Southern Ute Indian Tribe
IACAP Introduction
In June 2006, the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council reviewed and approved the Tribe's Long Range Transportation Plan update, which identified approximately a dozen transportation improvements needed along, or near, Colorado State Highway 172. At that time, the Tribal Council also considered new development and newly proposed development, both tribal and non-tribal, that could potentially impact the Highway 172 corridor. Recognizing the range and scope of these potential impacts, the Tribal Council authorized the development of a corridor access plan for the Highway 172 corridor. The Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council recognizes that such a planning process includes numerous "stakeholders", including both tribal and non-tribal governmental entities and public. As a result, the Tribal Council invited the Town of Ignacio, La Plata County, and CDOT Region 5, to join in promoting and financially supporting the development of a comprehensive planning document, which has become known as the Ignacio Area Corridor Access Plan. The proposed study area extends from the Sky Ute Casino Resort on the north, south on Highway 172 through Ignacio to just beyond the intersection of Highway 172 and La Plata County Road 318. A portion of La Plata County Road 517, from Highway 172, to just past Howe Drive and a portion of Highway 151, from Highway 172, to just east of Buck Highway, are also included in the study area.
Stakeholder Meeting
This cooperative venture required the development and approval of a Memorandum of Agreement executed by all the participating governmental entities. The planning process will take from eight months to a year and was anticipated to begin in late summer 2010.
This comprehensive and collaborative planning effort is a landmark as it marks the first time that the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Colorado Department of Transportation, La Plata County and the Town of Ignacio have entered into a collaborative agreement to work together on such an extensive transportation planning project.
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