That was the warning Tuesday from Colorado Department of Highways Director Russ George to a joint meeting of the state legislature’s House and Senate transportation committees.
He said Colorado still needs a new revenue stream for transportation infrastructure such as the one being promoted by Gov. Bill Ritter and the legislature’s majority Democrats to impose more than $200 million worth of new user fees on Colorado motorists.
“The stimulus is just a one-time thing and the amount will not exceed what I would have invested this year anyway,” George said. “It’s just filling a hole. We need $500 million a year just to maintain what we have and $1 billion more to expand to where the population is demanding it.”
George said the first proposal for a stimulus package being considered by U.S. House of Representatives would send $422 million to Colorado for highway construction and another $100 million to boost transit funding.
George said Colorado is in a good position to take advantage of federal stimulus dollars because so many “shovel-ready” projects are ready to go.
High on the list is a 5.5-mile resurfacing project on State Highway 62 on the Dallas Divide, he said. A little further down the list are planned intersection improvements on State Highway 145 at Society Turn and San Miguel County Road 63L.
However, George said CDOT has a $304 million shortfall in this year’s budget that has grounded any future planning.
“We really didn’t expect the General Fund dollars to disappear as fast as it did,” he said. “Almost immediately in the middle of last year we quit issuing any new consulting contracts of any kind. That was the first place the private sector began to see what was happening.”
The chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, said he and Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton, are hoping to introduce the controversial transportation funding plan by Friday and begin hearings next week.
The bill is being touted as a way to get people back to work and stimulate the economy.
“Time is of the essence,” Gibbs said. “Everything is on the table and we are working closely with all the parties involved. We hope to have bipartisan support and we’re really trying to take into account everyone’s concerns.”
Gibbs said a strong transportation system is critical to districts like his that are heavily dependent on tourism.
“I have nine ski resorts in my district and tourism is the centerpiece of our economy,” he said. “If folks aren’t able to head to our areas in a quick and efficient way, they are going to think twice about us and might go to Utah, California or Lake Tahoe instead.”
As explained at the governor’s news conference last week, the first phase of the Democrats’ plan is based on a series of surcharges and fees that would raise about $250 million a year for road safety projects, focusing first on the 125 bridges throughout the state that CDOT has deemed deficient.
An annual road safety surcharge, based on the weight of a vehicle, would range from $16 for motorcycles to $39 for vehicles 16,000 pounds or more. An additional surcharge of from $13 to $29, also based on weight, would be used by a new statewide bridge enterprise for financing bonds.
Ritter said the plan would cost the average motorist an additional $4 per month.
Four bridges in the tri-county area are on the list of deficient bridges that don’t meet safety standards. They are on US 550 over Bear Creek and on SH 62 over the Uncompahgre River in Ouray County; on US 550 over Mineral Creek in San Juan County; and on SH 145 over Leopard Creek in San Miguel County.
The reaction of House District 58 Rep. Scott Tipton of Cortez is fairly typical of the Republican response to the Democrats’ plan.
“It’s my sense that we are going to have to do something,” said Tipton, a first year lawmaker. “I am concerned about the fee structure and the prospect of a mileage tax. It may make sense in Denver where people only have one vehicle and don’t have to drive long distances but not on the West Slope.”
The leading Republican in the Colorado Senate, Minority Leader Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, said he believes a compromise could be reached soon. He noted the Republicans already have suggested a plan to use equity in state-owned buildings as collateral for issuing so-called certificates of participation to repair and build roads.
“We would really serve this institution well if we got this one solved and moved on very quickly,” Penry said. “There is good momentum now with brand new leadership and not the bitterness of days gone by. Let’s get in and get it while the gettin’s good.”
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