Colorado’s transportation system is in “crisis” and something must be done soon to remedy the situation, Gov. Bill Ritter told the Colorado Contractors Association’s annual luncheon today in Denver.
Ritter said his transportation commission warned this week that the state is experiencing a “quiet crisis in transportation” that can’t be ignored.
“They use the word ‘crisis’ in the report. It is pretty strong language,” Ritter told hundreds in attendance at the Invesco Field East Club Lounge. “We cannot approach our transportation problem as we have in the past. Action can and must begin now. It is going to take a bipartisan commitment and a unified effort of businesses, governments and communities.”
Ritter implored the contractors to read the panel’s report and understand the consequences of what will happen if nothing is done.
The panel says an additional $500 million a year is the minimum needed to maintain the state’s deteriorating road system and that $1.5 billion a year in new money would be required to fix roads and bridges.
The problem, said Ritter, is that the state faces declining revenues, increasing costs and increasing demands.
More people are traveling on the same highways that were built years ago. In addition, the cost of construction materials has soared, and the state has not seen an increase in the fuel tax in 17 years, he said.
The governor said the state has fine examples of what can be done to highways, including the Interstate 25 T-REX project in Denver and a similar project in Colorado Springs.
Those, he said, improve communities, enhance safety, relieve congestion and, in the case of T-REX, also provide transportation options for light rail.
“We have projects around the state that can do the same thing with the right level of investment: I-25 north to Fort Collins; I-70 east and west; highways 287, 160, 550, to name just a few,” said Ritter.
“So, clearly, we have to think about a transportation-reinvestment strategy,” said the governor. “We have to look at how we might afford a new investment stream.”
The governor said he is working “very hard” on that now, talking to legislators, business people and chambers of commerce.
And he said the state’s contractors have historically been an integral part of efforts to keep the state’s infrastructure robust.
“I urge you to keep that partnership alive, keep the conversation (about this) alive. We must do something, and we must do it soon,” he said.
Among the potential possibilities to raise revenue is increasing car-registration fees an average of $100.
Ritter also told the audience it was a pleasure for him to address them.
“I come from a family of contractors and people who were in construction work. My father was a heavy-equipment operator who ran a drag line until he was 75 years old,” the governor said.
“I know about the people in your business. I know you are a hearty people and you have a great work ethic and you care a great deal about doing the things that you do — building houses, infrastructures that support the quality of life in this state that we deserve.”
He then thanked them for their efforts.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
