News Room

Move Colorado Issues Call to Action to Solve the Transportation Funding Dilemma Facing Colorado

DENVER, CO - January 18, 2007

Today, Move Colorado called on Governor Ritter and the Legislature to address one of our state's most important challenges - adequate, stable long term financing of the state's transportation infrastructure. According to Move Colorado President Steve Holt, "Colorado's transportation system has fallen behind - projects have been set aside or deferred while the system ages and population continues to grow. Investments are needed to make our transportation system work efficiently and safely, and keep congestion at acceptable levels. We need to revitalize important transportation corridors that connect our basic economic activity - recreation, agriculture, and our daily work commutes."

In a Letter and Position Statement "A Call for Action" released today, Move Colorado Task Force Co-Chair Mark Mehalko pledged the resources of Move Colorado to assist the Governor's Colorado Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel as it examines the problems and challenges of creating a 21st Century transportation system.

According to Mehalko," we are all supportive of Governor Ritter's initiative along with the recognition by our Legislative Leaders that Colorado has a problem, and that we need our state's public and private leaders to work together with citizens throughout the state to solve it. The funding that was made available by passage of Referendum C along with the benefits to transportation funding which are restored as a result of HB 1310 and SB 1 are absolutely critical to meeting our transportation needs. Unfortunately, those funds will only marginally address the current problems we keep deferring, not the capacity problems we now have to face for the future.

The problem is getting bigger and it will reach crisis proportions very soon with serious economic consequences. We need to solve this issue with a long term outlook. We applaud Governor Ritter for initiating the dialogue."