As Colorado legislators work to introduce a new transportation funding bill, transit continues to be deprioritized as highways look to receive the vast majority of funding. Denver has set ambitious long-term goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the reliance on single-occupancy vehicles but the latest proposals actually work against these goals. With the limited dollars available, the DSP calls for a bill that will:
- Create a long-term investment in the Safer Main Streets program to focus dollars on main street improvements and arterials that make them safer and more people friendly.
- Invest significantly in transit operations to expand and improve service while increasing ridership.
- Reprioritize CDOT’s current 10-Year Vision Plan to ensure that funding is not being spent on projects that will increase driving and vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
As it stands, the latest bill proposal does not put nearly enough emphasis on multimodal funding and continues to prioritize widening highways. Projects such as the I-270 expansion cite benefits including safety and reduced travel times, both of which have been proven to be false. Denver is at a critical point as air pollution, climate change, and inequities in our transportation system worsen—now is the time to pave a bold new path forward that will create a safer, more resilient region.
Show your support more statewide multimodal funding by writing to your legislator and asking them to increase funding for walking, biking, and public transportation.