducedBy:TheGoverningBoard,ScenicBywayofLegendsJanuary2020 CoverPhoto:TheGreatDike,radiatingnorthfromthefootoftheSpanishPeaks,Photo:JohnWark
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TABLEOFCONTENTS
ExecutiveSummary……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4ScenicBywayLocationandDescription…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…… 5BywayCommunities……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6ScenicHighwayofLegendsPartnerOrganizations……….……………………………………………………………………………... 9ScenicHighwayofLegendsMap………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10Mission,VisionandGoals……………………………..……………………………………………………………………….………………….. 11TheTen-YearWorkPlan…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….12OrganizationalDevelopment………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..……13IntrinsicQualities………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….14LegendsasCulturalInheritance………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………...21ResourceProtection……………………………………………..………………………………………………………………..……………….… 23Interpretation.…………..……………………..……………………………………………………………………..…………….………….….……24Marketing……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……25OutdoorAdvertising………………………………………………………………………….………………………………..………………….……31RoadwaySafetyandMaintenanceOversight………….……………………….………………………………..………………….…….33TrafficCharacteristics…………………………………………….……………………….………………………………..………………….…….36SafetyontheScenicHighwayofLegend………….……………………….………………………………..………………….…………..37GeneralCorridor-WideSafetyRecommendations…….………….………………………..………………..………………………….42ANewEra…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….……44
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EXECUTIVESUMMARYToGuidetheWorkoftheBoardOFDirectors
TheScenicHighwayofLegendsJanuary2020
Colorado’sScenicHighwayofLegends(SHOL)hasjustcelebrateditsthirtiethanniversary.Theleaderswhohaveguidedtheorganizationforthepastdecadesfeltsuccessfulinthebalanceofpreservationandpromotion.Overthethirtyyears,theyproducedahandsomecollectionofmultimediamarketingmaterialsthatpairthestunningviewsoftheSpanishPeakswiththeauthenticcharmofthebyway’smountaintowns.Thesematerialsenjoyhighdemandfromvisitorcentersandwarmappreciationfromlocalbusinesses.Aseriesofpublicengagementmeetingsin2019havereinforcedhowdeeplylocalcitizensreveretheroadwayitself,andtreasureboththehistoryoftheregionandthelegendsthatcontinuetoenhancethemysticalqualityofthedrive.
Naturaleventsof2018,however,havedictatedthattheprioritiesthisbywayorganizationmustchange.TheSpringWildfire,thesecondlargest
wildfireinColorado’shistory,burned108,045acresofforest,withflamescomingrighttotheedgehighway12.Persistentdroughtconditions
andclimatechangehavesetthestagesothatwildlife,theSanIsabelNationalForest,thegeologicalfeatures,andthetownsthemselvesremainatriskfrombothfireandflooding.
In2019HuerfanoandLasAnimasCountiescontractedforaPEL(PlanningandEnvironmentalLinkages)Studythatisevaluatingthesafetyconditionsonthe82-mileScenicHighwayofLegendsByway,itssuitabilitytoserveastheSouthernLoopoftheFrontRangeBicycleTrail,anditspotentialsformultimodaltravelforlocalsandvisitorsalike.Publicinvolvementinthisplanningprocesshasbeenextensive,andhasmovedthebywaytotheforefrontofdiscussionsinallfiveofthebywaytowns.
Workinthefirstthirty-oneyearshasbeenaccomplishedthroughagencypartnerships,fundingofcompetitivegrantsofferedthroughtheFederalHighwaysAdministration,andthevolunteereffortsofahandfulofpeoplewhocomprisetheBywayBoard.However,tomeetboththeeconomicopportunitiesthatcomewithanewbreedofactiveoutdoorrecreationists
(describedinthePELStudy)andpossibilityofongoingweathereventsthatthreatentheNationalForest,amorerobustorganizationisneeded.Organizationalchangesnowunderwayincludebroaderrepresentationofstakeholders,recruitmentofanewgenerationofleaders,anewadministrative“homebase,”andaplanforfinancialsustainability.Thefirststepshavebeentakeninthereorganizationprocess,anditisthemembersofbothpreviousandnewlyformedBywayBoardsthathavecollaborativelyconstructedthisdocument.
Thiseditionwillbethefirstofaliving,ever-evolvingplantoguidetheworkofareconstitutedBoard,itsexpandingmembershipandlocalstakeholders.Itseemsfitthatthisversionisreleasedforreviewinthefirstweekofwhatpromisestobealivelydecade.
TheScenicHighwayofLegends,Inc.iscommittedtopromoting,preservingandprotectingthebyway’sresources.Weunderstandandappreciatetheuniquenessofourresourcesandtheneedtoprotectthemforalltime.
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SCENICBYWAYLOCATIONANDDESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
TheScenicHighwayofLegends,Inc.(SHOL)wascreatedinJune1987asagrassrootseffortofareabusinessesandresidentstobothpromotetourismandprotectthebyway’sextraordinarynaturalresources.Participantsincludedtwocounties,citiesandtowns,chambersofcommerce,economicdevelopmententitiesandagenciesmanagingstateandfederalpubliclands.TheroutewasofficiallynamedtheScenicHighwayofLegendsbyColoradoStateCongressionalResolution,afulltwoyearsbeforethelaunchofthestatebywaysprogram.TheSHOLwasdesignatedasoneofthefirstfiveColoradoStateScenicandHistoricBywaysonSeptember22,1989,thenearnedtheadditionaldesignationasaNationalForestScenicBywayonFebruary2,1990,fromtheUnitedStatesForestService.
LOCATIONANDROUTE
TheScenicHighwayofLegendsislocatedinsouthcentralColoradoonInterstate25aneasy3-hourdrivefromSantaFeandonlya2.5-hourdrivefromDenver.
TravelerscanenterthebywayfromI-25atWalsenburg,TrinidadandAguilar,orfromStateHighway160atLaVeta.Theyarequicklytransportedtoawellmaintained2-lanestatehighwaythatwindsthroughthemountainousterrainoftheSanIsabelForest(ANationalNaturalLandmark)andthetwinSpanishPeaksthatriseover7,000feetfromthevalleyfloor.ThescenicdriveisdominatedbyavisuallystunningseriesofgeologicalformationsincludingtheDevil’sStairsteps,ProfileRock,andGoemmer’sButte.FromthepanoramicviewonCucharasPass,onecanseetheseriesofradialdikesthatradiateineverydirectionfromthebaseoftheSpanishPeaks,andtheDakotaSandstoneWallspansthevalleyfloorfromnorthtosouth.
RadialDike(Photo:JohnWark)
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BYWAYCOMMUNITIESTheScenicHighwayofLegendshasthreegatewaycommunitieswithWalsenburgonthenorth,LaVetatotheeastandTrinidadonthesouth.Thereareseveralsmallertownsandvillagessituatedinbetween.
Walsenburg:ACrossroadofCulturesAsthenortherngateway,theCityofWalsenburg,locatedonInterstate-25,pro-vides standard visitor services withrestaurants,bars,lodging,andantiqueshops.Anchoredbyaniconiccourthouse,Walsenburg’sHistoricDowntowniscomingalivewiththereopeningofthelandmarkFoxTheatre,a1917ArtDecomovieandperformingartscenter,anewartesianbrewery,9-holegolfcourse,coffeeshop,museumsandmurals.RecreationalopportunitiesarefoundattheCity’swaterparkaswellastheCounty’sLathropStatePark,justafewmileswestoftown.
LaVeta:ACharmingMountainTownFoundedin1862byColonelFrancisco,LaVetastartedoutasafour-sidedadobefortandplazaaroundwhichthequintessentialrusticarchitectureoflocalstoneandlogs
emerged.Nowanartscenteredtown,LaVetahostsabevyofartgalleries,liveentertainmentandyear-roundmusicfestivals.Theheartbeatofthispedestrianfriendlydowntownisitsaward-winningpubliclibrary,legendarylocalmarketandregionallyadoredbakery.
Cuchara:HistoricVillagemeetsMountainRetreatCucharahasthreedistinctzones:thehistoriccommunitycenterandpark,thecompactbusinessstrip,andtheMountainResort.Thishistoricvillageoffersavarietyofvisitorservicesduringtravelseason,includingrestaurants,lodging,miniaturegolfandsouvenirshopping.Forthemoreactiveadventurer,horsebackridingandtheCucharaMountainParkoffermoreadventurousopportunities.Thenewlyreopenedparkhastraditionallystruggledasaskiresortduetoinadequateprecipitation,butwithmuchcommunityinterestandsupport,theCucharaMountainParkisbeingrevitalizedtoproviderecreationalopportunitiesineveryseason.
MainStreetinWalsenburgattheintersectionofUS160andBusinessI-25.
IceCreamatCharlies'Market,LaVeta
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BYWAYCOMMUNITIES
A vintage Stonewall Gap postcard illustrates the rich history of Stonewall.
Aguilar:TheOldTradingPostTheTownofAguilarwasfirstsettledin1861,andwasknownas“SanAntonioPlaza.”ThesettlementwasmainlyatradingpostforNativeandSpanishAmericansthatfarmedandranchedinthesurroundingarea.In1878,coalminingprovidedexpandingopportunitiesfortheranchesandfarmsandencouragedotherbusinessestomoveintothearea.
Stonewall:PicturePerfectAranchingandloggingcommunitynestledinthegapoftheDakotaWall,Stonewallofferstraditionalcabinstylelodgingandcaterstooutdoorrecreationvisitors.Manyaresoenamoredwiththeareatheyreturngenerationaftergeneration.OriginallybuiltasasummerretreatforTrinidad’saffluentresidentsduringthecoalboomyears,Stonewallenjoysaleisurelypacewithpicturesqueviewsthathavefoundtheirwayontopostcardssincethe1920s.
Cokedale:APerfectlyPreservedColoradoCoalTownOnceamodelminingtownforcoalworkers,
CokedaletodayisconsideredthebestpreservedcoalcampinColorado,boastingan
impressive111lovinglypreservedresidentialandindustrialbuildingsinitshistoricdistrict.AfinemuseumdocumentsthecoalmininghistoryoftheregionandoffersvisitorsawalkingtouroftheCokedaleHistoricDistrict.ThisoneofakindcommunitysitsacrossSH12fromtheprivately-ownedhistoricsiteof350cokeovensusedbetween1906and1947.
Trinidad:OldMeetsNewArtsMeetstheOutdoorsFinishingupatouroftheScenicHighwayofLegendslandsyouinthevibrant,arts-orientedCityofTrinidad.TheCityhasdoneextensiverenovationsinandaroundtheirdowntown,anditshows.Fullofrestaurants,artgalleries,antiqueshops,bars,museumsandthelike,afreetrolleytakesvisitorsthroughanastonishingcollectionofarchitecturalstyles.Over100buildingsbuiltbetween1889and1923standasatributetoTrinidad’sfinancialboomthatspannedtheerasoftheSantaFeTrail,sheepandcattleranching,andcoalmining.Anabundanceof
LaVetashopsandgalleries.
