|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||
 |
 Custom Search
|
The Golden Transcript By Megan Quinn A decision between a toll road authority and an independent firm could someday affect roads in Golden and Arvada. The Northwest Parkway Highway Authority officially announced Aug. 29 its intent to lease the Northwest Parkway toll road to Brisa, a Portuguese firm. According to the agreement, Brisa will finance and operate the road and potentially extend it through Broomfield to state Highway 128 near Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. At the closing of the agreement, $40 million will go into escrow for the possible extension of the toll road past Highway 128 to Highway 93 and West 64th Avenue, the agreement states. The decision was met with nods of approval from some and vehement opposition from others. The loudest voice in the opposition was the City of Golden, which says the agreement will bring a noisy, imposing beltway a big step closer to Golden's city limits. Although the agreement between the Northwest Parkway Highway Authority and Brisa does not specifically mention extending the toll road down through Golden to Interstate 70, some Golden city officials worry it is just a matter of time before agreements are made to fund road construction within Golden's city limits. "If you build it all the way up to our doorstep, that's a lot of pressure," said Golden City Councilor Jacob Smith. "This agreement is designed to coerce us into agreeing to the beltway, even if it isn't doing it right now." Karen Stuart, vice chairman of the Northwest Parkway Highway Authority, said the agreement with Brisa should not upset Golden officials. "The agreement with Brisa does not bring a road through Golden. Should a road go there, Golden would be at the table," Stuart said. Despite Golden's opposition, Arvada representatives are happy with the decision. Lorraine Anderson, an Arvada city councilor and member of the Northwest Parkway Board, hopes the lease agreement is the first step to extending the road expansion all the way down Highway 93 through U.S. Highway 6 to I-70. "This certainly helps Arvada's goal of completing the parkway," Anderson said. "People will be able to access different parts of the metro area without having to go through our neighborhood streets." The purpose of the $603 million, 99-year leasing agreement was to relieve debt issued to build the highway. The agreement means retiring all outstanding bonds and transferring all road responsibility to Brisa. Drivers on the Northwest Parkway shouldn't see much change in the way the road is operated. Toll road fees may go up by a dollar within the next few years, but the price increase was predicted before the change in control, Northwest Parkway representatives said. |
|
The following organizations endorse CINQ’s position: Colorado Environmental Coalition, Plan Jeffco, Friends of the Foothills, former Colorado Gov. Dick Lamm, 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. |