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The Beltway Pipedream The debate over the proposed highway through the Northwest Quadrant (NWQ) will come to a head this year. For those who have not followed the issue, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has been pushing a highway that would complete a circular beltway around Denver, linking C-470 to the Northwest Parkway toll road in Broomfield. The highway route would run on SH93 from Golden, then turn north-east at Lyden Road to Broomfield. A few years ago, when CDOT began pushing the beltway connection, the first order of business was to change the goal of the highway. The old goal of “improving traffic flow” was out, instead adopting the goal of connectivity, or “connect the dots”. CDOT claimed connectivity was important because future traffic demand from northern suburbs would travel this route. Fast forward several years, and $12 million later for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study the issue. CDOT’s traffic modeling illustrates that only 1 out 10 vehicles will be regional -- meaning 9 out 10 vehicles are local, and won’t use the highway. The economic factor driving these traffic patterns are land use. Consider most of the land in the NWQ is not developable, which includes Jefferson and Boulder County open space, Rocky Flats, and the Lyden dump and gas fields. This area will never become another Highlands Ranch with rows of homes and commercial buildings. But, why would CDOT let the facts get in the way? Realizing it could be tough to financing a highway we don’t need, CDOT will soon propose a portion of the highway be a toll road. The toll road portion will begin at SH93 and Lyden Road, and head north-east through Arvada to Broomfield. Toll roads have become the ugly step sister, and for good reason. The Northwest Parkway toll road in Broomfield has been a financial bust due to dubious projections and lack of oversight. Some supporters say this toll road would be viable if we build the NWQ link. A point of reference: The goal of Northwest Parkway toll road was specifically to connect Interlocken and DIA. The viability of this toll road had nothing to do with building another. Moreover, toll roads are private entities that need to stand on their own two feet. Building a new toll road on the heels of a failed one borders on ludicrous. A new study to be released by the City of Golden will illustrate that this toll road will not be financially viable – just like the Northwest Parkway toll road – and why? Because there are not enough people willing to pay the toll. Moreover, a new toll road in the NWQ may actually create more traffic congestion on already crowded public roads as people seek routes to avoid paying the toll. In the end, CDOT’s proposed beltway will likely go down in defeat because these truths are becoming more evident. Many traffic experts and politicians are already acknowledging the lack of need for a beltway, especially considering the $1.7 billion price tag. The worst part is we still don’t have the traffic improvements we need. SH93 from Golden to Boulder is a dangerous 2-lane road that desperately needs to be expanded to 4 lanes. Traffic studies also indicate that Indiana/McIntyre through Arvada needs to be expanded to 4 lanes. Amazingly, CDOT has known all this for many years. In 1999, a Denver Regional Council of Governments study came to these same conclusions -- 4 lane improvements to SH93 and Indiana/McIntyre helped traffic flow, and cost 50% less. If CDOT knew this beltway link made no sense, why have they pushed it? The answer may never be fully understood, but the time is now to call for Governor Ritter and new CDOT chief, Russ George to look hard at the facts. Put an end to the beltway pipedream. We need real transportation solutions in the NWQ that actually improves traffic flow, and is fiscally responsible to tax payers. Rob Medina |
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The following organizations endorse CINQ’s position: 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, and Harmony Village Community Association. |