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A History of Traffic Management in the Northwest Metro Area
The communities of north and west Denver have a long and impressive history of working together to find solutions to regional traffic needs. The following highlights the good work that has been done since the late 1980s to address traffic needs:
- The W-470 Authority was created by Intergovernmental Agreement in 1987. That agreement was dissolved after the defeat of the 1989 effort to impose a $10 fee on auto registrations to fund the start up costs of toll road construction.
- From 1991 - 1996, Jefferson County, Arvada, Golden and Lakewood worked together to design, fund and construct the C-470 connection to US Highway 6.
- Jefferson County joined forces with Arvada, Broomfield, Golden, Lakewood, Westminster and Wheat Ridge in 1995 to develop a County-wide transportation plan. After much discussion, any plans for a Superhighway were excluded from the plan and agreed to be addressed separately. The County-wide plan was published in 1998.
- In 1999, DRCOG, Jefferson County, Arvada, Golden Lakewood, Westminster and Wheat Ridge, teamed up to fund the Northwest Quadrant Feasibility Study (NWQFS), which concluded in September of 2000 that the Superhighway would not be the best solution to the traffic issues of the region. Instead, the study recommended a series of improvements to north/south arterials including improvements to highways 6 & 93.
- Spring 2008 – Governor Ritter and CDOT decide to pull support for a beltway toll road. As a response, Jefferson County, Arvada and Broomfield contribute $300,000 to form an authority to build a private toll road. A citizens opposition group forms in Arvada, ART – Arvadans for Responsible Transportation, email Russ Weisfield rweisfield@gmail.com.
The Beltway Battle
Proponents of the Arvada Toll Road are on their last leg. Now that CDOT has abandoned the beltway and taken away their public money, their only hope is to privatize the toll road, likely partnering with Brisa -- the same foreign company that leased the Broomfield toll road for 99 years. Proponents of the Arvada toll road are not everyday citizens, but are rather real estate developers and politicians, including Arvada City Council and Jeffco Commissioners.
Arvada, Jeffco and Broomfield have recently formed an authority to figure out how to get the money. At some point, they will be forced to publish data that justifies a need based on future toll revenues. WHEN this happens, it will be curious because in 2006, CDOT admitted this toll road will never make money and would require a public subsidy. Several professionally acclaimed studies over the years also concluded a lack of need, even if built as a public road. When this authority inevitably tells us (and the bond market) that the toll road will make money, we’ll know the fix is on. CINQ will be there to bring sunshine to this inevitable lie. Remember, over the last 20 years, not one credible study has ever proven the need for a beltway. There is little developable land in the northwest quadrant, and that lack of population makes the lack of need apparent.
Interestingly, Loraine Anderson (Arvada City Council) recently admitted that goal of the beltway was to spur development, not for better transportation. I can’t tell you how many times Loraine said, “skiers need the beltway to get to I-70”, or “Denver needs a beltway.” What a crock – this toll road is about Arvada sprawl. Thank you, Loraine for your long-awaited honesty.
IF the toll road moves forward, elected officials will be faced with a non-compete agreement (congestion guarantees) on public roads, meaning SH93 will never be improved in our lifetime. The toll company will undoubtedly require that SH93, Indiana-McIntyre, SH72 and SH128 not be improved, so there’s more congestion, and people will drive the toll road. Case in point; Broomfield is now trying to improve 160th, but Brisa, the foreign company running the NW Parkway objects. Broomfield is now beholden to a foreign company, not to its citizens. What a scam.
Another key issue is the November election. I strongly urge people to learn about the County Commissioner candidates, and support those who advocate for sustainable solutions, not the quick buck. The toll road through Arvada is irresponsible public policy, and should never be built. Support candidates who are concerned with future energy prices, and will work for real transpiration benefits in Jeffco.
The Beltway Toll Road Timeline
1988 – Jeffco voters say NO to a new beltway tax. Defeated by a 4 to 1 margin.
2000 – The NW Quadrant Feasibility Study recommends NO Beltway, and instead recommends improving existing roads.
2001 – X-Governor Owens, x-CDOT chief, Tom Norton, Arvada and Jeffco Commissioners spend $17M for an EIS (a study to determine how a beltway would be built).
2003 – The state realizes that no public money is available.
2006 – Politicians begin promoting a toll road, however CDOT concedes that a new toll road will require substantial tax subsidies as there will not be enough toll revenue to support the bond debt.
2007 – The Northwest Parkway toll road in Broomfield cannot meet its bond debt and narrowly avoids default by leasing its toll road for 99 years to a foreign company. Broomfield also concedes a non-compete agreement, resulting in creating congestion on public streets citizens to protect the toll revenue.
April 2008 - CDOT halts the EIS and abandons the beltway
One would think that after such a deep hole, politicians would stop digging.
May 2008 – Jefferson County, Arvada and Broomfield elected officials form an “authority” and spend $300,000 in tax money to build a beltway toll road through Arvada (see map).
