More needed on transportation

Nice job by Ellis Arnold summarizing this year’s legislative accomplishments in the recent article “Session delivers bills on transportation, pension reform.” Transportation has become such a priority because, as the article points out, by House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, “Roads and bridges had been neglected by Democrats for 13 years.”

The problem I have is that the Legislature’s accomplishment is limited to state financing, while the Trump administration is offering DOT grants to states and local governments that submit proposals putting additional infrastructure money on the table, such as the $645 million just passed. DOT doesn’t care where the state money comes from, i.e., the general fund, tolls, taxes, bonds or private investors. The action should be to submit a proposal to find out how much of the DOT pot, known as the BUILD grants program, can Colorado win having a direct effect on offsetting state expenditures.

Winning federal grants would significantly offset taxpayer and/or usage costs, thus making state financing options for transportation palatable.

The bone I have to pick with our candidates for governor, not to mention our current Hickenlooper, is inaction and not taking advantage of the DOT opportunity for grants. Although the election isn’t until November, the call for submitting a proposal (by candidates) should begin now during the election cycle to take advantage of the federal $1.5 billion 2018 spending bill expiring by the end of this year. A role of the governor is collaborating with CDOT and the Legislature to orchestrate a proposal.

Smith Young
Parker