For this installment of “what I want to see in Colorado candidates” (from governor on down), let’s talk transportation. And let’s (for once) think bold. Why? Because that time to think bold started about 35 years ago (during the start of the Great California-migration-to-Colorado Rush in the late 80’s). Needless to say, we’re already extremely late…
First some facts to ponder:
- Our transportation system is frankly overloaded from just south of Wellington to Fountain, from Aurora to Summit County.
- Our light rail system is virtually useless for the majority (really, super-majority) of us. Not all of us work in downtown Denver (Hello!). Ever seen the inbound US36 traffic to Boulder? Ever seen the traffic in both directions in the DTC? Ever actually SEE where all those cars on north I-25 from Longmont to 88th are headed? Not downtown Denver.
- That great “T-rex” expansion project (Transportation Expansion) that opened in 2006 (ahead of schedule) in Denver opened at capacity. Drive those sections of I-25 and I-225 now – it’s not enough any longer.
- It takes Colorado decades to build infrastructure. Only half of that time (or less) is actual construction. The rest is impact studies, imminent-domain proceedings against land owners, etc.
- Our interstate system is among the poorest quality in much of the country – and deteriorating due to Denver being a major shipping hub and transit point for western regional commerce.
What are the answers? They are, quite simply, a wide array of initiatives in revenue generation and infrastructure plan and build that must be addressed. Let’s target a few of these:
- I-70 corridor to the mountains. For at least the last 40 years I have heard “big talk” about rail transport to the mountains. In the meantime, I-70 is a 4-hour parking lot leaving Denver and bound for Summit, Eagle, and Grand Counties. And not just in the winter – make no mistake. We need a rail transport from DIA, stopping in Denver West, and terminating in Vail and Winter Park. This needs to be elevated, as the cost and studies needed to build a ties-and-gravel on-ground system would take decades to complete (plan for 20 years in court with environmental groups alone). Show me where Disney got it wrong??
- We need elevated rail around key business and commerce areas in the Denver metro area. Why can’t we tie in a loop at Dry Creek that moves through Inverness? Why can’t we bring in spurs from Boulder and Louisville to Flatirons Crossing and Interlocken? Why can’t we bring in Highlands Ranch residents to Park Meadows and Lakewood? Why can’t we tie DTC to Castle Rock? Anyone? These would all feed off existing light rail that we’ve spend decades building, and make them more useful.
- We need to massively improve interstate transport. Why can’t we build an east bypass off I-25 that connects north and south metro and only has interchanges with I-76 and I-70?
- We need to invest heavily in I-70 and I-25 everywhere except Denver metro. Those roads are an embarrassment – and I’ve driven every inch of them border-to-border (including this last week enroute to Montana).
Now let’s talk revenue. This will get controversial, but as usual, I don’t care…
We need money, and a lot of it. But we don’t need to land this only on Colorado taxpayer shoulders – that would be the wrong move. Consider these ideas:
- All those nice, new, gorgeous toll lanes we’ve installed everywhere (including taking out shoulders to build them)? Notice how they are most often empty? Don’t toll them, toll the entire road. Users pay for use. BUT – don’t toll at the totally (yes, TOTALLY) ridiculous rates we toll at today. E-470 – a great example, although privately owned. But all those C-470 lanes, and I-25 lanes, etc.? Toll everyone in certain sections of roadway. If you travel between I-25 and I-70 on the southwest section of 470, a $0.75 toll that now gives you access to those nice new lanes that are tolled today (and empty) is certainly cheaper than stop-and-go for 45 minutes.
- I-70 east and west of Denver to both state lines? Toll those as well. Again – not stupid toll amounts. But our infrastructure needs cash to boldly move to meet demand – and every taxpayer should not shoulder that burden.
- Visit current rental car taxes. Denver already straps on a 7.25% tax (just Denver, not Colorado) on top of a 2.99% sales tax. But we should look state tourism surcharges beyond the flat $2 fee on those visitors.
Net net of all of this? We need a bold plan, because it’ll take years (decades) to get it all done. We also need a creative revenue plan that will offset those costs while also allowing us to get out ahead of our worsening transportation situation.
