March 19, 2015 VOLU M E 1 4 | I S SUE 9
LoneTreeVoice.net D O U G L A S C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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Weather leaves damage to trees Experts urge residents to delay decision to prune evergreens By Jane Reuter
jreuter @coloradocommunitymedia.com
Passengers exit the light rail at the County Line Station at Park Meadows mall. A new RidgeGate stop will bring passengers farther into Lone Tree and allow access to the Sky Ridge Medical Center. Photos by Mike DiFerdinando
Light rail extension gains steam County funds will help link RidgeGate to transit system By Mike DiFerdinando
mdiferdinando @coloradocommunitymedia.com Light rail has taken another step toward extending farther south into Douglas County. The county commissioners recently approved an intergovernmental agreement between the county, the City of Lone Tree and other area stakeholders to contribute a shared total of $25 million toward completion of RTD’s Southeast Light Rail Line — extending it south from Lincoln Station to the proposed RidgeGate Station. The project is expected to break ground in the spring or summer of 2016 and be completed in 2019. The rail extension project will — Projected total help provide an for the Southeast alternative to veRail Line expansion hicular traffic on Interstate 25 and alleviate conges— Maximum tion in the growing amount Douglas area, said County County will contribute to the Commissioner project over the Roger Partridge. next three years “We try to be proactive with — these things,” ParNumber of parking tridge said. spaces that will be Construction of at the Park-n-Ride the line is depenstation at RidgeGate dent on approval of federal funds, — Miles of according to Kent track the Southeast Bagley, Regional Rail Line will Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n occupy after the District director extension for District H. President Obama’s federal budget for 2016 includes $92 million for the Southeast Rail Extension as one of the projects recommended for Federal Transit Administration New Starts grants. The budget must be confirmed by Congress. The $207 million project is part of RTD’s voter-approved FasTracks program and will bring 2.3 miles of new track and three
BY THE NUMBERS
$207 million $7.3 million
1,300
22.4
An early November 2014 cold snap did more than send Front Range residents scrambling for their parkas. It also took trees by surprise. Evidence of that is showing up now in evergreens bearing brown-tipped or solid brown needles. But whether evergreens and even deciduous trees will suffer longterm damage remains to be seen. And that means homeowners shouldn’t make any hasty decisions or do extensive pruning of dull-looking trees, forestry experts say. “We’re encouraging folks to wait until April,” said Lone Tree city forester Julius Zsako. “If you see some kind of damage to your tree from the evergreen burn, wait. “There are two alternatives: One alternative is that branch now is dead; the other is the branch is going to produce new growth that will mask that damaged part of the tree. That (latter alternative) is what we’re hoping.” The brown needles are the result of a bizarre temperature fluctuation that occurred Nov. 10. That day, the morning high was 58 degrees, and the late-day low was 16 degrees. Temperatures continued to plummet to below zero in days that followed. Temperatures typically step down gradually, and trees acclimate as they do so. Moisture that typically is withdrawn from tree needles with cooler temperatures froze during the rapid temperature change, killing the needles. “Some trees were really heavily affected, especially new plantings and trees in open areas,” horticulture agent Jane Rozum of the Colorado State University Extension Office said. “Those brown needles will stay Trees continues on Page 5
An RTD train pulls into the County Line Station at Park Meadows mall. RTD plans to extend service south to a new station at RidgeGate.
HEADING FARTHER SOUTH?
WHAT ABOUT THE WEST LINE?
Castle Rock is not part of the Regional Transportation District. The town declined to put itself in consideration for a light rail station in the mid-2000s, so it is unlikely RTD will extend any farther south into Douglas County, County Commissioner Roger Partridge said.
It is possible the Southwest Line could be extended south from Littleton’s Mineral Station to a future end-of-the line station at Lucent Boulevard and C-470 in Highlands Ranch. That project has been talked about for years but has not gained the same type of momentum as the Southeast Line extension.
stations. The new end-of-line station at RidgeGate will have a Park-n-Ride facility. “The City of Lone Tree has worked extremely hard on this project with RTD, and with the help of the county and other partners,” Partridge said. “The transportation needs of citizens and taxpayers will be better met.” Once the project is completed, people will be able to travel on one train from the RidgeGate station via the I-225 Rail Line through Aurora to Peoria Station and connect to the commuter train to Denver International Airport — or stay on one train and travel to Union Station in downtown Denver.
According to Director Kent Bagley, RTD has invested $25 million into the Southwest Line extension, which includes property acquisition at Lucent Station, planning and engineering for the station and purchase of light rail vehicles. However, more funding is still needed before the project can get off the ground.
In addition to the $25 million IGA, $15 million in right-of-way permits and other in-kind contributions will be given. Coventry Development, the owner of the RidgeGate development, has agreed to provide land for right-of-way and light rail stations at no cost.
Lone Tree city forester Julius Zsako surveys evergreen burn on a recently planted tree off RidgeGate Parkway in Lone Tree. Trees along the Front Range suffered the damage after a November cold snap. Photo by Jane Reuter