Building the Next Generation of Transportation

Colorado can build a nation-leading infrastructure system that meets today’s needs and prepares our state and economy for the future.

Colorado’s infrastructure is the backbone of our economy and our way of life. From the busy streets of downtown Denver to the Colorado River Headwaters scenic byway in Grand County and the rural county roads in Prowers County, Coloradans rely on transportation infrastructure to commute to work, head to the grocery store and doctor’s appointments, and experience our state’s natural beauty. Every single day, Coloradans and visitors alike crisscross the state – by car, bus, air, or train – contributing to local economies along the way. 

Extreme weather and the state’s varied terrain make maintaining this network uniquely challenging and, as a result, Colorado has some of the most difficult infrastructure maintenance challenges in the nation. Colorado’s overall infrastructure grade is a C-, and state road quality has fallen to 43rd in the U.S. despite some recent progress made at the state and local levels. Meanwhile, Coloradans are facing increasing transportation costs and spending more and more time stuck in traffic. Transportation is the second largest expense for many Colorado households after housing. 

Colorado’s population and our economy are growing, increasing the importance of building a system that will not only serve us now but well into the future. As Governor, Michael will support a comprehensive approach to transportation, including:

1. Fixing our roads so that Coloradans can avoid unnecessary maintenance costs and stay safe,
2. Making it easier and cheaper to travel with available, frequent, and safe transit, and 
3. Building for the future through investments in new transportation ideas.

 

Fix the Roads. Colorado’s roads cost drivers $1,705 annually in wear and tear, more than double the national average. Michael will review the funding for transportation and work toward re-prioritizing the health, safety, and longevity of the current system, including:

• Funding Roads that Work and Fix Potholes: Michael will prioritize investments in operation and maintenance, mobility, and innovation. He will continue to invest in innovative transportation and infrastructure designs and technologies that support longer road life for less cost. Michael will also establish a State Pot-Hole App for drivers to easily report potholes across the state to help quickly direct limited resources to the most acute needs.
• Starting a Fast Track Review Process: Michael will cut the time it takes for the state to approve and invest funds into road maintenance projects, especially those related to safety. He will start a fast-track review process for maintenance projects, putting them in line with current critical project timelines before they become emergencies. He will partner directly with the state’s Transportation Planning Regions (TPRs), Councils of Governments (COGs), and local communities to ensure we address the most acute needs across the state.
• Regional Collaboration Grants: Michael will direct CDOT to work directly with regional and local leaders on a regional collaboration grant program. These grants will support projects built by local and regional coalitions dedicated to comprehensive planning that integrates strategic land use, opportunities for local and regional transit, and working roads. Michael understands that transportation is not a one size fits all approach, these grants will ensure priorities are determined from the ground up.

Make it Easier and Cheaper to Travel. Coloradans in the greater Denver Metro area spend an average of two work weeks  stuck in traffic. This doesn’t include hours lost to congestion on I-70 during the summer months or ski season. Michael will work with local communities to expand the capacity of our current infrastructure, including:

• Making Transportation Accessible, Affordable, and Safe: Michael will work with local governments and local and regional transit authorities to better align housing development with walkable neighborhoods and affordable transit, bike, and pedestrian options. He will work with local governments to increase the availability, frequency, and safety of affordable transit options within Colorado’s cities and towns, expand bus rapid transit on major corridors, further connect and sustainably fund statewide bus services, like Bustang, to local and regional transit systems throughout the state. He will also continue to work with local communities to expand and modernize passenger rail service.
• Making our Dollars Go Further: Michael will direct CDOT to work closely with other partners to integrate the cost of maintenance and operations funding and quality assessment into all project budgets. This step will increase efficiency and reduce long-term costs by requiring all infrastructure projects be maintained to a minimum appropriate level of service, rather than fixing once infrastructure begins to crumble. This will reduce costs and increase safety standards. He will also emphasize more cost-effective construction delivery methods to help Colorado catch up on deferred maintenance, and make sure Colorado is leveraging resources across the state to bring in federal dollars.
• Establishing Grant Capacity: Michael will direct CDOT and DOLA to coordinate with local governments, TPRs, industry, and other partners to hire dedicated grant specialists at the local, regional, and state level. The additional capacity will increase access to state and federal transportation funds for infrastructure, transit, and capital projects. Additionally, these grant specialists will support the implementation of federal grants – helping small, rural communities and others with less experience or capacity to manage federally funded projects to ensure success. 

Build for the Future. Colorado’s transportation needs will continue to grow with our state. Michael will prioritize investing in the innovation we need to sustain our economy, not just now but 50 years from now, including:

• Building the Next Generation of Transportation: Michael will expand research and implementation of innovative transportation technologies to help ensure Colorado stays on the cutting edge of opportunity, efficiency, and sustainability. He will work with institutions of higher education, the Transportation Technology Center, the Southern Colorado Institute of Transportation Technology, local governments, businesses, industry experts, and other leaders to invest in and adopt sustainable future technologies into Colorado’s transportation infrastructure. Michael will also build on the state’s efforts to encourage the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) through expanding Colorado’s EV charging infrastructure and by maintaining state EV incentives. 
• Expanding World Class Aviation: Colorado’s airports are important economic drivers for the state’s economy. Denver International Airport specifically has become one the world’s busiest airports and a primary economic engine for the state. Michael will partner with DEN and other airports across Colorado to ensure responsible and sensible growth that takes into account community, commercial, large and small business interests, and environmental impacts.
• Investing in the Future Workforce: Michael will bring together employers, labor, higher education, and communities statewide to better integrate education and jobs to meet critical workforce needs in maintenance and operations, engineering, construction and skilled trades, and technical and professional careers in transportation. He will work to increase access to industry credentials and support school-employer partnerships that ensure schools are teaching the skills employers actually need. Michael will push state policies to support this work and provide funding to get these programs up and running.