The beltway connection from Broomfield, through Arvada and into Golden has been a vigorously debated road for years. Beginning in 1989, voters said NO to this road by a 4-to-1 margin. Subsequently, three major studies have looked at this road, including the Jeffco Transpiration Plan, the NW Quadrant Feasibility Study and an Environmental Impact Statement. Each of these studies concluded that there was no need for a beltway connection, was not cost effective, and/or did not have public support. Instead, the best recommendation was to improve existing roads such as SH93 and Indiana/McIntyre to reduce congestion at the least expense. Future land use was the primary reason each study failed to prove need. The majority of the land in this area is undevelopable, with the exception of a few small areas. The idea that this connection would provide a regional benefit is also untrue, and has never been justified by professionally acclaimed data. In fact, the beltway will only reduce traffic on Wadsworth by 3%. The real motivation to build this road is to subsidize development and sprawl in Arvada. With no public funding options left for elected officials, the last resort is to seek financing from the private bond market, which has many serious consequences.
Map of proposed beltway toll road through Arvada
Proponents of the Arvada Toll Road are on their last leg. Now that CDOT has abandoned the beltway and taken away their public money, their only hope is to privatize the toll road, likely partnering with Brisa -- the same foreign company that leased the Broomfield toll road for 99 years. Proponents of the Arvada toll road are not everyday citizens, but are rather real estate developers and politicians, including Arvada City Council and Jeffco Commissioners.
Arvada, Jeffco and Broomfield have recently formed an authority to figure out how to get the money. At some point, they will be forced to publish data that justifies a need based on future toll revenues. WHEN this happens, it will be curious because in 2006, CDOT admitted this toll road will never make money and would require a public subsidy. Several professionally acclaimed studies over the years also concluded a lack of need, even if built as a public road. When this authority inevitably tells us (and the bond market) that the toll road will make money, we’ll know the fix is on. CINQ will be there to bring sunshine to this inevitable lie. Remember, over the last 20 years, not one credible study has ever proven the need for a beltway. There is little developable land in the northwest quadrant, and that lack of population makes the lack of need apparent.
Interestingly, Loraine Anderson (Arvada City Council) recently admitted that goal of the beltway was to spur development, not for better transportation. I can’t tell you how many times Loraine said, “skiers need the beltway to get to I-70”, or “Denver needs a beltway.” What a crock – this toll road is about Arvada sprawl. Thank you, Loraine for your long-awaited honesty.
IF the toll road moves forward, elected officials will be faced with a non-compete agreement (congestion guarantees) on public roads, meaning SH93 will never be improved in our lifetime. The toll company will undoubtedly require that SH93, Indiana-McIntyre, SH72 and SH128 not be improved, so there’s more congestion, and people will drive the toll road. Case in point; Broomfield is now trying to improve 160th, but Brisa, the foreign company running the NW Parkway objects. Broomfield is now beholden to a foreign company, not to its citizens. What a scam.
Another key issue is the November election. I strongly urge people to learn about the County Commissioner candidates, and support those who advocate for sustainable solutions, not the quick buck. The toll road through Arvada is irresponsible public policy, and should never be built. Support candidates who are concerned with future energy prices, and will work for real transpiration benefits in Jeffco.
The Beltway Toll Road Timeline
1988 – Jeffco voters say NO to a new beltway tax. Defeated by a 4 to 1 margin.
2000 – The NW Quadrant Feasibility Study recommends NO Beltway, and instead recommends improving existing roads.
2001 – X-Governor Owens, x-CDOT chief, Tom Norton, Arvada and Jeffco Commissioners spend $17M for an EIS (a study to determine how a beltway would be built).
2003 – The state realizes that no public money is available.
2006 – Politicians begin promoting a toll road, however CDOT concedes that a new toll road will require substantial tax subsidies as there will not be enough toll revenue to support the bond debt.
