To win the future, we must rebuild America. This was a key message in President Obama’s State of the Union address, in which he called on Americans to “out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.”
To make progress in these areas, leadership at the state level is critical – especially when it comes to creating jobs.
In Colorado, Governor John Hickenlooper and his team are putting together a plan for the next four years, and I urge them to consider carefully the substance and direction of the 2012 state budget. The decisions they make will directly impact the lives and livelihoods of the so many thousands in this state who are hoping for growth and opportunity, who are hoping to be a part of the nation that out-innovates, out-educates, and out-builds.
It’s not easy to create jobs, and as a business leader, I can say with some confidence that more spending doesn’t always lead to an improved economy. To move forward, we must spend what we have more wisely.
The smart place to start is with the state transportation budget. The 2009 Colorado Legislature passed the Funding for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER) Act, which provides significant funding if the state makes strategic decisions about how to get the highest return on its investment. Colorado has a chance in the new transportation budget to not only save money and create jobs, but to also help preserve the transportation system and make the state more welcoming to business.
Governor Hickenlooper has been a leader when it comes to helping Coloradans get where they need to go. He also understands the importance of getting the most for our money. During his campaign he wrote that “tough times call for tough choices and pinching every penny. By making our projects as efficient as possible, we can do more with the funding we have today.”
Transportation projects that are efficient will aim to fix and maintain the roads and bridges we already have. This approach provides good value for the cost. By working to maintain and repair our roads, we will help improve the economy and create more jobs than if we build new roads and facilities. Research shows that for every $1 billion spent on maintenance and repair, we create 16 percent more jobs than if we spend the money constructing new roads.
With a smart transportation plan, we can also save money and cut waste. By spending $1 now to repair a crumbling road or bridge, we will actually save $6-$10 in future repair costs.
Finally, the other priority that cannot be overlooked in our state transportation budget is growing our infrastructure for public transportation. Coloradans need more low-cost transportation choices – including buses, carpools, light rail, van service and commuter rail. Public transportation has been shown to both help create jobs, and also benefits businesses by making them more accessible to both customers and employees.
Governor Hickenlooper has said that “any businessman will tell you that transportation is fundamental to success. Whenever I’ve met with businesses that want to locate in Colorado, the state’s infrastructure for moving people and products is a top concern.”
Indeed, smart transportation policies in Colorado will make our infrastructure safer, help create jobs and strengthen the economy, and give citizens more options for how they get around. I urge Governor Hickenlooper to continue his leadership on smart transportation, making it a top priority. In the Governor’s own words, “Here’s something everybody cares about. Maybe we focus on that to build bridges.”
Chuck Perry is managing partner of Perry Rose LLC in Denver, a member of Jonathan Rose Companies, a national real estate planning, development, and investment firm. Perry Rose redeveloped the Denver Dry Goods Building and Highlands’ Garden Village – both award-winning smart growth projects. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
