In 2025, Colorado will decide how to spend tens of billions of dollars in transportation funding over the next decade. This presents an important opportunity to better align our spending with our goals to save people money on transportation, reduce climate pollution, build vibrant and walkable communities, and increase safety and access to opportunity for everyone.
Getting on track will require Colorado to recalibrate its approach to transportation planning. Over the last 50 years, Colorado has spent the lion’s share of transportation dollars on expensive highway expansion projects and interchanges, fostering widespread dependence on cars – the most expensive, polluting, dangerous, and inefficient form of transportation. In recent years, Colorado has made modest progress in diversifying transportation options, but now is the time to accelerate the shift toward more affordable and efficient modes.
In reviewing CDOT’s project selection and funding allocation, it’s clear that our spending does not align with our goals. CDOT’s budget overprioritizes highway capacity projects while dedicating only a slim portion to expanding transportation options beyond driving. Instead, Colorado should adopt a more balanced strategy – dedicating 30% of transportation funding to projects that support non-driving modes, such as transit, biking, and walking, while reserving the remaining 70% for “fix-it-first” priorities that repair and maintain existing roads and bridges, and ensuring that infrastructure remains safe and functional.
