Re: “,” June 1 news story.
In your article about the 25-year anniversary of the E-470 toll road, Greg Fulton, president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, says, “Most people who live in the communities along I-25 and I-225 can’t afford to get on E-470. It doesn’t seem to be benefiting them much at all.” This ignores two relevant facts:
First, when people choose to not pay the E-470 toll and use another route, that route is likely less congested because of E-470. Second, “people who live in the communities along I-25 and I-225” did not have to pay for the E-470 tollway. It was built with bond money from investors freely choosing to purchase the bonds.
The E-470 tollway provides the public another option without oppressive taxation by elected representatives influenced by large, uncounted numbers of lobbyists.
Lou Schroeder, Greenwood Village
This letter was published in the June 6 edition.
Your article reported that E-470 receives “no tax dollars.” While this is technically correct, it is not quite true. The E-470 Authority received more than $5 million from Arapahoe County in 2015. This money is generated by a $10 fee applied to every license plate renewal in Arapahoe County. The $10 fee was to expire 10 years after its inception but can remain in place as long as E-470 has bond debt. But most interesting is the fact that the E-470 Authority is the entity that determines when or if the fee should go away. Does any vehicle owner or any taxpayer believe the E-470 Authority will give up more than $5 million in annual revenue?
Duane Senn, Aurora
This letter was published in the June 6 edition.
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