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fineEuropeancraftsmanshipcanbeseenboththestoneworkandbrickworkthatlinethestreets.Numerousannualfestivalskeeptheenergeticatmospherealive,invigoratingthelocalartsandentertainmentindustries.Justwestofthecity,TrinidadLakeStateParkoffersthestandardrecreationandvisitorexperience.TheCityofTrinidadisonceagaingrowing,thistimeinthedirectionofthecreativeartsandoutdoorrecreation.ThenewSpacetoCreatewillgiveworkingartistsbothaplacetoliveandwork,andColorado’smostrecentlydesignatedstatepark,centeredontheiconicandlandscapedefiningFisher’sPeak,willbeameccaforoutdoorrecreation.
Tomakethebywayexperienceauthenticanditslegendsresonatewithvisitors,thebywaygroupneedstobeabletoembracethenewactiveadventurerwhilepreservingthe“oldways”anditsownrhythmoflife.
Acommitmenttoayoungermoreadventurouspopulationisamajornewdirectionforthesustainabilityofthebyway.Webelieveitisimportanttoincludethepeopleandfamiliesthathavelivedalongthebywayandintheregionforgenerationswhilealsoembracingthefreshperspectivesoftheever-energeticyouththatarediscoveringourareamoreandmore. Huajatolla Heritage Festival, La Veta
Huajatolla Heritage Festival, La Veta
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SCENICHIGHWAYOFLEGENDSPARTNERORGANIZATIONS
PartnersandCommunityParticipation
Thiscorridormanagementplandescribesambitiousgoalsandnewdirectionsthathaveemergedfromdramaticallychangingenvironmentalconditionsonthebywaycorridor,specificallypersistentdroughtconditionsandtheongoingthreatsofbothfireandfloodthatresultedfromthe2018SpringFire.Bywayleadersarenowplanningforwaystomeetandmanagethegrowinginterestinactiveoutdoorrecreationwhichhasstartedtoshiftthebyway’sresponsibilityfromservingvisitorswhocamefortheScenicDrives,tobuildingmoreinfrastructureforcurrentvisitorswhowanttoengagewiththenaturalresourcesmoreinteractively.ThenewCMPhasbeenadoptedinJanuary2020.TheBoardwillnowbringtogetherlong-establishedorganizationalpartners(beside)withnewmemberstoassignresponsibilities.ThetimelineforthisstrategysessionwithorganizationalpartnershasbeensetforAugust2020,immediatelyfollowingthereleaseofthefinalrecommendationsfromthePELBike/Pedstudy.
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SCENICHIGHWAYOFLEGENDSMAPHuerfanoandLasAnimasCounties
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Mission:
COLORADO’SHIGHWAYOFLEGENDSSCENICBYWAYHuerfanoandLasAnimasCounties
Goals
ThemissionoftheBywayGoverningBoardistoprotectandpromotetheirreplaceablenaturalandhistoricalresourcesoftheScenicHighwayofLegendsinamannerthatkeepstheseresourcesintacttosupportthelivabilityandeconomicvitalityofthecommunitiesintheSpanishPeaksregion,andtoprovidetravelerstheopportunitiestoexploreandtodiscoverwaystoforgedeepconnectionswithnature.Vision:
TheScenicHighwayofLegendswillbecomeaNationalScenicBywaythatdrawsbothnationalandinternationaltravelerstoitsdistinctivegeology,itsrichcollectionofculturallegendsanditsunique
• Todevelopaworld-classgeologicalinterpretivecenterthatallowsvisitorstoexperiencethefieryhistorythatshapedthelandscapeoftheSpanishPeaks.
• Toinspirelocalcitizenstobuildupontheirdeepprideinthebywaythroughproactiveparticipationandmanagementofresourcesthatexpresstheessenceofthebyway.
• Todeveloparangeofvisitorexperiencesthatwillsteadilydeveloptourismintoasignificantandsustainableeconomicsectorforthetwocountiesthathostthebyway.
opportunitiesfortravelerstobeactiveintheoutdoors.
TheSpanishPeaks.(Photo:AaronSpong)
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THETEN-YEARWORKPLAN(ToachievetheVisionandGoalsoftheSHOL)
YearOne• Submitanapplicationfordesignationasa
NationalScenicByway• Integrateandprioritizemulti-modal
recommendationsfromboththePEL(PlanningandEnvironmentalLinkagesStudy)andtheStatewideAssessmentofColorado’s26ScenicByways.
• Securefundingandinstallasystemofelectricchargingstationstosupportelectricvehiclestravelingthefulllengthofthe82-milebyway.
YearTwo• Securefundingforafeasibilitystudyfor
thedevelopmentofageologyinterpretivecenter.
• Amarketingsub-committeewillworkwithCDOTRegion2Engineertorepairorreplacehighwaydirectionalsignage.
• DevelopaformalViewShedProtectionPlanforthefull82-milebyway.HuerfanoCountyPlanningDepartmentwillcoordinateinconjunctionwiththeLasAnimasCountyPlanningDepartment.(VisualIntrusionPlan9.a(9))FHWAPolicy5.18.95
YearFive• Completecriticalamenitiesimprovements
-restrooms,interpretation,scenicoverlooksandtrailheads.
• ConductaVisualImpactOverviewinpartnershipwiththeU.S.ForestServiceusingCDOTStatewideGuidelines.
• Designpreservationstrategiesfornaturalandhistoricintrinsicassets.
• Conductaformalwayfindingassessment.• Adoptdesignguidelinesforacohesive
systemofsignageandinterpretation.• PreparecommunitiestobeBicycle
FriendlyTownsinanticipationofnewmultimodaltraildevelopments.
• BuildtrailconnectivityandstrongerintegrationbetweenthethreeStateParks(LathropStatePark,TrinidadStatePark,FishersPeakStatePark)andtheScenicHighwayofLegendstoexpandopportunitiesforvisitors.
• Expandopportunitiesformultimodaltravelforlocalsandvisitorsalike.
YearTen• Preservethebyway’sSenseofPlace.
Usingprinciplesofcontextsensitivedesign,addresshowtopreservethecharacter,andthelook-and-feelofthishistoricroad.
• IntegrateuniversaldesignandmeetADArequirementsintoeveryaspectoftravelforboth.
• CompletepreservationofhistoricbuildingsonthebywayinpartnershipwithHistoryColorado.
ANationalNaturallandmark.(Photo: http://southerncolorado.info)
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ORGANIZATIONALDEVELOPMENT AnexaminationoforiginaldocumentsproducedbythefoundingBoardofDirectorsconfirmsthatthemissionandgoalsoftheScenicHighwayofLegendshavenotchangedoverthethirty-yearhistoryofthebyway.Theessenceofthebywayremainsthesame,asdoestheneedtoprotectandpreservethecorridor’sirreplaceableassets.Thebyway,however,hasexperiencedongoingdifficultiesinbothretainingboardmembersandinsecuringyear-to-yearoperationalfunds.Theorganizationhasneveremployedpaidstaff.Distancesaregreatandhumanresourcesarelimitedinthissparselypopulatedarea.Activecommunitymembersfeelovercommitted.Bywayleadersrealizethatthatthreeessentialelementsmustchangetoinsurethesustainabilityoftheorganization:1)therequiredtimecommitmentmustbereducedforofficerstheBoardofDirectors,and2)administrativesupportmustbefoundtogivethebywaya“homebase,”and3)operationalfundingneedstoshiftfrommemberstoestablishedagencieswithinthetwocounties.This2020updateoftheCorridorManagementPlan,writtentogetherbybothlegacyandexistingmembersoftheBoardofDirectors,outlinesthefirststepstobegintoincorporatethosechanges.TheHuerfanoCountyPlanningDepartmenthasofferedtosupporttheadministrativefunctionsoftheBoard,anewmodelforfundingwillreplicatethesuccessfulapproachofColorado’sWestElkLoopScenicByway,andanewstructureofworkingsubcommitteeswillreducethetimerequiredbymembersoftheBoardofDirectors.
FourthofJulyinSpanishPeaksCountry
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INTRINSICQUALITIES
Including: 1. Geology2. Flora(forest&ecoregion)3. Fauna(wildlife)
Natural quality applies to those features of the visual environment that are in a relatively undisturbed state. These features predate the arrival of human populations and may include geological formations, fossils, landform, water bodies, vegetation, and wildlife. There may be evidence of human activity but the natural features reveal minimal disturbances. (FHWA Policy 5.18.95) Flora (Forest & Eco region) Resources: • FarleyFlowerOverlookObservationSite• SanIsabelNationalForesthikingtrails• SpanishPeaksNationalNaturalLandmark
(1976),7,000verticalfeetrisefromvalleyflooro WestSpanishPeak(13,626feetelevation)
o EastSpanishPeak(12,683feetelevation)• SpanishPeaksWildernessStudyArea
(19,226acres)
Fauna (Wildlife) Resources: • BosqueDelOsoStateWildlifeArea
(30,000acres)• LongsCanyonWatchableWildlifeArea• WahatoyaStateWildlifeAreaBirdwatching(80
acres)Geological Resources: • DakotaWallgeologicformation• Devil’sStairstepsgeologicformation• FarleyFlowerOverlook(panoramicviewof
geologicalformations)• Goemmer’sButtegeologicformation• K-PgBoundryExtinctionEvent(formerly
K-TBoundry)–TrinidadLakeStatePark• ProfileRockgeologicformation• SpanishPeaksNationalNaturalLandmark(1976),
7,000verticalfeetrisefromvalleyflooro WestSpanishPeak(13,626feetelevation)o EastSpanishPeak(12,683feetelevation)
• SpanishPeaksvolcanicdikesgeologicformations• SpanishPeaksWildernessStudyArea(19,226
acres)
NATURAL
NaturalQualityProtection1.MuchofthelandintheScenicHighwayofLegendscorridorisowned,managed,andprotectedbyfederalandstategovernmentnaturalresource
managementagencies.2.ExtensiveacreageinthecorridorisdesignatedandprotectedasaWildernessArea,NaturalAreaorStateWildlifeArea.3.TheColoradoParksandWildlifeDepartmentexercisesjurisdictionoverallwildlifeinthestateandhasadoptedspecialregulationstoprotectnativetrout
inthecorridor.4.Severalorganizationsandvolunteergroupsintheareaareengagedinriverrestoration,firemitigationandothernaturalresource-relatedprojects.5.ThisCMPwasdevelopedwiththeinvolvementoftheU.S.Forestservice,theprimarypubliclandmanagementagencyinthebywaycorridor.6.WewillworkwithGOCOonoutdoorstewardshipasweinvestinprojectsthatsustainandimprovetheByway’snaturalresources.
