Romer's I-70 plan eyes tolls

Measure would restrict trucks during peak hours

By Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Sen. Chris Romer says the people have spoken.

They have hammered him with e-mails. They've left comments on his Web site. They have filled out surveys, and even half-jokingly hit him over the head with their ski poles.

And today, six weeks after the Denver Democrat proposed a toll to untangle weekend ski traffic on Interstate 70, Romer plans to unveil a draft bill that he says is a blend of his ideas and yours.

Citizens can weigh in on what he calls the nation's first-ever "Wikipedia-style" legislation by going to: groups.google.com/group/fixI70now.

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia edited collaboratively by the public.

The bill would turn I-70 between Floyd Hill and the Eisenhower Tunnel into an HOV/toll road on Sunday afternoons throughout the year and during the weekend ski traffic rush hours in winter. Vehicles with fewer than three occupants would be hit with a toll still to be determined. And truckers would pay the most.

The bill would reverse a lane during peak periods to accommodate more traffic. And it would require drivers who take the rush- hour plunge to first register their trip online at a Web site that would monitor traffic flow.

"This is a combination of my ideas with what we came up with on the Web site," Romer said. "We never promised the Wiki bill was a democracy. We promised an interactive process."

Romer said he hopes the pilot program enacted by his bill would cut traffic by 10 percent to 15 percent, maintaining speeds of at least 30 mph during rush hour.

Romer said he will consider further online input, then tweak the bill before introducing it in the Senate later this month.

In an online survey sent to anyone who expressed interest in the problem, the top suggestion for easing peak-hour jams in the short term was to reduce truck traffic during those hours.

Top priority

That's his bill's top priority, said Romer, who anticipates a big backlash from the trucking industry.

"We understand this is going to be a tough and blunt dialogue with the trucking industry," Romer said. "This small, very powerful group in this building has been imposing their will on the public, and it's time for the public to have their say."

Greg Fulton, president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, rejected that characterization.

"I don't think we're imposing our will on the public by any means," Fulton said. "That's disappointing he would say that."

In a posting on its own Web site Friday, the truckers association called on its members to visit Romer's Web site and post comments "to counteract the negative publicity we seem to attract."

Rep. Buffie McFadyen, D-Pueblo West, is co-sponsoring Romer's bill. But not because she agrees with it.

"The trucking industry keeps taking it in the shorts," said McFadyen, who chairs the House Transportation and Energy Committee. "I'm on the bill to make sure whatever we do doesn't impugn them."

License plate photos

If Romer's bill passed, cameras would take pictures of license plates and bill the owners of cars and trucks with fewer than three occupants during rush hours. The revenue would go first to paying for the cameras and other costs of the pilot project.

The money would next pay for parking lots at the top and bottom of the toll route where truckers could wait out the rush hour and avoid paying. Finally, it would help pay for bus service from Denver to and from the I-70 ski resorts.

While it's not called for in the bill, Romer said he hopes the resorts will help pay for the buses, and open earlier on weekends to accommodate those who try to beat rush hour.

Those options aren't out of the question at this point, said Colorado Ski Country spokeswoman Jennifer Rudolph.

"He's certainly got people talking," she said. "This is a good start."

She and Fulton cautioned, however, that solving I-70 congestion is complex and doesn't lend itself to a silver-bullet solution.

For years, highway experts have spent tens of millions of dollars studying how to fix the problem. Toll lanes weren't ever formally proposed, Fulton said.

The Federal Highway Administration would have to grant an exception to allow Colorado to turn I-70 into the country's first-ever HOV/toll highway. Romer believes that while it's never been done, it's allowable under current federal law.

Fulton said it's backward to propose a solution without first studying extensively whether it would work. But Romer says it's just this kind of innovative thinking that may get I-70 moving. And he said it will only work if truckers, skiers and ski resorts all agree to make concessions.

bargec@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5059

• March 12, 2008

  4:15 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  analytixman writes:

  Romer is a fool. Making a toll out of I-70 only makes things worse and this is only a band aid on a wound that needs stitches. Romer is missing the fact that this is a year round problem and not just a ski season, ski rush hour event.