Citizen’s Opposition to a Toll Road
Some have claimed that opposition to the Arvada toll road is a minority group, but in truth, the politicians are the minority. There is not one citizens group who supports this toll road. On the other hand, there is large opposition to this toll road including:
- CINQ-Citizens Involved in the Northwest Quadrant
- ART-Arvadans for Responsible Transportation
- Colorado Environmental Coalition
- Plan Jeffco
- Friends of the Foothills
- Canyon Area Residents for the Environment (CARE)
- Blue Mountain Land & Homeowners Association
- Apple Meadows Homeowners Association
- Village at Mountain Ridge Homeowners Association
- Meadow Run Homeowners Association
- Harmony Village Community Association
Citizens are encouraged to voice their opinions to elected officials:
Jefferson County Commissioners
http://www.co.jefferson.co.us/electedofficials.htm
Arvada City Council
http://arvada.org/government/city-council-members/
City & County of Broomfield
http://www.broomfield.org/council/index.shtml
Toll Road Corruption
Proponents of the Arvada toll road will only be built if it is viable, and that is up to the “free market”. But the 800 pound gorilla is the corruption and strong private interests to build this toll road. The wool was pulled over a lot of people’s eyes on the NW Parkway toll road in Broomfield. People were told this toll road was viable, and apparently it was not. The toll road narrowly avoided default by leasing the road to a foreign company for 99 years. The corruption on the NW Parkway was unprecedented in Colorado, and it will be the same cast of characters involved in an Arvada toll road. Keep an eye on Broomfield’s x-mayor, who is now employed by a toll road financing company, and other executives from the now-defunct NW Parkway authority. That’s the fundamental flaw with “selling” off public infrastructure to the private sector. Private interests will go to almost any means to profit. In addition, non-compete agreements are at the heart of any toll road. Government then becomes an agent, working for the benefit of a private, foreign company -- rather than the common good. The proposed Arvada toll road follows this same pattern of egregious privateering. Remember -- there has NEVER been a demonstrated need for this road. All the previous history and data say this road should never be built.
The Big Lie
Politicians say this toll road will increase development, jobs and taxes, but this is only opinion and speculation -- while using tax payer money to speculate. The lie is apparent as Arvada aggressively changes their zoning to build more homes, which is a poor tax base. Candela’s is the most recent and best example. The worst part is politicians are misleading citizens by not mentioning the costs of more development including streets, sewer, police and fire, sprawl and congestion, a lack of water, and the threat to the mountain backdrop and wildlife. Politicians never mention the threat to home values with more development including traffic congestion. The benefits may not out-weigh the costs.
We should be vary wary of a philosophy: “build it and they will come!” This is code for, “let’s use tax money to subsidize private interests”. Politicians have invested $300,000 to find a way to build this toll road, and the truth won’t get in the way. Anyone who says this tolling authority is “exploratory” is disingenuous.
Jefferson County Commissioners and Arvada City Council claim they need more development for more tax revenue -- but, why? More tax revenue is a self-fulfilling prophesy because more development begets more tax, which begets more development. Rather, government should do MORE WITH LESS. That’s how the rest of us live, and that should be the measure of success for elected officials. Any fool can sell off the family jewels for a quick buck. But real leaders find real, sustainable solutions. More development for more tax revenue is backward public policy.
What of higher energy prices? Politicians must move beyond the 20th Century, and realize we will drive less in the future. High energy costs and technology will impact how we drive. One must ask, is it appropriate to pursue a controversial toll road in Arvada with these trends on the horizon?
As a final thought, I would rhetorically ask proponents of this toll road: “Would you invest your own personal savings in the financial success of this toll road?” If the answer is yes, I have some swamp land in Florida.
See also:
- Rocky Mountain News article from Dec. 12, 2005 titled Road fight is hardy perennial
- Northwest Parkway Issues - May thru October, 2005 - A series of columns from the Speakout column in the Rocky Mountain News
- Excerpt from The Sprawl of Shame 2001 - A Report by the Colorado Sprawl Action Center - a project of CoPIRG (Colorado Public Interest Reasearch Group):
The Northwest Beltway (Jefferson County)
Sprawl Elements: While urban beltways typically are marketed as solutions to traffic congestion, it has been consistently demonstrated that they induce further congestion by providing new access to open greenfields far from urban centers, inevitably driving development patterns further to the fringe. Due to their location and size, over the long term these developments contribute to longer commutes, a worsening of air quality, increased traffic, destruction of vast tracks of open space, and increased water consumption. More than almost any other single project included in the Sprawl of Shame, the final loop of the Northwest Parkway threatens to encourage additional sprawl.
History: Despite assurances by its creators to the contrary, already constructed segments of the beltway have fostered new and sprawling developments. This final segment has been touted by the cities of Arvada and Broomfield as the best solution for regional traffic woes, though this position is directly contrary to the findings of last year’s extensive Northwest Quadrant Transportation Feasibility Study (NWQTFS). The study concluded that the $500 million dollar project would not reduce traffic in the region nearly as cheaply or efficiently as simply improving the local, existing transportation infrastructure. Since last year’s listing in the Sprawl of Shame, the city of Arvada and CDOT director Tom Norton have openly disregarded the NWQTFS study, and instead commissioned new taxpayer funded studies. Their proposed alternative includes routes over the soon-to-be Wildlife Refuge of Rocky Flats. It should also be noted that while spending the money to study and then re-study the Beltway option, Arvada has neglected to commit to even the most cursory improvements along ailing Indiana Ave, casting doubt about its ability to manage even its existing transit infrastructure, let alone a regional tollway.
Commentary: Everywhere the Denver beltway has been built it has spurred new sprawl. Along the northern reaches of E-470 you’ll see sign after sign announcing new and proposed sprawling developments popping up all along the urban fringe (for an example, see Aurora’s North East Expansion entry in this report). This entry marks the third consecutive year that this highly contested sprawl inducing highway project has appeared on the Sprawl of Shame.
See the entire report: The Sprawl of Shame 2001 (PDF)
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