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Scenic quality is the heightened visual experience derived from the view of natural and man-made elements of the visual environment of the scenic byway corridor. The characteristics of the landscape are strikingly distinct and offer a pleasing and most memorable visual experience. All elements of the landscape – landform, water, vegetation, and man-made development – contribute to the quality of the corridor’s visual environment. Everything present is in harmony and shares in the intrinsic qualities. (FHWA Policy 5.18.95)
Scenic Resources: • ApishapaRiverValleywestofAguilar• CucharasRiver• FarleyFlowerOverlookObservationSite• MonumentLake• NorthLake• PurgatoireRiverValley• TheTwinSpanishPeaks
o EastSpanishPeako WestSpanishPeak
• ViewoftheCulebraRangeoftheSangreDeCristoMountains(CulebraPeak–14,169feetelevation)
SCENIC
ScenicQualityProtection1. TheColoradoDepartmentofTransportationadoptednewVisualImpactAccessmentGuidelinesinNovember2019.Theseguidelinescreateanaesthetic
contextforthecorridor.Thedesignphilosophychaptureshowanover-allcorridorwilllookanddescribestheapproachtopreserveuniqueplacesalongthecorridor.
2. MuchofthelandintheCLP/NPBcorridorisowned,managed,andprotectedbyfederalandstategovernmentnaturalresourcemanagementagencies.3.ExtensiveacreageinthecorridorisdesignatedandprotectedasaWildernessArea,NaturalAreaorStateWildlifeArea.4.CDOTandtheprimarynaturalresourcemanagementagenciesinthecorridorhaveregulationsandguidelinesthatprotectsightlinesandminimizevisual
intrusionsonthebyway.ThePlanningDepartmentsofbothHuerfanoandLasAnimasCountiesarealsoworkingtogetheronzoneandlandusagetoeliminatethepossibilityofvisualintrusions.
5.ThisCMPwasdevelopedwiththeinvolvementoftheU.S.Forestservice,theprimarypubliclandmanagementagencyinthebywaycorridor.
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Historic quality encompasses legacies of the past that are distinctly associated with physical elements of the landscape, whether natural or manmade, that are of such historic significance that they educate the viewer and stir an appreciation of the past. The historic elements reflect the actions of people and may include buildings, settlement patterns, and other examples of human activity. Historic features can be inventoried, mapped, and interpreted. They possess integrity of location, design, setting, material, workmanship, feeling, and association. (FHWA Policy 5.18.95)
Historic Resources: • A.R.MitchelMuseum• A.R.MitchellMuseumofWesternArt(Trinidad)• AdobeSchoolhouse(1904)• BlumenshineMuralintheWalsenburgPostOffice• BurroCanyonBridge(1939)• CarnegiePublicLibrary• CityHall• CokedaleMiningMuseum• CokedaleNationalHistoricDistrict(1906–1947)• 350historiccokeovens• CordovaChapel(1871)• CordovaPlaza(1861)• DenverHotel• FoxTheatre,Trinidad• FranciscoFortinLaVeta(1862)• FranciscoFortMuseum(LaVeta)original1862
PlazaBuilding
HISTORY
HistoricalQualityProtection1.In1972ElCorazondeTrinidadNationalHistoricDistrictwasaddedtotheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces.CorazondeTrinidad(“theheartof
Trinidad”)NationalHistoricDistrictcoversaparticularlywell-preservedportionofdowntownTrinidadthatincludesmanyblocksofadobeandbrickbuildings.By1962theColoradoHistoricalSociety(nowHistoryColorado)hadacquiredtheOldBacaHouse,PioneerMuseumHouseandBloomMansion,operatingthemasaregionalmuseumcomplex.
2.AlongtheByway,theFranciscoFortMuseuminLaVetaisoperatedbutheHuerfanoCountyHistoricalSocietywithamissionofpreservingthehistoryofthearea.
3.SeveralsitesonthebywayhavebeenlistedontheFederalRegisterofHistoricPlacesandtheColoradoStateregisterofHistoricPlaces.4.TheLaVetaHistoricandPreservationCommitteehasvarioushistoricpreservationmeasuresinplace.IfanyoneintheintheLaVetaHistoricPreservation
Districtisplanningonbuilding,paintingordoinganyconstruction,theymustgothroughtheHPCtogetapprovalfirst.Additionalprotections,fundingandassistanceforhistoricpreservationmaybeavailablethroughthestateofColoradoandvariousextensionagencies,historicgroupsandpatrons.
5.ThisCMPwasdevelopedwiththeinvolvementoflocalresidentsandcommunityleadersinvolvedwiththehistoryandheritageofthebywaycorridor.
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Historic Resources (Cont.): • HistorictownsiteofSegundo(1860s–
early1900s)• HistorictownsiteofStonewall(1870s)• HistorictownsiteofValdez(1860s)• HistorictownsiteofVigil(early1860s)
o HouseBuiltonaBridge• HistorictownsiteofWeston(1880s)• HuerfanoHeritageCenterandArchives• LudlowMonument(UnitedMineWorkers
ofAmerica)–LudlowMassacreofApril20,1914
• MadridPlaza(1862)• MedinaPlaza• MountainBranchoftheSantaFeTrail• NewElkMine(1946)• OldUteTrail• PrimeroCommunity• PurgatoireRiverandearlyvalley
settlement• SchneiderBrewery• St.IgnatiusRomanCatholicChurch(1890)• TempleAaron• TheHuerfanoCountyCourthouse• TijerasPlaza(1862)• TrinidadHistoryMuseum–BacaHouse
andBloomHouse• WalsenburgMiningMuseuminthe
restoredHuerfanoCountyJailBuilding• WesternandVictorianarchitectureofthe
CorazondeTrinidad(HistoricDistrict)
A.R.MitchellpaintingdisplayedattheA.R.MitchellMuseumofWesternArtinTrinidad(Photo:www.armitchellmuseum.com)
TheHistoricHuerfanoCountyCourthouse(Photo:www.huerfano.us)
HistoricBloomMansioninTrinidad(Photo:www.colorado.com)
HouseBuiltonaBridge(Photo:www.bridgehunter.com)
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Cultural quality is evidence and expressions of the customs or traditions of a distinct group of people. Cultural features including, but not limited to, crafts, music, dance, rituals, festivals, speech, food, special events, and vernacular architecture are currently practiced. The cultural qualities of the corridor could highlight one or more significant communities and/or ethnic traditions. (FHWA Policy 5.18.95)
Cultural Resources: • Churches• CommunityofCuchara(1910)• CreativeDistrict,DowntownTrinidad• GalleryMuseum• HuajatollaHeritageFestival,LaVeta
(picturedabove)• LaVeta4-HBarnandArenaFestival(Ranching
History)• Legendsfromdifferentgroupsofpeople(seenext
twopages)• MuseumofFriends(Arts)• PerformanceArtsTheater• SpanishPeaksCelticFestival,LaVeta
CULTURAL
CulturalQualityProtection1.TrinidadhasbeenawardthedistinguishedhonorofbeingnamedaColoradoCreativeDistrictandtheyhaveembracedtheartsasaneconomicstimulator
inmultiplyways.2.LaVetahasstartedthe2yearprocesstoseeiftheyalsocanbecomeaColoradoCreativeDistrict.Oncethisisawarded,theScenicHighwayofLegendswill
bethebridgethatbringsthesetwouniqueartscommunitiestogether.3.PlansarebeingdiscussedforaPleinAirFestivalalongtheByway.4.Various,municipalandcountypoliciesandregulationsprotecttheculturallandscape,agriculturalheritageandrurallifestylefoundinthebywaycorridor.5.Bywaycommunitiesvalueandmaintainmanylocalartandheritagecelebrationsandevents.6.Additionalprotections,fundingandassistancemaybeavailablethroughthestateofColoradoandvariousorganizationsthatsupporttheartsandculture.7.ThisCMPwasdevelopedwiththeinvolvementoflocalresidentsandcommunityleadersinvolvedwiththecultureandheritageofthebywaycorridor.
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Recreational quality involves outdoor recreational activities directly associated with and dependent upon the natural and cultural elements of the corridor’s landscape. The recreational activities provide opportunities for active and passive recreational experiences. They include, but are not limited to, downhill skiing, rafting, boating, fishing, and hiking. Driving the road itself may qualify as a pleasurable recreational experience. The recreational activities may be seasonal, but the quality and importance of the recreational activities as seasonal operations must be well recognized. (FHWA Policy 5.18.95) Recreational Resources: • BearLakeCampgroundwithhiking(U.S.F.S.)• BlueLakeCampgroundwithhiking(U.S.F.S.)• BosqueDelOsoStateWildlifeArea(SWA)—
hunting,fishing• CordovaPassPicnicAreaandCampground
(11,743feetelevation,1779IndianTrail,1883mailroute)
• CucharaHikingTrailSystem• CucharaMountainPark,CrossCountry
Skiing/SnowShoeing/Sledding• CucharaPassDayUsePicnicArea(9,941’
elevation,1779—IndianTrail;1883—mailroute)• HorsebackRiding,Cuchara• HunterscanaccessColoradoDivisionofWildlife
(CDOW)Game(1-800-244-5613)• ManagementUnits(GMUs)viatheSHOL• LaVetaHikingTrailSystem• LathropStatePark(fishing,picnicking,hiking,
swimming,watchablewildlife)• MartinandHorseshoeLakes(LathropStatePark)• MonumentLakeResort(campingandhiking)• NorthLakeStateWildlifeArea(SWA)—fishing,
picnicing,hiking,wildlifeobservation• PurgatoireCampground(U.S.F.S.)• RoadCycling–CenturyRide• Scenicdrives• SpanishPeaksStateWildlifeArea(SWA)—hunting,
camping,hiking,wildlifeobservation• SpringCreekPicnicGround(U.S.F.S.)• TrinidadLakeStateRecreationArea:fishing,hiking
picnickingandcamping,KTboundary,(2017visitation192,087)
• WahatoyaStateWildlifeArea(SWA)(includingDaigreLake)(fishing,picnicking,hiking,wildlifeobservation)
• Wildlifeviewing,includingbirding
RECREATIONAL
RecreationalQualityProtection1.Muchofthelandinthebywaycorridorisowned,managed,andprotectedbypublicland/naturalresourcemanagementagencies,assuringabasiclevelof
infrastructureandsupportforoutdoorrecreation.2.Severalnon-profitrecreation-orientedgroups,suchasLaVetaTrailsareactiveinthecorridor.3.Severalprivaterecreationclubs/organizations,suchassnowmobileclubs,areactiveinthecorridor.4.RecommendationsrelatedtooutdoorrecreationweredevelopedwiththeinvolvementoftheUSFS.5.WewillworkwithGOCOonoutdoorstewardshipasweinvestinprojectsthatsustainandimprovetheByway'srecreationalresources.
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Archeological quality involves those characteristics of the scenic byways corridor that are physical evidence of historic or prehistoric human life or activity that are visible and capable of being inventoried and interpreted. The scenic byway corridor’s archeological interest, as identified through ruins, artifacts, structural remains, and other physical evidence, have scientific significance that educate the viewer and stir an appreciation for the past. (FHWA Policy 5.18.95)
Archeological Resource: • AultmanMuseum,andLouden-Heinritze
ArcheologicalMuseum,Trinidad
ARCHEOLOGICAL
ApishipaArch,AguilarRoad
ArchaeologicalQualityProtection1.MuchofthelandintheCLP/NPBcorridorisowned,managed,andprotectedbyfederalandstateagencies,eachofwhichaffordsagency-specific
protectionstoarchaeologicalsitesandartifacts.TheprimarylandownersinthecorridoraretheUSForestService,BureauofLandManagement,USFishandWildlifeService,ColoradoStateForestService,andColoradoParksandWildlife.