  If Romer has a real spine, he would propose solving the problem with legislation to widen the highway and put in light rail to Silverthorn.

• March 12, 2008

  4:47 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  cableboy764 writes:

  We've made the ski areas rich. And now we'll have to pay make them even more wealthy. Nope, not me.

• March 12, 2008

  5:54 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  roger44 writes:

  cost of goods will go up, the truckers will pass on the cost and all in colorado will pay, not just the ones that cause the problems. I-80 across wyoming can advertise they are free. Utah will attract more folks at their resorts.

• March 12, 2008

  6:04 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Firefox writes:

  Is not illegal to create a toll on a publicly already paid for highway? I just want to drive home not ski does that mean I have to pay a toll to drive home? This guy needs to be voted out next go round. No mention of a train the only truly forward thinking idea that would help solve the problem for future generations.

• March 12, 2008

  6:07 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Oh_Wise_One writes:

  "Sen. Chris Romer says the people have spoken." He must not be listening, maybe he needs a stick upside his big thick head.

• March 12, 2008

  6:14 a.m.

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  VVVV writes:

  I'm a native. I've been paying taxes here all my life. And I don't see a problem. Maybe that's because I'm not stupid enough to travel in the mountains during the rush. I think the toll idea is great, considering it leaves my tax money out of the solution, since I am not part of the problem. New lanes or a train would surely take tax money from me, which is neither fair nor right. If tolls can't be added, then I propose a tax on ski area lift tickets, hunting licenses, camping fees, and hotel rooms to pay for the road improvements. Anything is better than making millions who don't use I-70 pay for those idiots that do during the rush times.

• March 12, 2008

  6:40 a.m.

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  goose writes:

  Well at least he recognizes the problem and is trying to do something about it. Unlike the rest of our politicians. Quit complaining and try helping!

• March 12, 2008

  7:04 a.m.

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  Solpatroller writes:

  Everything Chris Romer suggests has its roots in his own "time-sensitive" selfish, better-than-thou agenda. He can't drag his butt out of bed early enough to not be a part of the congestion so he has to impose his socialist view on the rest of us.

  He's also thinking about changing the water laws to allow folks to collect rainwater ... and, of course the genesis of that is he's building a house and wants to put in his own cistern, but he can't until he gets the law changed.

  What's next for Roy's baby boy?

• March 12, 2008

  7:17 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  mytwosense writes:

  "Romer said he hopes the pilot program enacted by his bill would cut traffic by 10 percent to 15 percent, maintaining speeds of at least 30 mph during rush hour."

  And for this measly reduction, citizens are going to have to pay a toll on a public road already paid for by our taxes?

  This is a stupid, stupid idea. I seriously doubt Romer is really "listening" to the people.

  Skiing is a very lucrative economy in this state, why punish the very people who keep this economy flush with cash? And yes, why punish people who aren't even skiers, but also use 1-70?

  This is the worst possible time to hit people with even more fees, tolls, whatever you want to call them. It's time for our government and the ski industry to work together to come up with truly innovative ideas to solve the traffic issues and certainly these ideas should aim for far more than a ten percent traffic reduction.

• March 12, 2008

  7:27 a.m.

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  Earl writes:

  so chrissy where will all the truckers park during YOUR drive to the mountains? why dont you take the train to winter park, or is that just for the common man and not an impotent person such as your self? boy I feel so much better now that little chrissy is happy and working on the most improtant thing our state faces today, his driving to a ski area.

• March 12, 2008

  7:42 a.m.

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  PajamaPulitzer writes:

  I say we toss Romer into Boston Harbor.

• March 12, 2008

  7:53 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  fleetmack writes:

  Wow, I try to be positive with my posts, but it's hard to not say "get this jackarse out of office" for proposing such an asinine idea. The interestat system is funded by tax dollars and it is illegal in the eyes of the federal government to charge additional tolls. This will never happen unless we make it a rode that is not a federal interstate. INTERstate means it isn't just ours, it's the country's ... this will never, ever, pass. For that I'm not worried, it worries me that my tax dollars are paying a man to do a job when he tries to get things done that are illegal. Wasting time in the office.

