U.S. 36 plan targets gridlock

Transportation secretary makes visit to Denver

Betsy Lehndorff, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 7, 2007 at midnight

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Relief could be on the way for motorists stuck in traffic on U.S. 36.

Federal Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced Wednesday that a plan to improve the metro-area roadway is one of nine projects competing for grants to combat costly traffic gridlock. Only five will be selected to share $1.2 billion available through the federal Urban Partnership Agreement.

The goal of the program is to finance traffic improvements that "take weeks, not years to complete," said Peters, speaking at the Safeway Distribution Center just off Interstate 70.

"We see Denver works very hard to stay ahead of the power curve on growth and congestion," she said.

The centerpiece of the U.S. 36 proposal is a lane in each direction along 18 miles dedicated to rapid-transit buses, car pools and toll-paying solo drivers. This, plus other improvements, could carve 15 to 20 minutes off the drive from downtown Denver to Boulder.

Work would begin in 2009 if Denver is selected.

According to an initial $234.5 million grant application, the dedicated lanes could be added without a great deal of construction. Shoulders would be widened in certain areas, and the road would be restriped to create the additional lanes.

The announcement was made at the 1.5 million- square-foot facility after Peters and Gov. Bill Ritter toured a small portion of a warehouse to draw attention to the drawbacks of congestion.

Traffic not only impacts the cost of food, it also makes it harder for a region to remain economically viable and attract new business, Ritter said.

Commuters, however, are concerned with how much time traffic keeps them away from their homes and families. According to a 2005 Texas Transportation Institute study, the average Denver-area commuter spends 51 hours a year stuck in traffic.

In their own words

• Name: Mike Imig

• Age: 50

• Hometown: Westminster

• How often do you use U.S. 36? Daily. I drive about five miles on U.S. 36 from my home to Littleton for my job. Traffic isn't too bad where I commute. There's maybe one day out of the month that I think to myself, gosh, I wish I could go on the HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lane.

• Would you pay a toll? No. I don't pay a toll now when I'm driving on Interstate 25 and would not pay one on U.S. 36. The HOV and toll lanes in some parts of Colorado now are underutilized. I don't think many people would pay to use the new lanes.

• Name: Elizabeth Holguin

• Age: 30

• Hometown: Thornton

• How often do you use U.S. 36? Years ago, I used it every day to get to my job. I would take it between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to get home, and it was pretty congested. I would spend most of my time sit- ting in traffic. I mostly use it now when I'm driving to my mother's house in Aurora and when I'm go- ing to the doctor in Westminster.

• Would you pay a toll? Yes, definitely. I don't like to stand in traffic. I'm always running late, so that's a perfect remedy for me. Plus, I have kids. They don't like to sit still for a long time. Rosa Ramirez

lehndorffb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2792

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