Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Monday November 30th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. Today, we’re discussing the prioritization of wildlife in The Gap expansion.

 

Before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we take you back to November 30th, 1994 when the federal government’s highest-security prison, known as Supermax in Fremont County, admitted its first inmates. It was nicknamed the Alcatraxz of the Rockies, and it secures the nation’s worst offenders under lock and key. 

 

And now, our feature story. 

 

It’s a picturesque and remarkable feat of preservation. Meandering plains, mountains and meadows reflect the fruits of a decades-long effort to link massive, contiguous public and private parcels along a 5- to 8-mile-wide corridor -- roughly from Monument Hill north to Larkspur, wrapped in expansive conservation easements, protected habitat and, to the west, Pike National Forest. 

 

It teems with wildlife. There’s a herd of elk on billionaire John Malone’s Harmony Ranch that can range from 350-500 animals. 

 

Countless Front Range motorists may not know these details, but they’re more than a little familiar with the landscape: Their vehicles slice through it every time they buzz down that busy stretch of Interstate 25. 

 

And that’s been a problem -- both for drivers surprised by deer in the headlights and the wildlife that has risked becoming roadkill. With the Colorado Department of Transportation’s current project to widen an 18-mile stretch known as The Gap, motorists and wildlife would have made for an even more toxic mix.

 

That’s where about $20 million of the $350 million project come into play. 

 

Colorado Sun reporter Kevin Simpson is joining us today to talk more about the project. 

 

Great to have you joining us, Kevin, can you start off here by telling us how $20 million of this project got set aside specifically to deal with wildlife mitigation?

 

Kevin clip 00:00 - 00:44

 

And how difficult was it to get this data?

 

Kevin clip 00:44 - 01:22

 

So, can you talk more about how that data helped the project's effort to get a slice of the funding? 

 

Kevin clip 01:22 - 01:45

 

Right, and what went into the planning besides this data?

 

Kevin clip 01:45 - 02:32

 

So, how about these mitigation efforts? What are engineers doing to fix these problems?

 

Kevin clip 02:32 - end

 

Thank you so much for your time, Kevin. 

 

And thank you all for listening. Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:

 

Democrats, who are in the majority, are prioritizing eight bills for the lawmaking term. The aid totals about $200 million, with an additional $100 million to help Colorado's public health response.

-

Polis on Wednesday announced that he was entering quarantine after being exposed to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus

-

With no action by Congress, Colorado and other states are racing to offer coronavirus aid.

-

The federal Lifeline program provides $9.25 to low-income consumers for wireless or broadband service. But the FCC’s upgrade on Dec. 1 may leave some CenturyLink or mobile customers behind -- and with higher bills.

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. 

 

And remember, The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again next time.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Monday November 30th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. Today, we&rsquo;re discussing the prioritization of wildlife in The Gap expansion.
&nbsp;
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
&nbsp;
Today, we take you back to November 30th, 1994 when the federal government&rsquo;s highest-security prison, known as Supermax in Fremont County, admitted its first inmates. It was nicknamed the Alcatraxz of the Rockies, and it secures the nation&rsquo;s worst offenders under lock and key.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And now, our feature story.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s a picturesque and remarkable feat of preservation. Meandering plains, mountains and meadows reflect the fruits of a decades-long effort to link massive, contiguous public and private parcels along a 5- to 8-mile-wide corridor -- roughly from Monument Hill north to Larkspur, wrapped in expansive conservation easements, protected habitat and, to the west, Pike National Forest.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
It teems with wildlife. There&rsquo;s a herd of elk on billionaire John Malone&rsquo;s Harmony Ranch that can range from 350-500 animals.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Countless Front Range motorists may not know these details, but they&rsquo;re more than a little familiar with the landscape: Their vehicles slice through it every time they buzz down that busy stretch of Interstate 25.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And that&rsquo;s been a problem -- both for drivers surprised by deer in the headlights and the wildlife that has risked becoming roadkill. With the Colorado Department of Transportation&rsquo;s current project to widen an 18-mile stretch known as The Gap, motorists and wildlife would have made for an even more toxic mix.
&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s where about $20 million of the $350 million project come into play.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Colorado Sun reporter Kevin Simpson is joining us today to talk more about the project.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Great to have you joining us, Kevin, can you start off here by telling us how $20 million of this project got set aside specifically to deal with wildlife mitigation?
&nbsp;
Kevin clip 00:00 - 00:44
&nbsp;
And how difficult was it to get this data?
&nbsp;
Kevin clip 00:44 - 01:22
&nbsp;
So, can you talk more about how that data helped the project's effort to get a slice of the funding?&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Kevin clip 01:22 - 01:45
&nbsp;
Right, and what went into the planning besides this data?
&nbsp;
Kevin clip 01:45 - 02:32
&nbsp;
So, how about these mitigation efforts? What are engineers doing to fix these problems?
&nbsp;
Kevin clip 02:32 - end
&nbsp;
Thank you so much for your time, Kevin.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And thank you all for listening. Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:
&nbsp;
Democrats, who are in the majority, are prioritizing eight bills for the lawmaking term. The aid totals about $200 million, with an additional $100 million to help Colorado's public health response.
-
Polis on Wednesday announced that he was entering quarantine after being exposed to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus
-
With no action by Congress, Colorado and other states are racing to offer coronavirus aid.
-
The federal Lifeline program provides $9.25 to low-income consumers for wireless or broadband service. But the FCC&rsquo;s upgrade on Dec. 1 may leave some CenturyLink or mobile customers behind -- and with higher bills.
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And remember, The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.
&nbsp;
Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you&rsquo;ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again next time.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

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