• March 12, 2008

  7:54 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  BlueSled writes:

  A partial list of taxes Citizens pay:

  1)Accounts receivable tax
  2)Automobile Tax
  3)Building Permit Tax
  4)Capitol Gains Tax
  5)CDL License Tax
  6)Cigarette Tax
  7)Corporate Income Tax
  8)Court Fines (indirect tax)
  9)Dog License Tax
  10)Estate Tax
  11)Federal Unemployment Tax
  12)Fishing License Tax
  13)Food License Tax
  14)Fuel Permit Tax
  15)Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
  16)Hunting License Tax
  17)Inheritance Tax Interest Expense (Tax on the Money)
  18)Inventory Tax
  19)IRS Interest Charges (Tax on top of tax)
  20)Liquor Tax
  21)Local Income Tax
  22)Luxury Tax
  23)Marriage License Tax
  24)Medicare Tax
  25)Parking Meters
  26)Property Tax
  27)Real Estate Tax
  28)Septic Permit Tax
  29)Service Charge Tax
  30)Social Security Tax
  31)Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
  32)Sales Tax
  33)Recreational Vehicle Tax
  34)Road Toll Booth Taxes
  35)School Tax
  36)State Income Tax
  37)State Unemployment Tax
  38)Telephone, Federal Excise Tax
  39)Telephone, Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
  40)Telephone, Federal, State, and Local Surcharge Tax
  41)Telephone, Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
  42)Telephone, Recurring and Non-Recurring Charges Tax
  43)Telephone State and Local Tax
  44)Telephone Usage Charge Tax
  45)Toll Bridge Taxes
  46)Toll Tunnel Taxes
  47)Traffic Fines
  48)Trailer Registration Tax
  49)Utility Taxes
  50)Vehicle License Registration Tax
  51)Vehicle Sales Tax
  52)Watercraft Registration Tax
  53)Well Permit Tax
  54)Worker’s Compensation Tax
  55)Federal Income Tax

• March 12, 2008

  8:05 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  nativegirl writes:

  So having people wait in a long line, fish through their cars for the right amount of money, yell at the toll booth person, ask for directions, etc.. is going to help traffic???

  Government brilliance at work again.

• March 12, 2008

  8:15 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  777J writes:

  Horrible Idea!!!!!!!!

  Just go anywhere back east and ask the people there how much they like the toll roads??

  Then ask them if they think the toll has kept taxes down??

  IT"S A JOKE... Just another way for the government to get your money.

  Jack

• March 12, 2008

  8:35 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  777J writes:

  First it's just at peak hours, then soon as the money starts to flow, all the time.

  Back east ALL the toll roads were built to reduce congestion, just ask how many toll roads back east are only for certain hours of the day.

  Once the fools authorize this it will NEVER go away, so be ready to pay the rest of your life.

  Finally, I ski about every other weekend. Maybe I'm the only one who gets there without a traffic problem but In my opinion it is not that big of a deal.

  Jack

• March 12, 2008

  8:42 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  vudumom writes:

  Do the illegals packed into a van qualify for the HOV lanes?What about photographing evey vehicle to see if their tags are current.What about setting up pollution monitors and sending the vehicle owners notices to get their emmissions taken care of or be fined.How about starting a data base for uninsured motorists and checking to see if every vehicle is insured that is driving the highway?Just line the entire road with nanny cameras and fine and ticket people who are jumping in and out of traffic and not using a turn signal?
  I got a better idea,people recall this idiot and run him and his all important family out of town .What a jerk!

• March 12, 2008

  8:53 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  allseasonsfan writes:

  I think we should have tow ropes behind truckers. That way traffic is reduced, we dont have to put down deicing products and the carbon footprint is reduced. You would save time at the ski areas because you would already be strapped up. Truckers could charge a small fee for the decrease in fuel mileage. No new lanes, no new lightrail, no more buses and no new taxes. Why doesn't Romer like this idea? At least its an idea.

