Aurora – State transportation officials are considering toll lanes for Interstate 225, a possibility that upsets some Aurora leaders who say toll lanes wouldn’t reduce highway congestion and may divert drivers away from the city.
“The tolling plan they have devised will clearly damage Aurora businesses and neighborhoods,” said Mayor Ed Tauer. “The plan we have seen only congests Aurora roads to benefit the state coffers.”
Aurora Chamber of Commerce president Kevin Hougen called the possible project an assault on Aurora’s main street that would shoot drivers past the city’s businesses, hotels, hospitals and even the growing Fitzsimons medical and research campus.
“I haven’t heard a single person in our business community say they are in favor of this,” Hougen said. The chamber’s April newsletter featured a call to arms over the matter by chairman Dale Mingilton.
Officials with the Colorado Department of Transportation say tolling is merely one option that could be considered to pay for more lanes in an era of few transportation dollars.
CDOT’s affiliate, the Colorado Tolling Enterprise, has been examining areas where toll roads could reduce congestion.
Next month, the Tolling Enterprise’s first project opens – a 7-mile HOV/express lane on Interstate 25 from downtown Denver to the Boulder Turnpike that allows solo drivers to pay to use lanes usually reserved for high-occupancy vehicles.
Adding C-470 express toll lanes also is being considered, stirring controversy among politicians representing communities along that highway.
The I-225 plan is considered the fifth-most financially feasible, according to a state document. Planners estimate 9 million trips per year would generate $11 million annually by 2010.
It would widen the highway to eight total lanes – four of which would be tolled from Interstate 70 to Parker Road.
Some city leaders are concerned the 8-mile stretch wouldn’t have exits into Aurora.
Plus, Hougen believes, people would simply stay on the non-toll roads to avoid paying.
“People aren’t used to tolls in Colorado,” Hougen said. “If you have an alternate, free route, you’ll use it.”
Tauer said a northern section of the highway already is wide enough for an extra free lane in both directions. He believes CDOT is resisting painting the lanes because Colorado law doesn’t allow tolling on existing roadways – which the extra lane would become.
State highway officials examined painting in new untolled lanes on I-225 but determined it wouldn’t work, said Stacey Stegman, CDOT spokeswoman.
Southbound lanes have existing ramps, and sound walls would have to be constructed if more lanes are added, she said. On the northbound side, a lane could be added, but it would be a short-term solution, which is not desirable, she said.
Toll roads on I-225 also aren’t a sure thing, Stegman said. The state must update an environmental study to include looking at toll lanes and how a widened highway would fit with the voter-approved FasTracks light-rail project.
“It always could come out that tolling wouldn’t make sense and that costs would be prohibitive,” she said. “You have to look at what it costs to build, what is the revenue, could it cover the cost of bonds?”
Staff writer Jeremy P. Meyer may be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer @denverpost.com.
