If you’ve been wishing for a crystal ball to look into the future of the metro area, look no further.
The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), the area’s metropolitan planning organization, has a major impact on all our lives. It determines which roads and corridors will receive federal transportation funds, conducts reviews of all major transit projects, and is charged with protecting people who live in long-term care facilities. The organization covers more than 5,000 square miles and encompasses 52 cities and counties in the metro area.
Here’s a quiz from DRCOG on some of the metro area’s growth-related challenges.
Question 1: DRCOG has developed a long-range plan for the future which integrates growth, development, transportation and water quality management for the region. Under that plan, called Metro Vision, how much is the area expected to grow between now and 2030?
A. 250,000 (another Lakewood)
B. 500,000 (another Denver)
C. 750,000 (another San Francisco)
D. 1.2 million (another Dallas)
Question 2: The DRCOG region makes up 47 percent of the state’s population, accounts for 59 percent of all vehicle miles traveled and has 81 percent of the state’s congested roads. How many total trips are taken on the metro area’s roads and transit system every day?
A. 3 million
B. 5 million
C. 7 million
D. 11 million
Question 3: There are more than 3,500 intersections with traffic signals in the DRCOG region. As you’re approaching a traffic light at a major intersection in the DRCOG region, how often is that light typically green?
A. Never (Oh, come on, now, it just feels like that!)
B. 20 percent of the time
C. 35 percent of the time
D. 50 percent of the time
Question 4: Weld County, which is outside of the DRCOG area, is one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S. On average, how many people commute from Weld County to work in the DRCOG region every day?
A. 4,000
B. 6,000
C. 8,000
D. 10,000
Here are the answers:
Question 1: D. Believe it or not, we can expect another 1.2 million people in the metro area in the next 23 years. And that’s without counting the mushrooming growth in Weld County. The thought of adding the equivalent of a city the size of Dallas to our region is almost unimaginable. Certainly the implications for land use, transportation, air quality and water supplies are staggering, and point out the ongoing need for strong regional planning and cooperation.
Question 2: C. DRCOG points out that commuters spend an average of 59 hours each year just sitting in traffic. Without more rapid transit, that wasted time will no doubt become worse as additional people flood into the region. The naysayers who have recently been seeking to undo FasTracks should consider these numbers before attempting to pull the plug on transit options.
Question 3: C. Yes, I know it seems you always hit the red light, but DRCOG tells us that the light is green 35 percent of the time as you approach it. Last year, DRCOG’s efforts to synchronize those signals saved 1.25 million gallons of gas and helped commuters avoid 2.8 million hours of delay.
Question 4: D. Each day, 10,000 Weld County residents travel into the region, mostly into Boulder, Adams and Denver counties. Weld County’s explosive growth is controversial because so many residents drive into the DRCOG area to work, adding to the region’s air quality problems. There is an urgent need for the county to coordinate closely with planners in surrounding areas.
DRCOG’s executive director, Jennifer Schaufele, posed the questions in this quiz and others at the organization’s recent annual awards banquet. The awards honored local governments that plan with vision, collaborate to solve problems and reach out in creative ways to educate the public.
Given the staggering projections for growth in the metro area, we’re going to need all of the visionary efforts we can get.
Susan Thornton (smthornton@aol.com) served 16 years on the Littleton City Council, including eight years as mayor.
