Golden – To complete a beltway around the metro area, Jefferson County officials have been trying to mediate conflicting interests.
A “forum” on Wednesday held promise as Arvada, Westminster, Broomfield and state transportation officials kicked around the issues. Hopes faded with the prospect of a delayed study and of decision-makers destined to leave office.
“Now I’m depressed,” said Arvada Mayor Ken Fellman when he learned that the draft environmental impact statement – once promised last summer – won’t be ready until early next year at the earliest.
The EIS has been in the works for nearly four years at a cost of about $18 million. It focuses on plans to link the Northwest Parkway from U.S. 36 with C-470 where it converges with Interstate 70 and U.S. 6.
When the draft EIS is published, a public comment period begins. That’s when officials from Golden, Arvada and other cities can work out differences.
Golden officials, who discussed the issues in late September with the county board, adamantly oppose a high-speed tollway through their city.
Arvada officials support completing the beltway – about 22 miles – to handle future growth in the northwest metro area. They urge tolling for part of it, four lanes that can be expanded to six and a higher speed limit than the 45-mph limit advocated by Golden officials.
“We have our ideal of what we want this to do, and it conflicts with what is Golden’s ideal,” Fellman said. “Unless there is compromise, there will be litigation.”
Jefferson County Commissioner Kevin McCasky, who said the county wants the road project completed with mitigation for Golden, suggested reconvening with all the cities when the EIS is ready.
Broomfield Mayor Karen Stuart noted that she will leave office in January. In addition, state transportation chief Tom Norton and transportation commissioner Joe Jehn also may depart next year as a new governor takes over.
“I’m not sure how to keep this moving forward,” Stuart said.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