2.TheLouden-HenritzeArchaeologyMuseumoffersvisitorsauniquelookatmillionsofyearsofthearea'shistory.3.Manyparticularlyimportantarchaeologicalsiteshavebeenidentified,excavatedanddocumented.4.TheStateofColorado’sHistoricPreservationIncomeTaxCreditmayapplytoqualifyingprivateproperty.5.Sensitivearchaeologicalsitesarenotlistedonmapsorincludedinbywaybrochuresandmaterials.6.ThisCMPwasdevelopedwiththeinvolvementoftheUSFS,ColoradoParksandWildlifeandothersinvolvedwiththeidentification,storage,archivingand
curatingofthebyway’sarchaeologicaltreasures.
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LEGENDSASCULTURALINHERITANCE
TheSpanishPeaksmarkthecrossroadsofdiverseculturesandhistoricaltraditions,wherethepeoplehaverespondedtotheland’spowerandbeautybyendowingitseveryelementwithlegendsandstoriesthatilluminatetheirheritageandculturalvalues.
ThefollowinglegendsandtheirassociationwithbywayresourcesissourcedfromtheinventoryoftheInterpretivePlan(authors,2004.)
Resource: The unique geology of the Spanish Peaks region—tumultuous forces of nature that move and blow off steam. Legends:Devil’sStairsteps,Devil’sThumb,DakotaWall,MonumentLake,Culebra—AMountainofSnakes,Goemmer’sButte&theEndoftheGiants.
Resource: Ecological Zones—Flora, Fauna. Legends:ThreeRivers,InsidetheMoun-tains,SpruceTrees,DanceofBraveDeeds,BearLake,WhereDinosaursEnded.
Resource: Early Human Habitation—Paleo- Indians and Mammoth Hunters, constantly moving between the plains and mountain valleys following good weather and good hunting and gathering. Legends:FolsomManandtheFourDirections,TheGreatFlood.
Resource: Ute, Apache, Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe Peoples—harmony with the land, its spirits and resources, symbiotic relationships and the balance of life. Legends:HomeoftheRainGods,GrandoteandtheValleyofMexico,KenYatCheandthePliedes,CuernoVerde.
Resource: Exploration—Spanish Conquistadors. The search for gold, the establishment of missions. Legends:NamingtheSangredeCristoMountains,LostSoulsinPurgatory,ArapahoePrincess,LaMunecaBuriedTreasure.
Resource: Mountain Men and Scouts. Legends:Tobin’sReward,KitCarsonandtheSettlementofStonewall,FindingtheConquistador’sHelmet;BlackJackKetchum.
Resource: Spanish Settlement—opportunity for wealth and a place of one’s own.
Legends:HowTorresSurvived,TheEspinosaBrothers—KillersorHeroes?
Devil’sStairstepsislocatedadjacenttoSH12betweenLaVetaandCuchara(Photo:http://academic.emporia.edu)
TheBigWallisoneofthetallest,longestandmostrecognizabledikesintheregion(Photo:https://spanishpeakscountry.com/the-great-dikes)
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Resource: Farming and ranching. Legends:TheGiantandtheSpoon(Cuchara), Maid Marian, Stonewall War.
Resource: Francisco Fort—Ranching and farming; providing supplies for travel to the west. Legends:-”ThisisParadiseenoughforme.”-Col.JohnFrancisco.
Resource: Mining Settlement—to find work and a better life. Legends:HowtheApishipaRiverGotItsName, Echo Canyon Gold and the Bull’s Eye Mine.
Resource: Architecture. Legends:LaLloronaundertheHouseontheBridge;FirstGhostTown.
Resource: Cultural Diversity in Material Culture—utility and unique expressions of culture
Legends:WhenSchoolsWeren’t. Resource: Mining, The Great Coal Wars. Legends:MotherJones.
Resource: Transportation—Prehistoric and historic Native American pathways—survival based on unfettered mobility. Legends:WahatoyaasaPlaceofPeaceandHealing,LegendofHiddenIndianTrails,MoccasinHill.
Resource: Spanish Trails Legend:Findingthegoldwherethemountainsturnthecolorofblood.
Resource: Pony Express Legends:TaosLightningonWooten’sTollRoad,Walsen’sFreeway
Resource: The Railroads. Legend:ALightintheDark.
Resource: Automobile Routes and Highways. Legend:PotatoGrowersofCuchara
Resource: Early recreation and wilderness planning. Legend:TheNamingofBearLake
Conservationofnatural,scenic,historicandculturalassetswillrequirenewprioritiesandnewpartnerships.Thefollowingchartslong-termpartners(municipalitiesandcounties,publiclandagencies,etc.)andnewpartnersthatwillbekeytoaccomplishingthe10-yearworkplan.
SH 7 traverses through the gap in the Dakota Wall near the Village of Stonewall (Photo: http://www.sangres.com)
Landmarkin1976asoneofthebest-knownexamplesofigneousintrusions(Photo: http://southerncolorado.info)
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RESOURCEPROTECTIONUrgentNeedtoMaintainVisualIntegrity
CorridorProtectionDistrictsBuildingastrategytomaintainingthevisualintegrityofthelandscapeiscurrentlyunderway,andincludesestablishingacorridorprotectiondistrict,designingasetofcountydesignguidelines,publishingahandbookforbuildinginascenicarea,tappingtheexpertiseofCDOTlandscapearchitects,andeducatingbothvisitorsandnewresidentstothearea.TheSHOLcurrentlydoesnothaveanyprotectivemeasuresinplacetopreservetheviewsanddevelopmentalongtheScenicHighwayofLegends.Therewasanoverlaydistrictinplace,butthatdistrictwasremovedmanyyearsagoforreasonsthatareunknown.TheSHOLneedsacorridorprotectiondistrict.ThatwillbeoneofthefirststepstakenbytheHuerfanoCountyLandUseOfficetoensurethatthenearviewsremainasstunningasthefarviews.TheCountyisalsointheprocessofadoptingaminimummaintenancecode,sopropertiesthathavebecomedilapidatedcanbecleanedup.Thesetwoeffortswillensurethattheforegroundalongthebywayremainscomplementarytothestunningviewsprovidedinthebackground.Aspartofthecorridorprotectiondistrict,staffplanstoproposethattheCountyadoptasetof
designguidelinesforthecorridorthatwillensurethatnewdevelopmentblendsintothecountryside,notstandsoutfromit.(SeetheCDOT2019VisualImpactAssessmentGuidelines:https://www.codot.gov/programs/environmental/visual-resources/visual-impact-assessment)AsuccessfulprogramcurrentlyinforceinOregonwillbeusedasamodel.Themodeliscalled“BuildingintheScenicArea–ScenicResourcesImplementationHandbook.”(http://www.gorgecommission.org/images/uploads/amendments/Scenic_Handbook_-_FINAL_12-05.pdf).ThehandbookindicateswhatcolorsworkbestwiththevariedlandscapesalongtheColumbiaRiverandhasbeensuccessfullyusedinOregonsince2005.AsimilarhandbookcouldbeprovidedforallthedistinctregionsalongtheScenicHighwayofLegends.HuerfanoCountyplanningstaffwillworkwithLasAnimasCountystaffontheviewprotectioncorridor.TheHuerfanoCountyPlanningDirectorwillreachouttotheLasAnimasCountyplannertodeterminehowtobestworktogethertopreservetheentire82-mileroute.
EducationofVisitorsVisitorsneedtobeeducatedtobehaveinaresponsiblemannerregardingthebywayresources.Brochures,signage,andactivelawenforcementareneededtoolstoaccomplishthis.Wherepossible,positivemessagesoftenaremoreeffectivethannegativemessages,forexample“Pleasehelpusprotectthesevaluableresourcesbystayingonpaths”insteadof“DoNotTouch”or“Donotleavethetrail.”The“LeaveNoTrace”or“LeaveOnlyFootprints”ethicstronglyneedstobepromoted.Peoplealsoneedtoknowthebreadthofprotectionneeded,forexamplewalkingonthetundradestroysgrowthfordecades.Visitorsneedtoviewtheintrinsicqualitiesofthebywayasnonrenewable.FederalLandmanagingagenciesneedtostayinaproactivepositionwithregardtowhatsitesareacceptabletopublicvisitation.Monitoringthepreparationofinterpretivematerials,includingbrochures,andclosecommunicationandcoordinationwithtouroperatorsareneededsositesnotreadyforvisitationarenotprematurelypromoted.Monitoringandevaluationprogramsshouldbeestablishedforresourceareaswherevisitorfacilitieswillbeconstructedandincreasevisitation.Protectionmethodsandtechniquesshouldbedevelopedandtested.
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INTERPRETATION ThebywayhasbeenguidedbyAnInterpretivePlanfortheHighwayofLegends,publishedin2004.ExpandedinterpretationontheSHOLwillbeessentialastheorganizationworkstobuildarichercacheofmemorableexperiencesforvisitors,andexpandedinformationabouttheintrinsicvaluesofthishistoriccorridor.Interpretationidentifieskeythemesandstoriesthatcanhelpconnectvisitorstoplacesandbuildsmultiplewaystomaketheirvisitmeaningful.Thisbywayhasbeensteadilyenhancingtherichnessoftheirinterpretivesystem.In2012,thebywaydesignedandinstalledfourinterpretivesignsin
gatewaycommunities,allwithhistoricthemes,withfundsfromtheNationalScenicBywaycompetitivegrantsprogram.Thosesignsarestillinexcellentcondition.Thenextphaseofinterpretivesignsarescheduledforinstallationinthespringof2020,withsix3-panelkiosks(eighteenpanelsintotal)describedinthechartbelow.Thesekiosksweredevelopedthroughafederallyfunded20/80matchinggrantsprogrammanagedbytheColoradoDepartmentofTransportation.Contentwasdevelopedincollaborationwithworkinggroupsineachcommunitywhowereasked,“Whenatravelerfirstcomestothis
communitywhatwouldyoulikethemtoknow?”Thenextstepindevelopingrelevantinterpretivematerialsforthisbywaywillfocusonitstightenedfocusongeologicalresources.TheBoardhastakenfirststepsandhasmetwithlocalgeologiststostartvisualizingthescopeofinformationandexperiencesthatcouldengagevisitorsinimaginingthevolcanicunderpinningsofthecorridor.Potentialplansincludenotonlyasystemofsignage,butoutdoorrecreationopportunitiesto“walkthegeology”andanewinteractiveinterpretivecenterinStonewall,homeofthegapintheDakotaSandstoneWall.
