Thanks to Sen. Chris Romer and a recent Denver Post editorial, people are starting to talk about the Interstate 70 mountain corridor and what can be done to address weekend congestion problems.
Unfortunately, we keep hearing the solution is a “lanes or trains” proposition that will cost billions of dollars and require our patience for another dozen years or more until we can enjoy any benefit.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Within a few short years and for much less than $1 billion, we could have the beginning of a viable bus rapid transit (BRT) system in operation that would take an hour or more off a typical trip back to Denver on a Sunday afternoon, bypassing more than 15 miles of stop-and-go congestion that backs up behind the Eisenhower and Twin Tunnels.
This initial transit operation would provide express service between select RTD park-n-Rides and most of our summer/winter ski resorts.
While not totally solving the problem, reasonable-minded people would admit this is a huge step forward at fairly minimal cost. Later, as additional money becomes available, even more benefit can be provided, either by further reducing travel times or by adding more park-n-Rides and/or mountain destinations to the system. Eventually, most of the system can be converted to use by a more substantial rail operation.
When not used in the mountain corridor on weekends, these upscale vehicles can be shared with other transit agencies throughout Colorado. With amenities like curved, “vista-dome” windows, fold-down trays and cup-holders, Wi-Fi connections and reading lights, they should be well-received by these agencies and the passengers who will be traveling in them. Knowing they are powered by a clean-burning alternative-fuels source will add to their attraction.
Compare with other proposed options:
• Highway widening: A $3 billion, 15-year road project that will offer little benefit until it’s completed and have a very short shelf-life, insufficient to handle projected capacity 20-25 years from now.
• Monorail: A $10 billion technologically questionable option that would provide minimal incremental benefit. Many people feel this option would make United’s DIA baggage system fiasco look like small potatoes.
• Rail: Whether high-speed or highway- speed, this should probably be our ultimate goal. But how do we get there from here?
Do we throw Colorado billions of dollars into debt and wait another dozen years or more to realize any benefit by pursuing this as the initial solution? Or do we follow the advice of our nation’s foremost transit experts and get there on an incrementally beneficial basis, starting off with a viable BRT operation, a solution that would provide many tangible benefits along the way?
I think the best choice is rather obvious.
Kenneth Katt is a private citizen in Denver.
