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CDOT Pulls Out of EIS - CINQ Comments Colorado and Jefferson County residents should take a moment to smile today. CDOT made the official announcement to pull out of the Environmental Impact Statement for the beltway, essentially ending state and federal support. Only three years ago, the beltway was considered a done deal. Many people in Golden and Jeffco have worked hard to convince the state that a beltway was fiscally irresponsible, and apparently it worked. Attached is information from the state, and below is information from the City of Golden. Pro-beltway politicians will claim that ultimately, the state had no money, but that is not the true reason. The fundamental reason was the LACK OF NEED FOR A BELTWAY, as demonstrated by 20 years of studies and data. If Governor Ritter believed a beltway was needed, the state would continue to pursue the beltway, not unlike the situation with I-70. However, our Governor and new CDOT chief, Russ George were able to see through the half-truths, misleading rhetoric and lack of supporting data by Jeffco and Arvada, and stopped this waste of state tax money. However, there is another battle on the horizon. The only option remaining for Jeffco commissioners, Arvada, Broomfield, and Brisa (the foreign company who leased the NW Parkway for 99 years) is to establish an authority and build a private, foreign-leased toll road. Any elected official who supports this toll road also supports non-compete agreements on SH93 and Indiana-McIntyre which guarantees congestion for generations to come. This toll road will also inevitably require substantial tax subsidies because there will not be enough demand to support the debt payments. – this point was conceded by CDOT months ago. The toll road is expected to cost $500 million. CINQ continues to be disappointed by Kathy Hartman and other Jeffco Commissioner who support this toll road, spending $100,000 in county money to support a toll road authority. Kathy Hartman is quoted as saying, “…this isn’t much money…” While Hartman’s seat is not up for re-election, two other county commissioner seats are up in November. I urge Jeffco residents to investigate the candidate’s positions on this toll road issue and vote accordingly. Please feel free to contact them. District 1 District 2 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. |