(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The City of Pueblo is addressing concerns within economic challenges and concerns that may constrict growth, specifically across the Pueblo Boulevard corridor.
Earlier in March, former City Councilmember and local real estate broker Randy Thurston and Derrick Martinez, an out-of-state developer of a new Starbucks project, raised concerns over the challenges developers are facing along the Pueblo Boulevard corridor between I-25 and Prairie Avenue. The City claims that the challenges stem from the permitting and access requirements imposed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).
“Pueblo is open for business, and we will not sit idly by while regulatory hurdles stall the growth our community deserves,” said Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham. “We recognize the unique and often burdensome or costly requirements that come with development along a state highway, and we are working diligently to help developers meet those challenges head-on.”
According to the City, CDOT has cited safety and operational concerns along the corridor and said that no additional traffic can be permitted without upgrades to the roadway, including raised medians, new signals, turn lanes, and other traffic improvements.
“There is a safety-critical process that must be followed as required by the State Highway Access Code,” said CDOT. “For any state highway in Colorado, developers are required to complete an analysis to ensure that road access is safe and enables the ongoing flow of traffic after construction.”
CDOT said it applies the State Highway Access Code “fairly and consistently” across all municipalities. CDOT further mentioned that officials meet with City leaders regularly to ensure all applications for highway access follow important safety framework and steps, which must be taken before building a project requiring access to a state or highway.
The City said that while they understand CDOT’s responsibility to safe roads, they were concerned that the agency’s “rigid application” of the State Highway Access Code inhibited much-needed development, driving up costs and risking the loss of commercial projects and tax revenue.
“From site-level coordination to broader policy discussions, we’re focused on creating an environment where development can happen responsibly but also feasibly,” said Director of Public Works Andrew Hayes. “The City is evaluating every available funding mechanism to support infrastructure investment where it’s needed most.”
According to the City, leadership, along with the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority (PURA) and the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO), have been working to identify and secure public resources to offset infrastructure costs along the corridor.
“We are always happy to work with private partners to ensure that this process is as streamlined as possible,” said CDOT. “The analysis is vital for preventing dangerous traffic accidents on fast-moving roads. It is important that it be completed prior to granting access permits, as we work to make Colorado’s roads safer for everyone.”