• March 12, 2008

  8:58 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Biff writes:

  And the Colorado liberals speak! You people crack me up. At least Romer has the balls to attempt to figure it out.

• March 12, 2008

  9:01 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  jd writes:

  And how is this camera supposed to tell if a vehicle, probably a van, with tinted windows has 3 or more people?

  I also agree that if this toll goes in then you will never and I repeat, NEVER get rid of it. I feel that the only people that like toll roads are those who have moved here from somewhere else that had toll roads so they are used to them. All they do is send people who cannot afford the tolls to less maintained roads that are slower and will become congested. So you are penalizing the poor and enhancing the rich. Thank you very much for NOT representing me. You are all fools if you agree to a toll road. WE pay taxes for these roads and this is just a double tax.

• March 12, 2008

  9:03 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  mark79trans writes:

  First, the trucking industry is already being hit hard by high fuel prices. Now, we are going to hit them again? How stupid is that? We are already being hit with transportation costs when we buy goods. Additionally, there are a lot of people that live on the I-70 corridor who travel to the metro area on the weekends to shop and buy supplies...so we are going to make them pay a toll?

  To truly solve this issue, there needs to be a high speed train to the resorts. I think there should be a tax on ski passes so those actually skiing pay for this. I don't ski nor do I intend to ski. Those that do can pay for this or deal with the traffic. I really don't care which one they choose just don't include me. And, leave our truckers out of this!

• March 12, 2008

  9:03 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  This is a great idea. I am going to go into business selling those blow up dolls. So if anyone drives up there alone or with 1 other person, they can use my dolls and avoid the tolls. The pictures taken with those cameras they install will never reveal the truth!
  I would assume that anyone that submitted comments to be in support of the tolls are people that never even drive up I70. What difference is it to them? This idea is only a tool to try to alleviate the congestion of rush hour traffic. There would be no reason to increase taxes. And why does it matter why one drives up there? Everyone using the road contributes to the congestion.
  Not only am I not in favor of the tolls, I don't think the idea of registering on a web site before you take the trip is a good idea either. We shouldn't have to ask for permission to use a road that taxpayers have already paid for.

• March 12, 2008

  9:14 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  And I am not in favor of a plan costing millions or billions of tax dollars. I think that if one wants to drive on I70 during the peak times, then that is their perrogative. I think the best idea would be to run shuttle busses every 15-30 minutes to each resort and the ones that want to use those would be the ones paying. I would definitely do that!

• March 12, 2008

  9:15 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Diff writes:

  IF I70 becomes a toll road for the RICH and PRIVALEDGED to go to the HIGH DOLLAR ski towns and all for their comfort and conveneince - it will be a SLAP IN THE FACE to the the rest of COLORADO -
  SKIERS TIME IS NO MORE IMPORTANT THAN MINE!

  Here is an idea - let's just charge the rental cars and out of state cars!

  FOLLOW THE MONEY IN THIS ONE - AND SEE JUST HOW CLOSE ROMER IS WITH THE SKI INDUSTRY.
  ROMER - your an IDIOT - I looked it up and there was your picture right along side "idiot"!

• March 12, 2008

  9:23 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Diff writes:

  Like the typical politician - the people speak and then they do what they want or what the lobbyist and special interest groups tell them to do!

• March 12, 2008

  9:34 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  jerseycorn writes:

  Why do certain people always have to turn this into a liberal vs. conservative arguement? It's neither -- it's just a bad idea. Can't we simply leave it at that?

• March 12, 2008

  9:46 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  mamma354 writes:

  Why don't the police just enforce the keep right unless passing laws? How about restricting truckers to the right hand land? Simple solutions...

• March 12, 2008

  9:51 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  GWM writes:

  And the very wise Heidi speaks. Hey gal, yesterday my comment about the "Brownie" thing was to not go there, the sweet tasting brownie. It had nothing to do with your service in the Nat'l Guard. It takes a village to raise a child and it takes all forces to secure a nation. I totally respect your service. It is none less than the guy standing on the wall. I just pay greater homage to those that do stand on the wall even above my active service. You go girl!