Cokedale3-panelkiosk
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MARKETINGMarketingGoalMarketinginvestmentswillsupporteconomicgrowthforthecommunitiesalongtheScenicHighwayofLegendsthroughthedevelopmentofsustainabletourismofferingsandadedicationtotheresponsiblemarketingandpromotionoftheseattractions.GuidingPrinciplesInthefirstyear,thebywaywillestablishamarketingsubcommitteethatwillreporttotheScenicHighwayofLegendsBoardofDirectors.Thissubcommitteewillbemadeupofrepresentativesfromthetourismboards,chambersofcommerceandeconomicdevelopmentofficesinbothHuerfanoandLasAnimascounties.Memberswillservea2-yearminimumterm,meetingasoftenasnecessary.Shouldamemberresign,theymustfindareplacementrepresentativewhobringspastexperienceinmarketingtourismdestinations.Thecommitteewillcapitalizeonthefindingsofthe7-memberCDOTplanningteamthatisconductingaPEL(PlanningandEnvironmentalLinkages)studyforamulti-modalBike/PedTrailforthe82milesofSH12andUS160whichcomprisethedesignatedScenicHighwayofLegends.AstatewidecommitteehasproposedthatthissamecorridorbeadditionallydesignatedastheSouthernLoopoftheColoradoFrontRangeBicycleTrail.Astheirtoppriority,theMarketingSubcommitteewilldevelopmarketingmaterialstoeducateoutdoorrecreationistsaboutthefragilenaturalresourcesthatareaccessibletothetravelingpublic,andabouttheexpectationthatoutdoorrecreationistswillproactivelyhelpprotecttheseassetsforfuturegenerations.
FirstYearMarketingObjectives1. Toestablishanactivesubcommitteethatwillberesponsiblefor
themanagementoftheByway’smarketingplan.2. Toincreaselodgingoccupancybyaddingonenighttothe
averagelength-of-stay,andtoexpandtheseasonforsummertravelbyextendingofferingsoneadditionalmonthinthespring,andoneadditionalmonthinthefall(shoulderseasons).
EstablishedMarketingStrategiesThetworuralcountiesthathosttheSHOLworkwithverylimitedfinancialresources,howeveranimpressivenumberofjointmarketingprogramshavebeenaccomplishedthroughongoingpartnershipswithlocalandstatetourismboards,localandcountygovernments,andbywaysinneighboringcounties.Theyinclude:
1. Aregionalmapof5SouthernColoradoBywaysproducedand
distributedatthestate’sofficialColoradoWelcomeCenters.Thesefour-colormapsdisplayedtheroutesof5bywayswhichareproximateorconnecting,andincludethemajorattractionsandeventsfoundwithinbywaycommunities.Countlessvolunteerhoursandsharedproductioncostsenabledthepartnershiptoproduceandprint100,000mapswhichhaveproventobevitaltoolsfornavigationandforthecross-marketingofregionalbusinesses.
2. TheBywaystoBirdingProgramThesame5-county
partnershipwasalsoresponsibleforthecreationofamailerandwebsiteprogramcalled“BywaystoBirding.”ThemailerwassenttoqualifiedleadsthatweregeneratedthroughanadplacementinAudubonMagazine.Thecostfortheadwaspaidforinpartthroughamatchingmarketingco-opgrantfromtheColoradoTourismOffice.
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3. ThelastgranttheSHOLreceivedfromtheNationalScenicBywaysProgramin2012allowedthebywaytoproducea14-minutevideo;todesignanderectbywayinterpretivesignsin4gatewaycommunities;andtocreate100,00copiesofa20-pagebookletwithmapthatservesbothasaguidedtourandsouvenirofthevisitortimeontheByway.
Thebookletcontinuestobereprintedthankstofinancialsupportfromcountycommissionersandcountytourismboardsinbothcounties.ThemarketingbookletisavailableattheColoradoWelcomeCentersthroughoutthestateandmultiplemuseums,chambersofcommerceandbusinesseslocatedonthebywaycorridor.
4. AspartoftheByway’songoingrelationshipwiththeColoradoDepartmentofTransportationandthe5-countytourismmarketingcooperative,asystemofInformationKiosksdisplaying60wayfindingpanelswillbeinstalledthroughoutthisSouthernColoradoregioninthespringof2020.Thesepanelswillhelpvisitorsnavigatetheirwayacrosstheregion,andpointoutopportunitiesforvisitorstoexperiencethearea.Bywaysareprominentlyfeatured.TourismpartnersontheScenicHighwayofLegendstogetherraisedenoughmatchmoneyforeighteenofthesepanels.
5. TheHuerfanoCountyTourismBoardhasbeenaverygoodfriend
totheByway.TheCounty’snewtourismbrandis“WheretheLegendsRoam.”TheyhaveincludedtheBywayontheirwebsite,intheironlineitineraries,andinnumerousothermarketingefforts.
6. OneofthelargestcontributionstheHuerfanoCountyTourismBoardhasmadeistheTRAVELSTORYSmobilephoneapplication.ThisaudioappismarketedbytheHuerfanoTourismBoardontheirwebsiteandinalltheirmarketingcampaigns.ThetravelerdownloadsthisfreeappbeforetheytravelthroughtheScenicHighwayofLegends.Authenticstoriesandlocalhistoriesarenarratedbylocally-sourcedaudionarrators.Nointernetconnectionisneededoncetheappisdownloaded;viaGPSitrecognizestwenty-twopointsofinterest.Musicandnarrationandstartsplayingautomaticallywhenthevehicleisapproachingeachsite.
7. AlsobySpring2020theColoradoTourismOfficewilllauncha
microwebsitethatwillresidewithinwww.colorado.com,theState’spowerfultourismportal.Thisup-to-datewebpresenceforColorado’s26bywayshasbeenaccomplishedthroughapartnershipbetweentwostateagencies,theColoradoBywaysProgramandtheColoradoTourismOffice.TheScenicHighwayofLegendswillenjoyequalexposurewithColorado’sotherScenicandHistoricByways.ItwillbetheresponsibilityoftheBoardofDirectorstokeeptheSHOLpagesonthisstatewidesiteuptodatewithnewandinterestingphotos.TheBoardisalsoresponsibleforregularlyupdatingeventlistingsandcreatingfreetravel-relatedbusinesslistingsforColorado.com
Goemmer'sButte
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8. TheStonewallCenturyRideisachallenging100-milebicycleride
alongoneofColorado'smostbeautifulscenichighways.ParticipantscometoenjoysomeofthebesthighaltituderoadridinginSouthernColorado.2020willbethe17thyearofthiswell-establishedracethatbringsmuchattentiontotheSHOLfromseriousbicyclists.
9. MarketingFestivalsandSpecialEventsisananchorforthebyway,
astheysolidifythefeelingofcommunityforlocals,andcommunicatelocaldistinctivenessandauthenticityofplaceforvisitors.
FutureMarketingOpportunities-ColoradoTourismOfficeTheBywayswillcontinuetotakefulladvantageofalltheopportunitiesbeingofferedbytheColoradoTourismOffice(CTO)thatincludebutarenotlimitedtothefollowing:• EncouragingGoodStewardship:AdoptingandpromotingCarefor
Colorado(LeaveNoTrace)whichencouragesvisitorstobegoodstewardsoftheplacestheyvisit.
• Promotingbiking,walkingandhorsebackriding:Monitor,update
andpromotetrailsinformationfoundonCOTREX,Colorado’sOfficialTrailsApp.
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• BuildingVacationPlanningItineraries:SeasonallytheCTOsolicitsitinerariestotheColo-RoadTripswith2-10dayitinerariesonColorado.com.Everyitinerarydescribesadrivingvacationwithovernightstays,andgivesenoughdetailstomakeiteasyforvisitorstoplananamazingtriptosomewherethey'veneverbeen.TheCTOcreatedColorado-RoadTripin2017tohelpvisitorsfindtheirwaytoourstate'sless-visiteddestinationsandenjoyfamousplacesduringoff-peaktimesandseasons.ThisonlinecollectionofitinerariesispromotedintheCTO'snationwidemarketingcampaigns,intheirvisitorguidesandontheirVisitColoradoFacebookpage,whichsparksnearlytwicetheengagementofothercontentplatforms.
• CrisisRecoveryCommunicationsandTraining:TheColoradoTourismOffice(CTO)offersavarietyoftrainingsforpreparednessandrecoveryofassets.Wehaveusedtheseoverthepasttwoyearsofwildfiremanagement.
• MarketingGrants:TheCTO’sMarketingMatchingGrantProgramprovidesfundingtonot-for-ProfitorganizationsintheStateofColoradoforthepurposeofpromotingthestateoraregionasatourismdestination.Travelregionsthroughoutthestateareeligibleforthesegrantdollars,aswellasstatewideassociations,organizationsandothernonprofitentitiesthatengageinpromotingtravelthroughouttheentirestate.Thesegrantsarecompetitiveandareawardedannually.
• SocialMedia:TheCTOoffersthePaidSocialMediaCo-opAdvertisingprogramtoleveragethepoweroftheStateTourismOffice’ssocialchannelstoprovidemorewidespreaddistributionofpartnercontent.Theprogram’sstrategyistopromoteindustrypartnercontentontheCTO’ssocialmediachannelsandpushconsumerstocontentonpartnerpages/sites.Inaddition,theCTOofferstheopportunitynotonlytoincreasepartnerreachintothemarketplace,butalsotoinsurethatthepromotedcontentgoestothepartner’sspecifiedtargetaudiences.
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NewTargetMarketsfortheScenicHighwayofLegendsMostvisitorscometotheScenicHighwayofLegendsforscenicdrives,primarilytakingdaytoursbycar,motorcycle,orRVs,anddonotstayovernight.Wearereadytoexpandourmarketingreachtonewtypesoftravelerswhowillplantostayovernightandwhoareeagertoconnectwithourlocalresourcesinmorespecificways.AmateurandProfessionalGeologistsTheuniquegeologysurroundingtheSpanishPeakshasorganicallyattractedamateurandprofessionalgeologistsformanyyears.Wecantargetthisspecialtymarketbyhostingeducationalprogramsthroughone-on-onecontactwithuniversitiesdepartmentsandgeologyclubs.OutdoorRecreationParticipantsCurrentlythosevisitorswhocometotheScenicHighwayofLegendsforoutdoorrecreationalactivitiescometoenjoythetraditionalactivitiesoffishing,huntingandcamping.Hikingandbikingtrailsarecurrentlyonlylightlyused,howeverrecentannouncementsregardingtraildevelopmentonFishersPeakStateParkarea(aboveTrinidad)hasrousedinterestinbicyclistsfromalloverthestate.CreativeDistrictsandLoversoftheArtsTheStateofColoradohasdesignatedTrinidadasaCreativeDistrict,andthecityisengagedinrenovatingthreebuildingsonMainStreetforaSpacetoCreateprogramforworkingartists.TheLaVetaChamberiscurrentlyapplyingforthissameColoradoCreativeDistrict,designating,capitalizingonthefactthatLaVetahasmoreartgalleriesthatanyotherColoradotownofitssize,andhasbeencomparedfavorablybysometravelersassimilartheartenvironmentofSantaFe.
