Eminent Domain Issues:

I want to sell my property; what should I do?

We would be happy to talk with anyone interested in selling their property within the corridor, although it will be many months before conversations about selling property will begin. We are maintaining a confidential list of willing property sellers. If you have such an interest, please contact us at 1-800-977-8393 or indicate that you are interested in selling your property on our online comment form.

Does the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express have the power of eminent domain?

No. Colorado law prohibits private toll road companies from having eminent domain power for highway projects.

Can this project be built without the use of eminent domain authority?

Yes, depending on the willingness of property owners within the final 1,200-foot alignment to sell their property for fair market value.

Will the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express destroy any structures?

The final alignment of the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express will avoid schools, churches, and cemeteries. The final alignment will avoid other structures wherever possible.

General Project Questions

What is the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express?

The Prairie Falcon Parkway Express is a multi-modal transportation corridor, including a four-lane, median-divided toll highway, dual-track railroad, utilities corridor, and associated rights-of-way connecting the following seven Colorado counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Elbert, El Paso, Pueblo, Larimer, and Weld. The project is planned to begin approximately 13 to 16 miles north of Fort Collins (connecting to I-25) and will terminate approximately seven to 10 miles south of Pueblo (connecting to I-25).  The vast majority of the corridor will be located approximately 25 to 28 miles east of and roughly parallel to I-25.

Why is the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express necessary?

There are approximately 4.7 million living in Colorado. Over three and a half million people live on Colorado’s Front Range and this population is expected to continue to grow.  However, there is currently only one major north-south highway, Interstate 25, and only one major north-south railroad line through this growing region. To meet the increasing demands for passenger and local commuter travel, commercial transport, and rail activity, another corridor is needed now and for the future.  The Prairie Falcon Parkway Express will be designed to meet those future demands.

How wide will the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express project be?

The project is in its engineering and design phase; however, initial designs indicate that the project itself will be about 1,200 feet wide.

How much will the project cost?

The Prairie Falcon Parkway Express is expected to cost between two and three billion dollars.  Costs may increase depending on final design and on the price of materials needed to construct the project. 

Who will pay for the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express?

The Prairie Falcon Parkway Express is a privately funded project.

Why can’t government finance this project?

Federal, state, and local government‘s ability to fund necessary transportation capacity improvements is severely limited.

• First, the T.A.B.O.R. amendment limits the amount that the state can spend year to year on its budget. This funding restriction severely limits the state’s ability to fund major new transportation projects and capacity improvements.  
• Second, the Colorado constitution prohibits the state from borrowing money and issuing debt without voter approval. As a practical matter, the state does not have the bonding capacity to finance such a large project; therefore, it is doubtful that the state could ever finance this project

Construction Issues:

When will construction begin?

The project cannot begin construction until the environmental analysis occurs and the required governmental and public reviews take place as required by Colorado law. This process will take many months, if not years, to complete. Most of the required provisions were put forward in a 2006 Legislative Act (House Bill 1003). To view this bill and the entire approval process, click here.

How long will it take to construct the Prairie Falcon Parkway Express?

After completion of the engineering and design work for the toll road and after all environmental studies have been completed, the project will then be reviewed by the relevant planning and regulatory agencies.  Upon approval of the project by these agencies and completion of the land acquisition, construction would then begin.  We anticipate that the actual construction would take two and a half to three years.

Why is the corridor three miles wide?

State legislation requires that we designate a corridor three miles wide for study and evaluation purposes.  The final alignment of the project will be only about 1200 feet wide – approximately two city blocks wide.  

Environmental Issues:

I want to preserve my land through a conservation easement; what do I do?

The donation of conservation easements is one way to provide for open space and wildlife protection opportunities as part of the toll road project.  We are starting to compile lists of properties that have important open space and wildlife habitat values.  Any such purchase will only be through a willing seller arrangement.  If you have any interest in exploring a conservation easement, please contact us at 1-800-977-8393 or indicate your interest on our online comment form.  

Official Property Owner Notification Questions:

If I received a certified letter with the “Official Property Owner Notice” heading, does that mean my property will be used for project?

No.  The corridor is approximately three miles wide; however, the final alignment will be only 1200 feet wide. The Prairie Falcon Parkway Express Co. mailed certified letters to all property owners located within the three-mile wide corridor as required by Colorado law.

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