• March 12, 2008

  9:59 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  writermwl writes:

  Next to Vail wanting to have I-70 go subterranean so that they could build more condos, this is the stupidest proposal I've heard. Perhaps Mr. Romer would like to come up to Boulder and patrol for dyed dogs.

• March 12, 2008

  10:06 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  GWM,

  Thank you, I feel the same way you do. And I was hoping that you didn't think I was offended. I figured you knew me well enough by now. Of course, I know you are on a diet. No brownies for you this week.

• March 12, 2008

  10:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  And GWM, you are much wiser than I am.

• March 12, 2008

  11:01 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Getaclue writes:

  His daddy left education as the 49th funded system in the nation, and now his son is a transportation expert. Boy, what a family of brillant people.

• March 12, 2008

  11:01 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  GWM writes:

  No Heidi, I cannot leave it there. If you are qualified to take folks to Valhalla, you are the wisest one. What happened to jdub, did he change his handle once again, or just sleeping?

• March 12, 2008

  11:14 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  TheDenverB writes:

  "The bill would reverse a lane during peak periods to accommodate more traffic. And it would require drivers who take the rush- hour plunge to first register their trip online at a Web site that would monitor traffic flow."

  what a joke.

  "I think the toll idea is great, considering it leaves my tax money out of the solution, since I am not part of the problem. New lanes or a train would surely take tax money from me, which is neither fair nor right."

  oh, i'm sorry... do you live in colorado? do many of your goods and services come into this state because of that highway? have you ever driven on i-70?

  it's your highway too and you are part of the problem -- even if you don't think you are. it is fair and right that you would pay the same taxes as the rest of us.

• March 12, 2008

  11:16 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  temurlan writes:

  This is the dumbest bunch of ideas that I've heard in a long time. I know there are problems that need a soluution but come on!

  1. Once government makes a road a toll road to pay for something, that's it. It's always a toll road forever after, even if the original debt is paid. The Skyway outside of Chicago started as a toll road to pay for it's creation and was paid off decades ago. It's probably up to $5.00 now.

  2. Required to register via the web? Not going to happen. What if someone doesn't have access.

  3. When I go up I like to take my dog (no it's not pink). That won't work with public transpo and is not always carpool friendly. I guess I will get penalized if I don't bring 2 other people along.

  We shouldn't take an important federal east/west highway that already has issues and throw a complicated mess of ideas at it to resolve the issues. Just because all parties invloved will equally be inconvenienced doesn't make it right either.

  I don't have any better ideas but this is part of our national infrastucture and should be handled as such. It's going to need expansion. Quit with the stupid bandaids and start working on the I-70 of the future.

• March 12, 2008

  11:17 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  jaybyrd writes:

  Romer appears to be a simpleton who believes that the costs absorbed by truckers are somehow not passed on to the ultimate consumer (like you and I). This appears to be the mantra of the antibusiness Democrat legislature, which continues to tax the citizens of the state of Colorado ad infinitum (ad nauseam). Furthermore, I question his integrity in saying the "people" have spoken...yeah, right. They certainly jumped up and supported his off-the-wall, hackneyed idea, which as I recall came to light when Romer was inconvenienced during a family ski trip. The bill should be titled the Romer Family Ski Relief Act. Let the Romer family and other skiers arrange their times so that they can avoid the traffic, and leave the rest of us out of it.

• March 12, 2008

  11:18 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  I have not seen him reappear after they removed him a second time. Maybe he is afraid. Or maybe he left us to join the Gestapo. He may not qualify to go to Valhalla.

• March 12, 2008

  11:22 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  GWM writes:

  I did not know they removed him a second time. What a crime by the RMN. jdub, come back and identify yourself!!

• March 12, 2008

  11:23 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  I know the secret code to send him a message. I have asked him to come out of hiding!

• March 12, 2008

  11:25 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  MereMortal writes:

  On the whole, I'd rather just put up with the traffic.