PartneringwithNeighboringBywaysFive-dayitinerariesonmultiplebywaysMostpeoplediscovertheScenicHighwayofLegendsviatravelonInterstate25andUSHighway160.ManyothersfindusontheirwaytotheGreatSandDunesNationalParkandPreserve(65miles).TheSHOLiscurrentlyworkingwiththreeotherbywaysintheregiontopromotea3-5day“roadslesstraveled”itinerary.TheProgramDirectoroftheColoradoBywayProgramisencouragingustoexpandthispromisingprogram.WearefortunatetobelocatedinaclusterofspectacularstateandNationalScenicByways.TheMountainBranchoftheSantaFeTrailNationalScenicBywaymeetstheScenicHighwayofLegendsinTrinidad,Colorado.LosCaminosAntiguosScenicandHistoricBywayis47milestothewestofintheSanLuisValley.FrontierPathwaysandGoldBeltTour,bothNationalScenicByways,are24and94milesrespectivielytothenorth.MarketingChallengesSecuringfundingtomaintainavibrantmarketingprogramforthisSouthernColoradoruralbywayhasbeenacontinuouschallenge.Ourspectacularmountainregionissparselypopulated,economicallyimpoverished,andhasnotyetenjoyedthefullbenefitsofColorado’sreputationasaworld-classtourismdestination.Roadconditionsalongthistwo-lanebywayaremaintainedataveryhighstandardandthebywayisopenyearround,yetfewbusinessesalongthebywaycanaffordtostayopenformorethansixmonthsayear.TheclosingoftheCucharaMountainSkiResort,onceathrivingtourismasset,hasanegativelyimpactedmanyofourmountainbywaycommunities.Alargepopulationofsecond-homeownersoncesupportedawiderangeoflocaltourismrelatedbusinesses,andhelpedsupportlocalbusinessesonayear-roundbasis.TherecentclosingoftheLaVetaGolfCoursehasbeenanotherfinancialblow.
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Themostintensepublicitytheareahasreceivedinthepast10yearshasbeenpressoveragecoverageduringthe2018SpringWildfire,thesecondlargestwildfireeverrecordedinColorado.BoththetownofLaVetaandtheMountainVillageofCucharawerecompletelyclosedforthedayssurroundingthe4thofJuly,theoneweekendwhenbywaycommunitiestraditionallydothemajorityoftheirsummerbusiness.ItbeendifficulttomakeupthatlossandeducateregionalvisitorsthatthelegendaryScenicHighwayofLegendsisstillasafeandspectacularscenicdrive.Asdocumentedabove,theScenicHighwayofLegendshasoperatedamarketingprogramusingastrategyofmaintainingmultiplepartnershipsandperpetualpursuitofgrantopportunities.Intruth,primarystrengthhasbeenmaintainedthroughsupportfromtheleadershipoftheColoradoBywaysProgram,throughopportunitiesofferedthroughthecompetitivegrantsprogramoftheFHWA’sNationalBywaysProgram,andthroughtheongoingadvocacyofScenicAmerica.
This audio tour for the Scenic Highway of
Legends received more visits the first month of its launch than two of the 2 national parks in the
area, making for a pleasing visitor experience. It has peaked the interest of other byways as well.
Jan Carrola, Wisconsin Scenic Byway Coordinator writes: “The Byways and the County did a really nice job with the pacing of the tour by interspersing the route’s history and legends with the geology or scenic/recreational assets. Often with History Geology, a traveler may not know
what they are looking at and this tour helped with that. The tour also did a nice job of tackling some
difficult matters, especially as it related to the coal mines”
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OUTDOORADVERTISINGSignagePlanTheStateScenicBywayhascompletedwayfindingassessmentsonallofColorado’s26byways.Ourswascompletedearlyintin2008.Atthattime,thestudyfoundthatourdirectionsignagefromCDOTwasexcellent,andtherepetitiveroutesigns(blueColumbine)thatappeareverytenmilesexcellent.Sincethatstudy,thebywayhasaddedsignageinfourcommunities,andhasanotherdozeninterpretivesignsscheduledtobeinstalledintheSpringof2020.Thebywayhassteadilybuiltitsinterpretivesignage,withthenextstepbeingtheexpansionoftheinformationsystemwithinterpretationspecificallyaddressingGeology,ourstrongestintrinsicvalue.Columbine/ScenicBywaySignageRegardingColumbine/ScenicBywaySignageontheSHOL,thenewBODwillassignateamtotakeaninventoryofcurrentconditionoftheColumbinesignagealongthebywaytofindoutwhatismissingaswellaswhatneedsrepair.
TheywillthenmakeaplanthetakesfulladvantageofthecolumbinesignageguidelinessetbyCDOT(seebelow)andincludeGPSlocationsforeach.ThatdocumentwillbesenttoCDOT’sDistrictEngineer’sofficeinPuebloforreviewandconcurrence.ThereareseveralopportunitieswiththisprogramfortheSHOL.GeneralColumbineSigningGuidelinesforScenicBywayonStateHighwayA.SignsonRoute
•ScenicBywaymarkeratbeginandendofroute.Assemblytoinclude“Begin”and“End”plaqueasappropriate.
•ScenicBywaymarkerwithdirectionalarrowatrightangleturnsoftheroute.
•ScenicBywaymarkerwithdirectionalarrowatallirregularturnsoftheroute
•ScenicBywayreassurancemarketaftermajorintersectionsandcountyroads.Maximumdistancebetweenreassurancemarketsshouldbeapproximately5miles-maximumdistanceof10
•Thenameofthescenicbywaywillbeincludedonallsign.
B.SignsonapproachroadstoscenicByway•ScenicBywaymarkerwithdirectionalarrow(s)atallStateHighwayintersections.
•ScenicBywayMarkerwithdirectionalarrow*(s)atmajorcountyroadintersectionswheretouristtrafficislikelytobeenteringtheStateHighway.
C.InterpretativesigningshallonlybeinstalledinrestareasoroverlooksandagreeduponbytheDistrictEngineer.
OthersignagenotrequiringaPermitfromCDOTA.On-premiseSignsB.DirectionalSignsthatare:
•Nolargerthan8squarefeetandtheadvertisefarms,ranches,nonprofiteducational,veterans,religious,chartableorcivilorganizations.
•Nolargerthan32squarefeet,thesolepurposeofwhichistoprovidedirectiontoindividualfarmsorranchesbywayofindividualSignsthatarenolargerthan8squarefeet
•ASignindicatingpublicutilityandnotadvertisingaproduct,includinginformationalSigns,notices,ormakers,erectedandmaintainedbyapublicorprivatepublicutilitycompany.
C.OfficialSigns
TouristOrientedDirectionalSigns(TODS)Understateandfederallaw,CDOTissuespermitsapprovingspecificinformationsigns(LOGO)oninterstates,freewaysandexpressways,andtourist-orienteddirectionalsigns(TODS)onnon-interstatehighways.Bothtypesofguidesignsmustmeetspecificstateandfederalrequirements,and—inthecaseofTODS—localrequirements.Photo:CucharaFoundation(Facebook)
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LOGOsignsprovideidentificationanddirectionalinformationtothetravelingpublicforeligiblebusinessesofferinggas,food,lodging,camping,24-hourpharmaciesandtouristattractionsnearinterstates,freewaysandexpressways.TODSprovidebusinessidentificationanddirectionalinformationfortourist-orientedactivitiesalongnon-interstatehighways.
Ruleshavebeenestablishedtogovernthesignprogramspursuanttostatute.
AneligiblebusinessmustapplyforapermittodisplayaLOGOorTODSplaqueonaCDOTsignstructure.CDOTreviewstheapplicationanddetermineseligibilityundertheFHWAManualonUniformTrafficControlDevices,andunder2CCR601-7,"RulesGoverningSpecificInformationSigns(LOGO)andTouristOrientedDirectionalSigns(TODS)OnStateHighways."Programfeesarebasedonaveragedailytrafficinbothsignprograms.
CONTACT:AnthonyLovatoOutdoorAdvertisingProgramManager303-512-4496anthony.lovato@state.co.usAllothernonconformingAdvertisingDeviceswouldrequireaCDOTPermitandarelikelytonotbepermittedontheSH.
ApaintingbyKathyHillillustratesthequaintnessofCuchara.
DogDaysofCuchara
LathropStatePark
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ROADWAYSAFETYANDMAINTENANCEOVERSIGHTTheScenicHighwayofLegendsBywayislocatedalongUS160andSH12betweenWalsenburgandTrinidad–adistanceofroughly82miles,providingalooproutebetweenthesegatewaycommunities.IncludedinthebywaydesignationisaspurrouteextendingfromSH12atCucharasPass(elevation9,941feet)overCordovaPass(elevation11,743feet)alongunimprovedCountyRoad46connectingwithAguilaratI-25,adistanceofroughly35miles.
Operationsandmaintenanceofthebywayisasfollows:
HighwaySegment(US160andSH12)–ThissegmentofthebywayisoperatedandmaintainedbyCDOTaspartofthestate’shighwaysystem.ThesectionofthebywayalongUS160,extendingfromWalsenburgtotheSH12intersection,isalsopartofthefederal-aidNationalHighwaySystem.CDOTmaintainsthebywayyearround.
Off-HighwaySegment(CountyRoad46)–ThissegmentofthebywayisoperatedandmaintainedbyLasAnimasCounty.Theroadwayisunimproved,suitableforoff-roadvehiclesandisclosedinthewinter.
GeneralDescriptionoftheRoadway
Thehighwaysegmentofthebywayisgenerallycharacterizedasatwo-laneruralhighwaythroughrollingtomountainousterrain.ExtendingwesterlyfromWalsenburgalongUS160,theroadwayalignmentgenerallyfollowstheCucharasRiverfloodplain.AttheUS160andSH12intersection,thebywayturnssouthalongSH12followingtheCucharasRivervalley,withmultiplecrossingsoftheriver,uptoCucharasPass.Nearthepass,thealignmentincludesmultipleswitchbackswithsteeperverticalgrades.Southofthepass,thealignmentcrossesmultipledrainagesanddescendsintothePurgatoireRiverValleynearStonewall.AtStonewall,thealignmentturnseasterly,followingthevalley,toitsterminusatTrinidad.
Throughoutthebyway’slength,theroadwaysection,postedspeed,andright-of-waywidtharehighlyvariable.Thefollowingprovidesageneraldescriptionoftheroadway:
PostedSpeed–Asshowninthefigure,thepostedspeedsalongthebywayrangefrom25mphto65mph.Slowerspeedlimitsare
postedwithinthevariouscommunities,withhigherlimitsalongtheruralandrollingsections.Withinthemountainoussectionofthebyway,postedspeedlimitsreflectthemoremeanderingalignment,rangingfrom35mphto50mphwithadvancedwarningsignageforsharpercurves.
