To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
Title
Update: 2026 Major Projects List
Body
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Discussion
As the new year begins, it is helpful to set out a forecast of 2026 major projects. As with any forecast, the below list is subject to change; staff will keep Council apprised to any needed adjustments on these items as the year unfolds.
More broadly, this list will serve as the outline for the major projects updates staff will share quarterly with Council and the community. Council should understand that, while this list reflects ongoing projects and items authorized by the Adopted 2026 Budget, Council may alter this list going forward.
This major project list, much like development and adoption of the Town’s annual budget, follows our established Town priorities - including the new 2026 priority conserve our open space.
Town priority: Manage Town finances conservatively
Continue to manage revenues and expenditures conservatively, with projected modest sales tax growth
Upgrade the Town’s financial system
Complete a study of the Town’s development impact fees and adjust them according to anticipated needs
Fund employee compensation at an average 5% performance-based increase for general employees, with an average of 7.5% budgeted for public safety personnel
Meet benefit needs, including substantial cost increases for employees’ health insurance and the Town’s property, liability and workers’ compensation costs
Town priority: Ensure outstanding public safety
Add three Fire and Rescue positions - a firefighter/EMT, a fire prevention officer and an administrative assistant
Add three Police positions - a traffic officer, a commander and a deputy chief
Continue the Drone as First Responders program; purchase regional SWAT equipment and vehicles for Police, along with funding software improvements; and conduct a conceptual space study for long-term Police Department needs
Continue design and begin construction of Fire Station 156 on Castle Oaks Drive, which is estimated to cost $21 million and will include a logistics facility; and continue funding for wildland fire mitigation and wildland protective equipment, along with vehicle acquisition, hydraulic extrication tools, mechanical chest-compression (LUCAS) devices and training tower maintenance
Town priority: Enhance our roads
Continue construction on the Town’s top infrastructure priority, the new interchange on Interstate 25 at Crystal Valley Parkway; as part of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s requirements for the interchange, the 2026 Budget includes funding for a park-and-ride lot to be constructed on Town-owned property near the interchange
Continue construction on improvements to Crowfoot Valley Road east of Knobcone Drive and on Phase 1 of Fifth Street improvements west of the Four Corners intersection
Design intersection improvements at Mikelson and Enderud boulevards, work with CDOT to improve the intersection of Founders Parkway and Avenida del Sol, and construct a traffic signal at Founders Parkway and Crimson Sky Drive
Complete an aggressive annual Pavement Maintenance Program, focused in 2026 on northern Castle Rock, with a budget of $19 million
Add two street maintenance technicians and include funding for a sign technician vehicle and street marking
Town priority: Secure our water future
Continue projects, programs and policies to advance the goal of securing 75% renewable water by 2050; reducing per-capita water consumption to 100 gallons per day; and maintaining affordable rates and fees, including:
• Continue work to double the capacity of the Plum Creek Water Purification Facility, which is
focused on renewable and reusable water supplies (multiyear project into 2028)
• Continue progress in the long-term water plan on the WISE project, including planning and design on a desalination facility; and on the Chatfield Reallocation, Box Elder and Platte Valley Water Partnership projects (multiyear projects past 2030)
• Construct the Coloradoscape Demonstration Garden to encourage water conservation and beautiful, sustainable landscapes
• Continue to implement advanced metering infrastructure (multiyear project into 2027)
• Upgrade pumping and control system equipment (multiyear project into 2029)
Construct the Front Street to Downtown Potable Waterline Connection, the South Well Field Raw Water Pipeline and upgrade filters at the Meadows and Miller water treatment plants
Construct the Sedalia lift station and force main
Rehabilitate the Castlewood Ranch lift station; the Plum Creek Water Reclamation Authority Reuse Reservoir and the pump station that serves Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course; and the sewer system in Escavera
Rebuild the Paintbrush Park pond and stabilize associated stream channel; rehabilitate storm sewers based on the results of video inspections in central and Downtown Castle Rock; and address additional stormwater infrastructure needs caused by development in Crystal Valley
Add four positions - a plant maintenance supervisor, a SCADA supervisor, a water quality technician and a stormwater infrastructure inspector (split with Development Services)
Town priority: Maintain strong parks and recreation
Continue construction of the Castle Rock Sports Center, anticipated to open in 2027
Replace cardio exercise equipment at the Recreation Center
Improve the parking lot and maintenance equipment at Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course, using golf revenues
Add an additional Parks Maintenance position
Town priority: Conserve our open space
In alignment with community survey results encouraging more open space, alter the current allocation of the Town’s commercial use tax (sales tax on commercial construction materials) to shift half of those funds away from economic development and instead provide for approximately $700,000 in additional annual resources for open space acquisition and maintenance
Invest $2 million to begin phased development of Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space and open it for public access; this includes traffic calming on Lost Canyon Ranch Road, Creekside Road upgrades and partial road connection to Cattleman’s parking lot, partial development of Cattleman’s parking lot, select trail construction (including Creekside trailhead) and installation of trail signage
Town priority: Support economic development
Continue funding for the Castle Rock Economic Development Council and Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce
Follow through on Council-approved economic incentives for Arapahoe Community College ($1 million for a new building), Outlets at Castle Rock infrastructure and other new primary employers in our community
Town priority: Preserve our community character
Mark the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the 150th anniversary of Colorado becoming a state with a Fourth of July party and fireworks, branding elements throughout Town, mini grants for neighborhood celebrations, artwork through the Public Art Commission, the dedication of a time capsule at the Castle Rock Sports Center and more
Continue repairs and improvements at Cantril School, including west side masonry and window restoration, and plan for future outdoor improvements
Fund an update to the Town’s comprehensive plan, which was last updated in 2017
Fund a possible Town entranceway monument sign along Colorado Highway 86, near Gateway Mesa Open Space
Support the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Merchants Association and their events, along with Parks and Recreation’s community events and concerts
Continue public art initiatives including participation in Art Encounters and other artwork installations, art and culture grant awards and other public art projects
Fund the Council Community Grant Program as directed by Town Council
Add a new zoning inspector in Development Services - the first additional staff in this “quality of life” position in over 20 years