• March 12, 2008

  11:27 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  sunshine5280 writes:

  While I'm not all-together for this idea, it DOES get a conversation started about an interim solution, since a train to the mountains and/or more lanes will take YEARS to complete. This guy is just trying to draft a solution to give some relatively quick relief.

• March 12, 2008

  11:28 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  TheDenverB writes:

  "Once government makes a road a toll road to pay for something, that's it. It's always a toll road forever after, even if the original debt is paid."

  um, no. at least not in colorado.

  boulder turnpike, for example, was paid off in 15 years, well before expected and toll booths were removed in 1967.

  not that i agree with a tollbooth on i-70, but i had to correct your error.

  http://www.mesalek.com/colo/dbt.html

• March 12, 2008

  11:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  temurlan writes:

  TheDenverB, thanks for the correction. The Skyway example has been my experience. Out of curiosity, do you think if the boulder turnpike example was built recently and paid off today that the booths would still come down?

• March 12, 2008

  11:50 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  TheDenverB writes:

  interesting question and definitely hard to answer...

  i mean, if you look at the pics on that website i linked, there was NOTHING out there between boulder and denver in the 50s (i'm in my late 20s, so i certainly don't remember that time)...

  but even then, the traffic flow was enough to pay it off early... i would like to think that today it would be the same with all of the development out there, however it would be a much more costly endeavor...

  and you are somewhat correct though, as 36 is more of a rarity than anything else. for example, I know Houston texas will be paying off their tollway until my sister's children have children at the ver least....

• March 12, 2008

  12:21 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Snowboarder writes:

  Chris Romer is a Dangerous man!!
  We must remove him before his lack of empathy and intelligence starts to cost lives!!

• March 12, 2008

  12:31 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Logic1 writes:

  If the price of gas keeps going up, this need could disappear. The ski areas will have to incorporate some form of mass transit to get the day skiers to their areas. Buses seem the better solution.

• March 12, 2008

  12:41 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  JSeifert writes:

  I think Mr. Romer needs to go back to class on government.
  I as in interstate 70 is owned by the federal government it can not become a toll road. 2. He wants to tax interstate traffic again out of his hands. 3. He can not restrict free traval on a federal road so telling truckers can not use a federal road is illegal. Also Mr Romer if you want to reduce traffic get rid of all the skiers raise the tax on lift tickets do not try to pentalize everyone else because the rich want a stress free ride. The democrats want their rich payers to have a free ride to ski I say make them ride the bus leave us out of it.

• March 12, 2008

  12:52 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  justright writes:

  People it is very simple. Instead of penalize people with fines, tolls, registrations, court dates, jail and other nasty goverment interventions, just pay people say $10.00 each way for those people who travel before 7:00AM or after 6:00PM. The extra tax revenue at the resorts for people coming up early and staying late could be used to pay for the program. Wouldn't that be great to pull up to "ATM goverment distribution booth" instead of toll(tax) booth.

  I would also propose trucks get $50.00 each way for traveling early and late. How about this for redistributing traffic. I would much rather reward the truckers, middle class and poor while not sticking it to the middle class and the rich. See I care about everybody.

  Aslo a Demacrat proposing higher taxes and fees while sticking it to the middle class and making the poor "feel" even farther removed from being middle class so that elite liberals can run 75mph up the mountain, is NOT INNOVATIVE OR NEW. This is still page one of a one page play book that the Democratic party uses for the solution to EVERY PROBLEM. Higher tax and more gomverment solve all problems. That is it!

  By the way I love the title of the bill "The Romer Family Ski Relief Act"

• March 12, 2008

  12:54 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Acemon writes:

  There ARE other options. The easiest and cheapest solution can be found at www.FreeSkiBus.org. We could have this program up and running in just a few weeks.

  Another option is to take a vacation day and go skiing/boarding midweek, with no traffic OR lift lines.

  Another option is to leave Denver at noon and go night skiing/boarding at Keystone, which is open 'til 9:00 (and no traffic going home).

  The options are out there. Sitting in traffic is your own choice.