LaneWidths–TypicallanewidthsalongUS160are12feetandalongSH12varyfrom10to12feet.The10feetlanewidthsoccurforashortstretchnearWeston.Traveledlanewidthsof10feetmaybeusediftheaveragedailytraffic(ADT)islessthan1,500vehiclesperdayandthedesignspeedislessthan35mph.
ShoulderWidths–Existingshoulderwidthsvarythroughoutthebyway.Asshownonthefigure,pavedshoulderwidthsrangefromzerototwofeetalongthemountainoussectionofthebyway,withlowertrafficvolumesandpostedspeeds,tosixtotenfeetalongportionsofUS160andmorerecentlyimprovedsectionsofSH12nearTrinidad.
Right-of-Way–Theright-of-wayalongthebywayisownedandmaintainedbyCDOT.Existingright-of-waywidthsvary
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considerablythroughoutthebyway.ExistingwidthsalongUS160rangebe-tween100and200feet.AlongSH12,theright-of-wayisnarrower,rangingbetween30and70feetnearCucharaandgenerally60to200feetelsewhere.
GeneralConditionoftheRoadwayandBridges
CDOTmaintainsthebyway’sroadwaysurfaceandbridgesinageneralstateofgoodrepair.US160andSH12haveanasphaltpavementsurfacethroughout.CDOT’sOnlineTransportationInformationSystem(OTIS)indicatestheremaininglifeoftheasphaltpavementvariesfrom0yearsto12years.Adrivabilitylifeofzerowasnotedforashortone-milesectionnearWalsenburgwiththerestofthebywayhavingadrivabilitylifeoffiveyearsorgreater.Inthefuture,assectionsoftheexistingpavementreachtheendoftheirservicelife,CDOTwillprovidepavementrehabilitationtomaintaintheroadway’sdrivingsurface.
ExistingbridgesalongthebywaywereidentifiedusingtheuniquebridgeidentifierassignedbyCDOT.CDOTregularlyinspectsbridgestoreviewtheircurrentconditions.Uponinspection,bridgesareassigneda
conditionratingrangingfrom“Good”to“Poor”andasufficiencyratingfromzeroto100per-cent.Sufficiencyratingsareanoverallratingofabridge’sabilitytoremaininservicebasedonthebridgefieldinspectionandevaluation.Onehundredpercentrepresentsanentirelysufficientbridgeandzeropercentadeficientorentirelyinsufficientbridge.
Bridgeelementsassignedaratinginclude
theridingsurface,thesuperstructure,andthesubstructure.ConditionratingsandsufficiencyratingswereobtainedfromOTIS.Allbridgesalongthebywaycurrentlyhaveaconditionratingof“Good”.Asshowninthefollowingtable,currentsufficiencyratingsrangefrom64.3%to99.1%.Overtime,asthesebridgesdeteriorate,CDOTwillrehabilitateorreplacethestructuretomaintainthebridgecrossing.
RoadwayDesignResources:2019CDOTVisualImpactAssessment(VIA)Guide2014CDOTLandscapeArchitectureManual
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BYWAYBRIDGES
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TRAFFICCHARACTERISTICS
Asshowninthefollowingfigures,alongUS160,2017dailytrafficvolumesvaryfrom3,700aver-ageannualdailytraffic(AADT)onthewestendto8,300AADTontheeastendinWalsenburg.
ThesevolumesrepresentVolumetoCapacity(V/C)ratios(ameasureofthevolumeoftrafficrelativetothecapacityofthehighwayatanacceptablelevelofservice)of0.29to0.65,respectively,withthevastmajorityofthesectionrepresentedbythelowerV/C
ratio.Alsoshown,dailytrafficvolumesalongSH12varyfrom630AADTto9,200AADTatthesouthernendofthebywayinTrinidad.ThesevolumesrepresentV/Cratiosrangingfrom0.07to0.47,withthevastmajorityofthebywayhavingaV/Cratiolessthan0.2.Asshown,thecapacitiesofbothUS160andSH12aremorethansufficientforcurrenttrafficvolumes.Itisanticipatedthatfuturetrafficgrowthwouldnotmeasurablychangethebyway’strafficoperations.
Therearepassingzonesatregularintervalsthroughoutthebyway.Therearealsoslowvehiclepulloutsatvariouslocations.AlongUS160areseveralpassinglanes,butnoneexistalongSH12.Asapercentageofthetotalvehiculartrafficvolume,thepercentageoftrucksrangesfrom3to19percentwithanaverageofapproximatelyeightpercent.US160isdesignatedanationaltruckrouteandcarriesmoretrucksandgenerallyahigherpercentageoftrucksthanSH12.
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SAFETYONTHESCENICHIGHWAYOFLEGENDS
Thecrashhistoryalongthebywayforthefive-yearperiodfromJanuary1st,2013throughDecember31st,2017,wascollectedandanalyzed.Thepurposeoftheexaminationwastolocatecrashclustersandidentifycrashcauses.
Atotalof367crasheswerereportedalongthesesectionsofUS160andSH12duringthefive-yearperiod–78crashesresultedin105injuries,fourcrashesresultedinfourfatalities,andtheremaining285crashesresultedinpropertydamageonly.Thefollowingtablesummarizesthenumberandseverityofcrashesoverthefive-year
studyperiod.Asshown,thenumberandseverityofcrasheshaveremainedrelativelyconstantfromyeartoyearduringthestudyperiod.Anincreaseintotalcrashesoccurredin2014,butsubsequentyearsreturnedtolevelssimilarto2013.Theincreasein2014wasduetoahighernumberofpropertydamageonlytypecrashes.
YearNumberofCrashes
Fatality Injury PDO1 Total
January2013-December2013 1 10 58 69
January2014-December2014 1 16 69 86
January2015-December2015 - 18 55 73
January2016-December2016 2 18 48 68
January2017-December2017 - 16 55 71
Total 4 78 285 367
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Therewerefourfatalcrashesalongthebywayduringthefive-yearstudyperiod.Thelocationsofthecrashesweredispersed.Threeofthefatalitiesoccurredalongacurve.Twofatalitiesinvolvedmotorcycles.Alcoholwasacontributingfactorintwofatalities.Allfourfatalitiesoccurredunderdryconditionsandwerenotinthevicinityofanintersection.Crashtypesandlightingconditionsvariedinallfour.
ThefollowinggraphsshowthechangeinWeightedCrashRate,thechangeinTotalNumberofCrashes,andthechangeintheNumberofWildAnimalCrashesalongUS160andSH12.TheWeightedCrashRatetakesintoaccounttheseverityofthecrashandtheAverageDailyTraffic(ADT)atthelocationsofthecrashes.Thegraphsreveallocationsofcrashconcentrationandseverityalongthebyway.
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SH12,MP0.00toMP70.83;1MileMovingSection,0.1Increments1/1/2013to12/31/2017
WEIGHTEDACCIDENTRATE
US160,MP294.00toMP305.38;+/-MileMovingSection,0.1Increments1/1/2013to12/31/2017
NUMBEROFACCIDENTS
US160,MP294.00toMP305.38;+/-MileMovingSection,0.1Increments1/1/2013to12/31/2017
NUMBEROFACCIDENTS
SH12,MP0.00toMP70.83;1MileMovingSection,0.1Increments1/1/2013to12/31/2017
NUMBEROFACCIDENTS
SH12,MP0.00toMP70.83;1MileMovingSection,0.1Increments1/1/2013to12/31/2017
NUMBEROFACCIDENTS
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Peaks intheweightedcrashratealongUS160 occurred atMP 294.8,MP 300.3, andMP305,asfollows:
♦ MP294.8isalittleoverahalf-milenortheastoftheSH12intersection.Thisareaexperiencedanalcoholrelatedfatality,twoinjurycrashesunderadverseweatherconditions,andsevenPDOcrashesofwhichfivewerewildanimaltypecrashes.
♦ TheMP300.3areaisnearCountyRoad504andtheWalsenburgReservoir.Fourteenofthe26crashesinthisarea,fromMP299.7toMP301,werewildanimaltypecrashes.Ofthose14,tenwereunderdarkorunlightedconditions.
♦ MP305encompassesthebywayinWalsenburg.Thirty-fourtotalcrashesoccurredinthisareaofwhich16wererear-endtypecrashesandsixwerebroadsidecrashes.Thesetypecrashesareconsistentwiththeincreaseinaccesspointsandthemoreurbannatureofthissection.
Peaks in theweighted crash rate alongSH 12 occurred at MP 4, MP 28, MP43.1,andMP55.4,asfollows:
♦ MP4islocatedneartheCucharasRiverjustnorthofLaVetaandhadaconcentrationofwildanimaltypecrashes.
♦ MP28islocatedinasharpcurvenearNorthLake.Thelocationexperienced7totalcrashes(3injuryand4PDO)ofwhichfourwereguardrailtypecrashes.Twooftheseveninjurycrashesinvolvedmotorcycles.
♦ MP43.1isnearCountyRoad21.6.ThisisalowADTlocationwithanS-curvewhichexperiencedfourtotalcrashes,butonewasafatalityandan-otherwasaninjury,bothofwhichinvolvedmotorcycles.
♦ MP55.4hadthehighestpeakinweightedcrashratealongSH12.Itencompassesapproximatelya2.3-milestretchfromMP53.8toMP56.1.SaracilloCanyon,PenItenteCanyon,SmithCanyon,andPrimeroCanyonarelocatedalongthisstretch.Ithad13totalcrashesofwhichsevenwerewildanimaltypecrashes.
Ananalysisofthebyway’sfive-yearcrashhistorywasperformedincomparisonto
othersimilarruraltwo-lanehighwayswithinColorado.Whiletherearesomelocationsofhighercrashconcentrations,assummarizedabove,overall,thebywayhasacrashhistorynotunlikeorbetterthantheaveragehistoryofothersimilarroutes.Safetyisnotasystematicproblemalongthebyway.However,thoughthesafetyhistoryissimilartootherroutes,improvementstothebywayattheidentifiedareasofhighercrashconcentrationscouldreducethecrashrisksandhazardsfortravelersalongthebyway.
SafetyandHighwayImprovements
CDOTandtheSouthCentralCouncilofGovernments,incoordinationwiththebyway’sboardandlocalstakeholders,areconductingaPlanningandEnvironmentalLinkages(PEL)Studyofthecorridoralongthebyway.Thepurposeofthestudyistoimprovehighwaysafetyandprovidearegionalandlocalmulti-usetrailalongthebywaybetweenWalsenburgandTrinidad.TheintentofthetrailimprovementsistocompletethemissinglinkbetweenWalsenburgandTrinidadfortheColoradoFrontRangeTrail(CFRT).ThePELStudyisexpectedtobecompletedinAugust2020.
