September 29, 2025 – The Engineering Division of El Paso County’s Department of Public Works (DPW) is preparing to launch a comprehensive update of the Engineering Criteria Manual (ECM) beginning this fall. The ECM serves as the County’s manual for designing, constructing, maintaining, and repairing public improvements, providing consistent standards for common development improvements throughout the County.
Initially adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in 2004, the ECM has undergone periodic updates and is now due for a full review to ensure alignment with current engineering and regulatory standards. The update will simplify, streamline, and improve standards to the extent possible, helping protect public safety, health, property, and welfare while supporting El Paso County’s continued growth.
“The Engineering Criteria Manual sets the standards for safe, consistent, and fair development in El Paso County,” said John Clack, DPW Professional Standards Engineer. “Updating this manual will provide clarity for the development and design community, while also ensuring we are meeting modern engineering practices and the needs of the public we serve.”
Key benefits of the ECM update include:
- Incorporating modern engineering and regulatory standards.
- Enhancing consistency for developers, contractors, engineers, and agencies working in El Paso County.
- Improving the use of taxpayer dollars by streamlining processes and simplifying requirements.
- Ensuring County standards continue to prioritize public safety and quality of life.
To ensure broad participation, the County will:
- Create a stakeholder group to collect input from ECM users.
- Develop a project webpage where updates and key information will be posted throughout the process.
- Release proposed modifications for public input before final adoption, ensuring transparency and community engagement.
The ECM update process is scheduled to be completed by December 2026. However, the scope and timing may adjust as needed.
A separate announcement will be made when the project webpage is live. In the meantime, community members, stakeholders, and ECM users who would like to participate in the stakeholder group or have questions are encouraged to contact the El Paso County Department of Public Works by email DPWECMAdmin@elpasoco.com or by calling John Clack, DPW Professional Standards Engineer at 719.520.6459.