• March 12, 2008

  1:38 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  Is that the Gestapo speaking?

• March 12, 2008

  1:53 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  I don't believe you.

• March 12, 2008

  1:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  I couldn't believe it's really you. I really had no clue.

• March 12, 2008

  2:09 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  Well, you are not being very sneaky.

• March 12, 2008

  2:18 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  Well, then, what kind of solution is that, "the answer lies with god"?
  Oh that's right, you never look for solutions to problems, you just cause them.

• March 12, 2008

  2:20 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  Sorry to be so hard on you, but you have been gone too long and I am angry. ;)

• March 12, 2008

  2:26 p.m.

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  GWM writes:

  Whew! I was so worried!

• March 12, 2008

  2:41 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  I guess he's bored with us, GWM.

• March 12, 2008

  4:34 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Ranchette writes:

  He obviously knows nothing about I-70. Record setting days for the Eisenhower tunnel are in the SUMMER, not the winter.

• March 12, 2008

  4:55 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  ezekiel777 writes:

  Toll roads are the socialist's solution to an economic problem. If you want to kill the ski industry just charge more and make it more difficult for skiers to get to the slopes. They will leave Colorado for better conditions elsewhere.

  The toll money will be spent on the "closed" sign these eco-freak-socialists erect over the State of Colorado.

  Build a train system..... build a bus system....but stop taxing everybody trying to force them to adher to your social vision for humanity.

• March 12, 2008

  11:21 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  plzgetreal writes:

  I'm not really sure how to respond to these ideas. As a relative new resident of Colorado I must first say that it is an outrage to think the users of I-70 will be assessed a toll because the people, legislatures and Governors of Colorado have had their heads positioned where the sun doesn't shine for the past 20 years. Quite frankly I-70 is the classic example of republican refusal to pay taxes. Trickle down economics at it's best. Where does one think the money comes from to bring a road system into the 20th century? Like traffic management in Colorado I-70 is a 20th century concept at best.

  Reversing the traffic flow during peak hours is finally being presented as an option. What a novel concept. My first exposure to that concept came in 1964 whilst visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Washington, D.C. It seems we are still living in the days of the pony express.

• March 13, 2008

  1:09 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Danimal writes:

  Boy oh boy plzgetreal... I had to register just to respond to you.

  As a Native, I'd just like to point this out to you. The government during my lifetime here has been predominantly Democrat. So blaming the problems on the big bad Republicans just doesn't work here... (I am not a republican btw)

  I for one am always in complete disgust with our government, they are reactionary at best. It doesn't matter what party the current lacky belongs to. And when we are "lucky" enough to get their knee jerk reaction it's always a day late and a dollar short.

  Look at I-25 and how long it took to get light rail. Which STILL doesn't meet our needs. There are smaller western cities that have had better systems in place for years.

  I have no faith they'll be able to do anything significant about I-70 based on what I've seen with I-25 and light rail alone.

  This is just another quick reaction that there's going to be no positive outcome with , short or long term. IF it even comes to light at all. I'm not holding my breath either way.

• March 13, 2008

  7:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  JYP3500 writes:

  I agree with America_1st. The excessive traffic is caused by skiers. The solution is to have the ski areas provide bus transportation. And it should be free or just a minimal charge to incent people to ride. It could also attract snowshoers, cross country skiers and shoppers who want to go to a specific ski area for the day. The city of Denver could allocate one or two parking areas, and the buses could run every 30 minutes. Problem solved.

• March 13, 2008

  9:07 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Logic1 writes:

  Logically, solving the winter traffic is easier then the summer. Both have issues on Sunday afternoons, but with ski traffic destinations are more limited. Summer traffic comes from all over and the only thing to solve it is widening I70. During ski season Sundays get bad because those many resorts release both day and weekend skiers. If you could work on busing just the day skiers it would relieve a lot of the problem. But what about the summer, people go up to enjoy the mountains, any do a little roming, no pun intended.

  If you want to solve traffic issues and enviromental issues at the same time, money would be better spent on a light rail from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, not in the mountains.