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In2003,ColoradoStateParks,withthesupportofthecitizensofColoradoandstakeholders,initiatedtheCFRTtopromoteandconnecttheFrontRangecommunitiesandrecreationalassets.Uponcompletion,theCFRTwillbean876-mileshared-usetrailthatstretchesfromWyomingtoNewMexicoalongColorado’sFrontRange,providingacontinuousconnectionbetweenpopulationcentersandexistingandplannedtrailsystems.Itwillserveasakeynon-motorizedlinkagebetweencommunities,landscapes,parksandopenspace,recreationattractions,andotherpointsofinterestalongtheFrontRange.Assuch,itwillbeanimportantrecreationalandtransportationresourceandwillsupportColorado’stour-ism,heritage,healthandeconomy,includingtheby-way.TheCFRTMasterPlanandImplementationPlanwerecompletedbyColoradoStateParksin2007.Todate,over270milesofthetrailhavebeencompleted.Apreferredrouteforthetrailhasbeenplanned,includingthedesignationofthebywayasthepreferredroute;however,theCFRTdoesnotcurrentlyexistwithinthissegment.ThepurposeofthePELStudy,therefore,inadditiontosafetyimprovements,istoidentifythelocationof
theCFRTalongthebywayentailingalocationeitherdirectlyalongthebywaywithinCDOTright-of-wayoronarouteseparatefrombutnearthebyway.Whilenotyetcompleted,thePELStudywill
identifyrecommendedhighwaysafetyandtrailimprovementsforCDOTandlocalagenciestoimplementovertimeasfundingisavailable.Theseanticipatedimprovementsinclude:
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GENERALCORRIDOR-WIDESAFETYRECOMMENDATIONS
♦ Centerlinerumblestripshavebeeninstalledthroughoutmostofthebyway.ConsiderinstallingedgelinerumblestripsalongthebywaytoreducerunofftheroadcrashesperCDOTRoadwayDesignGuideCh14.
♦ Renewstripingandcheckretroreflectivityofallexistingsigns.
♦ Considerreplacingrigiddelineatorswithflexibledelineators.
♦ Reviewandcorrect,asnecessary,advancedcurvewarningsignsandchevrons.
♦ Conductaspotspeedstudytoevaluateappropriatenessofexistingpostedspeedlimits.
WildAnimalCrashes
Thehighestincidenceofcrashtypewaswildanimaltypecrashes,whichaccountedfor37%ofallcrashesalongthebywayandfarexceededothercrashtypes.Peaksinwildanimalcrashfrequencywerenotedinthevicinityofwatersourcessuchascanyons,rivers,andlakesthatwereincloseproximity
tothehighway.Thefollowinglocationswerenotedinparticular:
♦ MartinLaketoWalsenburgReservoir
♦ CucharasRivernorthofLaVeta
♦ PurgatoireRivereastofWeston
♦ ReillyCanyonandCarpiosCanyonnearTrinidadLake
Furtherstudyoftheselocationsisrecommendedtomitigatethehigherincidenceofwildanimalcrashes.Intheselocations,considerationshouldbegiventoconstructingdesignfeaturesorothermeasuresthatwillaccommodatewildlifemigrationpatterns.Con-siderconductingastudytounderstandwildlifemigrationalongthebywayanddeterminethemostcost-effectivemeasurestoreducewildanimalcollisions.
RoadwayConfigurations(LaneDepartureCrashes)-Thelackofsufficientshoulderwidthscanbeaprimarycontributortolanedeparturetypecrashes.Inordertoprovidevehiclesmoreroomforcorrectionifthey
leavethetraveledway,itisrecommendedthatimprovedshouldersbeprovidedasfollows:
Improvetheroadwayconfiguration,potentiallyincludingadditionalroadsideimprovementsand/orsignage,atlocationsofhigherconcentrationsoflanedeparturecrashesincluding:
♦ SharpcurvejustsoutheastofNorthLake
♦ Aroughlyone-milesectionneartheintersectionwithCountyRoad21.6nearVigil
♦ Aroughlytwo-milesectionbetweenMilePost(MP)53.8and56.1nearSegundo
TransitionZones(Rear-endCrashes)–Improvetheroadwayatlocationswithhigherconcentrationsofrear-endcrashesincluding:
♦ NearandwestofWalsenburg(aroundMP305)
♦ WithintheCommunityofJansen(MP67.9toMP69.1)
♦ WithintheCityofTrinidadattheSantaFeandMainStreetintersection
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BicyclingSafety
Therearenodesignatedbicyclefacilitiesalongthebyway.Toimprovebicyclingsafety,inadditiontoshoulderwideningforlanedeparturecrashes,improvementswouldinclude:
♦ Widenexistingbridgeshoulderwidthstoeliminatelocalizednarrowingofshouldersforbicyclistsaccordingtoadjoiningroadwayshoulderwidthrecommendations.
♦ Provideadditionalprovisionsforbicyclistssuchassigns:1)BicyclistonRoadnext10Miles,2)3FttoPass,and3)Bicylisttakelaneand/orpavementtreatments,suchaspaintedbuffersand/orpavementmarkings.
PedestrianCrossingSafety
EvaluateandconsiderpedestrianSH12crossingsafetyimprovementsinLaVeta,CucharaandStonewall.UtilizeguidancefromColoradoDowntownStreetsGuide.
Multi-useTrailImprovementRecommendationsProvideaneight-footwidemulti-usetrailalongthebywaycorridorconnectingwithLathropStateParktothenorthandTrinidad
LakeStateParktothesouth.Thealignmentofthetrailwouldbeeitheralongthebywaycorridor,withintheCDOTright-of-way,eitherintegratedintotheroadwayshouldersorasaseparatedtrail,oralonganindependentalignmentseparatefrombutnearthebyway,suchasaNationalRecreationTrail.
HighwayVisitorInformation
ThereareanumberofsourceswheretravelerscanfindoutmoreabouttheHighwayofLegendsandthesurroundingarea.Iftravelinginthearea,thebestchoicewouldbethevisitorcentersatthegatewaycities.Thesetwovisitorcentersareopenyearround:
• TheSpanishPeaksCountryVisitorCenter,401MainSt,Walsenburg,Colorado
• ColoradoVisitorCenterinTrinidad,309NevadaAve.,TrinidadColorado
OtherOnlineSources
• RequestaFREESpanishPeaksCountryVisitor'sGuidefromwww.SpanishPeaksCountry.com
• DownloadtheTRAVELSTORYSaudioAppforafullGPSactivatedtouroftheBywayhttp://travelstorys.com/tours/105/Highway%20of%20Legends
• Visitwww.Visittrinidadcolorado.com
• Visithttps://www.lavetacucharachamber.com
• Searchhttps://thecucharamountainpark.org/colorado.com
• Findanitinerarywww.colorado.com/colo-road-trips
• SearchaGuidetoallofColorado’sScenicBywayshttps://www.colorado.com/articles/quick-guide-colorados-scenic-historic-byways
InformationonOTISOnlineTransportationInformationSystem(OTIS)providesvaluableinformationforthemanagementandoversightofthebyway.Informationprovidedincludescurrentandprojectedtrafficvolumes,statehighwayattributes,summaryroadwaystatistics,andgeographicdata.Thesedataprovideinsightsonthegeneraloperatingandphysicalconditionsofthebywayfortransportationplanningandprojectdevelopmentactivities.Ingeneral,thisrepositoryandportalishelpfulformanagingthebywayandisnotaprimarysourceofinformationforvisitorstothebyway.
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ANEWERALaunchingtheNewEra:OrganizationalChangesThePELBike/PedStudyandtheopportunityfortheSHOLtoapplyfordesignationasaNationalScenicBywayisgeneratinginterestfromlocalstakeholderswhowanttobeapartofthesefreshlocalinitiatives.Thiseagernesstoparticipateisanewdynamic,onewhichgivespausetoaleadershipteamthatknowshowlongtheorganizationhasstruggledtosustainlastingcommitmentsfromBoardMembers,andfailedtoraiseoperationalfundsfrommembershipsfrombusinessesstakeholdersonthebyway.Goingforward,Boardmemberswillkeepthebywayfrontandcenterinthemindsandheartsofthecommunity.Theywilloverseethesubcommitteesandmaintainanongoingpublicinvolvementprogramthatwillceaselesslyattractnewinterestfromindividualswhoarewillingtosharetheirtalents.AllmembersoftheBoardwillbeexpectedtohelpseekfundingthatwillinsurethelong-termsustainabilityofthebywayandhelpspearheademergingnewinitiatives.
TheBoardiscurrentlystudyingafundingmodelthathasbeenusedsuccessfullybytheWestElkLoopByway(WELB).Theyhaveidentifiedanddevelopedpartnershipswiththosewhohavethemosttogainfromthebywayanditsvisitors-thecountyandcitygovernments,tourismboardsandchambersofcommerce.TogethertheyhavedeterminedafairandmanageableamountthateachagencycanpayannuallyandtheyareinvoicefortheamounteachJanuary.Webelievethatthisapproachcouldgenerate$5,000annuallyfortheuseforoperatingcosts,andsomematchingfunds.TheBoardCorporate“Champion”donorwillalsobeconsidered.OTHERMODELSBEINGCONSIDEREDATourismBusinessImprovementDistrict:Thispublic/privateapproachhasbeenusedsuccessfullybyFremontAdventureRecreation(FAR)inFremontCounty.BusinessesaroundFremontCountyelecttoadda1%donationontotheircustomer'sbill.(Customers,inturn,havetheoptiontooptoutofthedonation.)
ContributionsarethendistributeddirectlytoFAR.Allmoniescollectedfromthese1%donationsarecollectivelyusedtofundtrailsandoutdoorrecreationintheRoyalGorgeRegion.The1%ForTrailsinitiativefundsallthingstrailsandoutdoorrecreation:matchingfundsforgrants,grantwriting,trailbuilding,traildesign,andmore.FARalsocontributestolocaleffortstomarkettoandencourageusersofsingle-tracktrails.CountyGovernmentsBothHuerfanoandTrinidad’sTourismBoardshavehelpedinthepastwithgrantmatchesonacase-by-case.Wewillcontinuetonurturetheserelationships.ATourismImprovementDistrict(TID)isanindustry-ledfundingmodelinwhichtourismbusinessescontributetowardsacommonfund.Fundsaregeneratedwithaself-assessedfeethatiscollectedbyaprivatebody,typicallyaDestinationMarketingOrganization(DMO).
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ATIDdiffersfromaTourismOccupancyTax(TOT)orbedtax,inthatitusesanassessment(notatax)andthecollectedfundsarerequiredtobeallocatedtoaspecificpurpose.TIDsvaryinstructure.Mostincludeaself-assessedhotelfee,butmanyTIDsalsoincludeothersectorslikerentalcar,attractionsandfoodservicesectors.ParticipationintheseTIDscanbecompulsoryornon-compulsoryforlocalindustrymembers.GoFundMeAccountsOurSisterStateBywayinSapporo,Japanhasusedthisformoffundingandaremostenthusiasticabouttheirsuccesses.Ithasgivenusersachancetopayforthepleasureofusingaspecificbyway.Itrequiresaverywellmanagedactivesocialmediaprogram.
ElFandangodancer,memberofoneofColorado'soldestFolkloricogroup