Well, we're close to decision time - at least insofar as the 34-member I-70 Coalition is concerned. Following a two-day conference with all kinds of dissent voiced, the Coalition, which represents all the affected counties and communities, ended with one voice. Their recommendation: Limit near current construction to the "choke points" along the I-70 corridor, while at the same time planning for future mass transit. Many have been fairly consistently critical of the tack taken by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), which seems to be relying mostly on 50-year-old technology to provide for easing congestion. Some of those critics have looked at European transportation systems, even travelling there to see those systems up close. And they are calling for vision. They are not alone, of course. The effect of construction alone on this corridor would take 5-15 years, depending on the options ultimately selected, and the stakeholders are all of us who live along that lifeline of a highway. From Jefferson County on the western edge of the Denver Metro area, to Clear Creek County which is home to Idaho Springs and Georgetown, to Summit County (Dillon, Silverthorne, Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain), and over to Eagle County (Vail, Eagle, Edwards, Beaver Creek), and finally to Pitkin County (Glenwood Springs, Aspen), the dissent has been growing, and the buzz has been for a more visionary solution, less disruption of lives, and some real anticipation of what the future truly holds. The recommendations of the Coalition will be finalized and submitted to the CDOT in the near future, to meet a May 24th deadline. It's issues draft is on their website. Then, it's up to the CDOT to let the citizens know just how real their dreams might have been. |
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