I-25
I-25 Plan Bypass Makes Sense
By Daniel G. Jennings
The Front Range Toll Road Company's plan to build a superhighway and rail corridor east of major Front Range cities as an alternative to I-25 makes a great deal of sense.
One of the biggest problems facing Colorado at this time is traffic congestion on major arteries such as I-25. Much of the congestion is caused by big trucks and other through traffic that has no choice but to go right through crowded metropolitan areas such as Denver. I-25 is perhaps the worst example of this, right now someone driving from Albuquerque to reach I-80 at Cheyenne would have to go right through Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Denver on I-25 there is no practical alternative route.
The Front Range Toll Road Company proposes to build such a route east of the Metro areas a super highway and toll road much like E-470. This would get trucks and other traffic out of the metro areas and it would be financed by tolls. Some of the plans call for a rail line along the new highway that would enable trains to bypass the metro areas. This would free up rail lines for use as commuter rail, (the existing tracks between Denver and Pueblo could be used for passenger train service like the Los Angeles Metrolink) or light rail lines and open up parcels now used as rail yards for development.
Critics would claim that such a toll road might promote development further out. The current plan calls for a limited access road surrounded by open space. This would limit development, if the state and county governments were to restrict development around the new highway they could prevent the spread of sprawl. This highway could serve as a development boundary to keep urban sprawl penned in on the Front Range and encourage higher density development. Especially if a growth boundary like those employed in Oregon was set up.
Using tolls to finance the new highway makes a lot of sense as well. Tolls are only paid by those who actually use the road while fuel taxes are paid by all drivers including those who may not use the highways they finance. For example a little old lady who lives in Denver and only drives on the city streets. Why should she have to finance the construction of a new highway to benefit truckers and long distance travelers?
This toll road scheme makes a great deal of sense, unfortunately it isn=t going to happen without the support of the State Legislature and local governments. It will also probably require some sort of statewide vote similar to the one that made T-Rex a reality.
Unfortunately this Toll Road Scheme would require real vision, courage and leadership on the part of Colorado's politicians. That is probably too much to ask for from our so called leaders.
By Daniel G. Jennings
The Front Range Toll Road Company's plan to build a superhighway and rail corridor east of major Front Range cities as an alternative to I-25 makes a great deal of sense.
One of the biggest problems facing Colorado at this time is traffic congestion on major arteries such as I-25. Much of the congestion is caused by big trucks and other through traffic that has no choice but to go right through crowded metropolitan areas such as Denver. I-25 is perhaps the worst example of this, right now someone driving from Albuquerque to reach I-80 at Cheyenne would have to go right through Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Denver on I-25 there is no practical alternative route.
The Front Range Toll Road Company proposes to build such a route east of the Metro areas a super highway and toll road much like E-470. This would get trucks and other traffic out of the metro areas and it would be financed by tolls. Some of the plans call for a rail line along the new highway that would enable trains to bypass the metro areas. This would free up rail lines for use as commuter rail, (the existing tracks between Denver and Pueblo could be used for passenger train service like the Los Angeles Metrolink) or light rail lines and open up parcels now used as rail yards for development.
Critics would claim that such a toll road might promote development further out. The current plan calls for a limited access road surrounded by open space. This would limit development, if the state and county governments were to restrict development around the new highway they could prevent the spread of sprawl. This highway could serve as a development boundary to keep urban sprawl penned in on the Front Range and encourage higher density development. Especially if a growth boundary like those employed in Oregon was set up.
Using tolls to finance the new highway makes a lot of sense as well. Tolls are only paid by those who actually use the road while fuel taxes are paid by all drivers including those who may not use the highways they finance. For example a little old lady who lives in Denver and only drives on the city streets. Why should she have to finance the construction of a new highway to benefit truckers and long distance travelers?
This toll road scheme makes a great deal of sense, unfortunately it isn=t going to happen without the support of the State Legislature and local governments. It will also probably require some sort of statewide vote similar to the one that made T-Rex a reality.
Unfortunately this Toll Road Scheme would require real vision, courage and leadership on the part of Colorado's politicians. That is probably too much to ask for from our so called leaders.
posted by great one at 6:24 AM
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