I-70 showdown tomorrow at Capitol

The avalanche of proposals on how to fix Interstate 70 west of Denver comes crashing into the state legislature tomorrow, when two of the most prominent plans get heard in a state Senate committee and the hordes opposed to the plans hold a rally on the steps of the Capitol.

But the disparate sides of the debate gave Capitol watchers a preview today of the coming collision, during a lunchtime meeting of the legislature’s transportation caucus. Lawmakers, local officials and various transportation advocates ping-ponged between proposals to expand the highway, build rail lines along the corridor and charge tolls to pay for it all. And at the end, the only thing that was really clear was how unclear it is where consensus on the issues lies.

“If there was a magic bullet to this,” said Rep. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, “we would have done it.”

Tomorrow, the Senate Transportation Committee will hear bills by senators Chris Romer, D-Denver, and Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, that propose charging tolls on I-70. Romer’s bill would charge tolls during peak traffic times and use the money to fund a variety measures to alleviate traffic on the highway, such as bus rapid transit. Romer said there isn’t another way to raise money for highway fixes.

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