2007 – The Northwest Parkway toll road in Broomfield cannot meet its bond debt and narrowly avoids default by leasing its toll road for 99 years to a foreign company. Broomfield also concedes a non-compete agreement, resulting in creating congestion on public streets citizens to protect the toll revenue.
April 2008 - CDOT halts the EIS and abandons the beltway
One would think that after such a deep hole, politicians would stop digging.
May 2008 – Jefferson County, Arvada and Broomfield elected officials form an “authority” and spend $300,000 in tax money to build a beltway toll road through Arvada (see map).
Citizen’s Opposition to a Toll Road
Some have claimed that opposition to the Arvada toll road is a minority group, but in truth, the politicians are the minority. There is not one citizens group who supports this toll road. On the other hand, there is large opposition to this toll road including:
- CINQ-Citizens Involved in the Northwest Quadrant
- ART-Arvadans for Responsible Transportation
- 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
- Harmony Village Community Association
Citizens are encouraged to voice their opinions to elected officials:
Jefferson County Commissioners
http://www.co.jefferson.co.us/electedofficials.htm
Arvada City Council
http://arvada.org/government/city-council-members/
City & County of Broomfield
http://www.broomfield.org/council/index.shtml
Toll Road Corruption
Proponents of the Arvada toll road will only be built if it is viable, and that is up to the “free market”. But the 800 pound gorilla is the corruption and strong private interests to build this toll road. The wool was pulled over a lot of people’s eyes on the NW Parkway toll road in Broomfield. People were told this toll road was viable, and apparently it was not. The toll road narrowly avoided default by leasing the road to a foreign company for 99 years. The corruption on the NW Parkway was unprecedented in Colorado, and it will be the same cast of characters involved in an Arvada toll road. Keep an eye on Broomfield’s x-mayor, who is now employed by a toll road financing company, and other executives from the now-defunct NW Parkway authority. That’s the fundamental flaw with “selling” off public infrastructure to the private sector. Private interests will go to almost any means to profit. In addition, non-compete agreements are at the heart of any toll road. Government then becomes an agent, working for the benefit of a private, foreign company -- rather than the common good. The proposed Arvada toll road follows this same pattern of egregious privateering. Remember -- there has NEVER been a demonstrated need for this road. All the previous history and data say this road should never be built.
The Big Lie
Politicians say this toll road will increase development, jobs and taxes, but this is only opinion and speculation -- while using tax payer money to speculate. The lie is apparent as Arvada aggressively changes their zoning to build more homes, which is a poor tax base. Candela’s is the most recent and best example. The worst part is politicians are misleading citizens by not mentioning the costs of more development including streets, sewer, police and fire, sprawl and congestion, a lack of water, and the threat to the mountain backdrop and wildlife. Politicians never mention the threat to home values with more development including traffic congestion. The benefits may not out-weigh the costs.
We should be vary wary of a philosophy: “build it and they will come!” This is code for, “let’s use tax money to subsidize private interests”. Politicians have invested $300,000 to find a way to build this toll road, and the truth won’t get in the way. Anyone who says this tolling authority is “exploratory” is disingenuous.
Jefferson County Commissioners and Arvada City Council claim they need more development for more tax revenue -- but, why? More tax revenue is a self-fulfilling prophesy because more development begets more tax, which begets more development. Rather, government should do MORE WITH LESS. That’s how the rest of us live, and that should be the measure of success for elected officials. Any fool can sell off the family jewels for a quick buck. But real leaders find real, sustainable solutions. More development for more tax revenue is backward public policy.
What of higher energy prices? Politicians must move beyond the 20th Century, and realize we will drive less in the future. High energy costs and technology will impact how we drive. One must ask, is it appropriate to pursue a controversial toll road in Arvada with these trends on the horizon?
As a final thought, I would rhetorically ask proponents of this toll road: “Would you invest your own personal savings in the financial success of this toll road?” If the answer is yes, I have some swamp land in Florida.
What You Can Do
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