The Denver Post - Opinion
June 23, 2006 (online)

In response to Dener Post Editorial "Golden's ticket is working together"

Parkway pains

Responding to the Post’s charge of NIMBY Golden and the beltway connection, I say the Post is on a tangent.

Before jumping to conclusions, consider these “easy-to-get” points: There are 20 years of data and studies for a beltway connection, and all the studies say a beltway won’t get enough use to justify the expense. People in Jeffco voted it down 5-to-1 in 1989. CDOT recently said, “no thanks.” Again and again, the same answer keeps coming back: This is a bad idea.

The better plan is to improve existing arterials. Don’t let politicians tell you there is no money to improve these roads. There is money, but only for road improvements that make sense and provide benefit. Currently, there is no money to improve these public roads because our elected officials do not advocate for it — another failure in leadership in Jeffco. Instead, politicians are taking the easy way out.

Proponents of a beltway connection conveniently fail to mention that this beltway will be a toll road — complete with congestion guarantees. The proof is in the pudding. Look at the mess in Broomfield : a 99-year lease to a foreign, private company with congestion guarantees. And we want to repeat this mistake?

Politicians say this toll road will bring jobs and taxes, but this is another smoke screen. Arvada has a long history of changing its zoning in this area to build more homes, which is a poor tax base. It should be apparent that the toll road is about spurring development. It has nothing to do with transportation. In the end, citizens get stuck with more congestion on public roads, and developers get rich.

Golden is fighting for itself, but also for Denver. More traffic congestion benefits no one.

Rob Medina
President, Citizens Involved in the Northwest Quadrant
Golden

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