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J UL -~U `_'~ 1`j:~Jl FHUPI: HHHH lil'd5.Td3~~1 IU: D1EECiUFS UFF U_E F,'Fbt:U4 <br />• • <br />The analysis of the truck transportation operations for this mine requires close review of the <br />engine~:ring feasibility of the Arkansas River Bridge to handle the weight and the intense level oCvery <br />intense year arormd heavy truck use, approximately 28,g24 vehicles per yeaz, using proposal figures. <br />The related impacts of not having ingress and egress lanes on US Hwy 50 for this level of traffic needs <br />to be analyzed. AHRA in concert with the CDOT have placed additional lanes at our busiest <br />recreation setts along Highway 50 to mitigate these impacts. At Pericdale Recreation Site in the last <br />several years alone, CDOT has spent over 51,000,000 on aceeleratioNdecelera[ioo and tom lanes. <br />Given the unkne»vn status of the Union Pacific Railroad at this time, it seems premature to place <br />complete reliance on the transportation of product almost entirely upon potentially unavailable rail <br />service. The decision by the Governor, the Union Pacific, and the US Surfaco Transportation Board <br />has yet to be made regarding the future of the mil condor. tt is possible that freight service in [he <br />Royal Gorge will become a reality. I[ is equally possible that if there is no railroad operator found to <br />operate the entire corridor that a rails to trails program maybe implemented as well. IFso, the <br />Parkdale siding will become one ofthe major trtilheads for this rail tinil. In oddition, this same veil <br />siding may become a scenic rail line train depot for rail service in the Royal Gorge if this occurs. The <br />potential scenic railroad would operate between Parkdale and tha Canon City Depot. <br />No rail service would place an immense and undiscussed number of additional heavy vehicles on <br />Hiway 50. <br />Conclusion <br />With the possibility that AHRA may be asked to manage trail head operations in addition to the <br />existing Parkdale Recreation Site, and a scenic rail operator, i.e. Royal Gorge Scenic Rail Lines, may <br />be involved intensively at or around tht Parkdale rail siding area, a large scale gravel operation will <br />requiru close review and coordination with existing aigni5eantly valuable recreation activity. <br />Altogether, the overall impacts of an aggregate mino in the proposed location and operated as described <br />has the very real potential of signi6earrtly and harmfully impacting critical resources, valuable <br />recreation opportunities, and highway safety. With coordination and a willingness to work together, it <br />may be possible to resolve these issues to everyone's satisfaction. The described issues need to be <br />resolved before a Conditional Use Permit is issued. <br />Thank you for the opportunity to provide input in[o this process. <br />monogeme/f/prkdlmin <br />Pegs 3 <br />