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CDOT needs to get busy rebuilding I-70

This Web only Speakout has not been edited.

Art Onweller

Published February 3, 2008 at noon

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I believe it is time that our Governor and our congressional representatives to work together and step up to the plate to get a real solution to solve the congestion problem on I-70.

After reading Colorado Senator Romer’s plan, I conclude it is time that the Colorado Transportation Office get serious and get on with the final design for the rebuilding of I-70 west of Denver to Glen Canyon. I’ve attended numerous public meetings that have proposed five separate solutions to eliminate the problems with weekend travel to and from the ski resorts. I’m sure the the State has spend millions on these studies. At these public meetings, we’ve been briefed on the re-design of mountain interchanges, the main highway, and the alternatives to either a new tunnel or alternate route over Loveland and Vail Passes. Yet nothing has been done! It is time to get the CDOT engineers off their drafting chairs and get contracts to get the work done. To the engineers, I ask, where that the creative designs that did I-70 through Glen Canyon? At one time, action committees were established in the high country counties to work together to propose a common solution. Whether that proposal included provision for rapid transit or not reminds to be worked out. But let’s get the plan to the table and get started.

If rapid transit is in the plan, then get started at the Eagle Airport for route into and out of Vail. This would build the transit storage facilities and provide proof of concept for rapid transit. Then as the re-building proceeds East, the rapid transit plan can expand to other resorts that are fed by I-70.

Out of state skiers could use Rapid transit from the Eagle Airport to ski resorts. This concept would also allow commuter flights out of DIA to Eagle to use the Rapid Transit system to get out of State skiers to their resorts. Considering the use of rental cars coming out of DIA, this plan could reduce the traffic going west on I-70. Perhaps be of greater impact than Senator Romer’s plan without screwing the local Denver skiers.

Regarding funding, the rebuilding of I-70 will cost a lot of money. In the public meetings that I’ve attended, the CDOT spokesperson estimated the cost at $4-5 Billion. Ok, Lets demand that our congressional representatives cash in their chit tickets that they got supporting the “Boston Dig” that cost so far, over $13 Billion and counting. Now its our turn to get federal transportation tax dollars to do the job. After all, the I-70 route is of strategic importance to the United States.

Tunnel boring machines are lying idle in Nevada that could be used here to cut the tunnels needed. Also, Colorado is a net contributor of the Federal Gas Tax and its time to get our share. Once complete, the additional tax dollars that State gets from the skiing resorts can easily fund the bonds to cover the State share.

(I’ll forget, the promises we got about Ref C.) Specifically regarding Senator Romer’s proposal, it is domed to failure. Nice try but how about the cost to set up “Collection” (I won’t call them toll) stations. Cost on employees to collect fails, Cost of enforcement, and cost of equipment to monitor the vehicles. This clearly seems a scam to pick the pockets of Denver metro area skiers of extra money while returning no benefit. A typical liberal plan, to impose a tax while returning a benefit to the tax payer.

To the Governor, let’s get started now. No more “committees” to study the problem. All you have to do is sit with the CDOT engineers and the staff to get answers. If they don’t have them, I’m sure that private Denver Civil Engineering firms can do the job. Perhaps at a fraction of the Cost CDOT can do it. Let’s show some leadership here and not rely on a State Senator to implement a half baked solution that will not make anyone satisified.

Art Onweller is a resident of Evergreen.

Comments

  • February 4, 2008

    6:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    VVVV writes:

    You want to help congestion on I-70? Buy a car that can handle corners, not an Expedition. Buy some tires suited to the conditions - snow tires are best in snow. And buy a map to find the alternate route. Leave my tax money alone. I don't get stuck in I-70 traffic because I'm not dumb enough to drive on it when I know everyone else is. If you insist on doing everything the Joneses do, you deserve the traffic.

  • February 4, 2008

    5:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    sldfkd writes:

    Thats a lot of money...but we should definately build that 5B rail from DIA to Eagle. It will definately be worth it in the long run, and I would be very willing to pay for it. I wish Colorado could just make a 1% increase in sales tax, like CO Springs did, so we can fund all these things. It would also keep all these annoying people coming from outside OUT where they should be.

  • February 16, 2008

    1:09 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gary writes:

    I-70 is just fine the way it is. Leave it alone. The problem is there is only one main route West out of Denver. It is time to develope another main route either just to the North or South of I-70. Then you can reduce the traffic on I-70. A real good truck roulte would help everyone including the States economy. We subsidize the ski industry enough already. Plus the CEO of the large ski companies get paid millions and we pay millions for thier advertising.
    If you really want to build more on I-70, then make it a toll road and have the people thay use it pay for it.

    Nuff Said