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GARDNER and McNULTY: A way to fix roads without tolls, taxes

By Reps. Cory Gardner and Frank McNulty, Special to the Rocky

Published October 8, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Contrary to the dim view taken of it by the Rocky Mountain News on Sept. 29, Amendment 52 is an innovative plan to reprioritize oil and gas revenue to tackle Colorado's critical road and bridge challenges without tolls or new taxes. Amendment 52 would provide a significant down payment for transportation, allocating about $90 million next year and as much as $1 billion over the next decade. Increasing transportation funding has become more and more imperative as our roads and bridges steadily deteriorate.

Many Coloradans might not realize it, but Colorado has insufficient funds to meet current or future state needs for roads and bridges. The number of vehicle miles driven on our roads and bridges is increasing, putting greater demand on our transportation infrastructure.

Meanwhile, inflating construction costs have devalued gas tax dollars in Colorado's Highway Users Tax Fund, the primary source of state transportation funding. Federal transportation funds continue a steady decline.

The reality grows ever clearer that transportation funding must increase if we want to keep our roads and bridges safe and goods and people moving along on them. The Colorado Department of Transportation cannot continue to fill potholes if we do not pay for the asphalt.

The Transportation Panel estimates that 60 percent of state highways will be in poor condition by 2016, and the average daily delay in congested corridors will double. The longer the state waits to increase transportation funding, the more expensive it will be to catch up on necessary road and bridge improvements.

For months, the governor and lawmakers have talked about how transportation is a priority and how we need to act now. During the legislative session this spring, however, lawmakers were unable to pass legislation to increase transportation funding.

Amendment 52 would use existing tax revenue from Colorado's booming oil and gas industry to increase transportation funding. The amendment would maintain severance tax funding for the Department of Natural Resources at the historically high Fiscal Year 2007-'08 level and allow the natural resources budget to grow with inflation, while investing surplus oil and gas revenue into our roads and bridges and bringing much-needed attention to the significant challenges along Interstate 70.

Amendment 52 would not affect severance tax funding for local governments in communities affected by energy development.

We can no longer ignore the pressing needs of our state's roads and bridges. Amendment 52 is a wise use of existing funding to address our state's critical transportation problems.

Vote yes on Amendment 52.

Reps. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, and Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, are two proponents of Amendment 52.

Comments

  • October 8, 2008

    4:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mrfxx writes:

    Shoot - I thought they were going to recommend a return to "chain gang" labor. At the rate our jobs are being offshored or given to illegals, perhaps committing a crime and being put in jail for life is the way to go.