Colorado officials should take a hard look at toll roads such as E-470. Paying a $5 toll to travel from the airport to Park Meadows almost constitutes "highway robbery," especially in these days of higher gasoline prices and the taxes included in those fuel costs. The Post's series on toll roads clearly shows the difference between the thinking of government and business. When the airlines want to fill up empty seats, they reduce fares. When a retail store has excess inventory, they reduce the retail price of goods and advertise it as a sale. Why doesn't government do something bold and business-like: lower the price of E-470 tolls to $1 per one-way trip for cars and $2 for big trucks for a one-year trial? It's likely the number of vehicles using the toll road for $1 would greatly increase while also reducing traffic on some of the other metro highways.
Let's face it: If these toll roads continue to miss anticipated revenue/traffic expectations, there's little doubt in my mind that taxpayers will end up getting stuck for the bill at some future point.
Don Ireland, Denver
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