This is one I came across a few months ago and kept forgetting to write about.  The north area has long been on the short stick of funding from the state and the Colorado Department of Transportation.  Now comes the little nugget that CDOT has never even planned to add additional general purpose lanes to I-25 through the north area. 

In the August meeting minutes from the North Area Transportation Alliance there was this:

Gene [Putnam] indicated that the North I-25 EIS preferred alternative included express bus/HOV lanes from Fort Collins to the Denver Union Station and this EIS provides the necessary environmental clearance/study for the express/HOV lanes. The North I-25 EIS included environmental study to add one general purpose lane in both directions on I-25 from SH 14 south to E-470 but there has been NO environmental study to add one general purpose lane in both directions from E-470 south to US 36 (“gap”). CDOT currently has NO plans to study the gap. In addition, the DRCOG 2035 Financially Constrained Plan only shows adding the general purpose lane from US 36 to Thornton Parkway and the plan would have to be amended to extend the general purpose lanes to E-470. Mayor McNally made the point that without an environmental study, which usually takes about four years, any subsequent funding requests to make improvements would not be eligible for funding consideration.

What does this mean?  It means that CDOT has never had plans to add regular traffic lanes to the severely congested portion of I-25 from US-36 to E-470.  Further, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) plan ignores the need as well.

Now, NATA has adopted a resolution making the widening of I-25 one of its top priorities and that is commendable and needs to be pursued with the utmost urgency.  For far too long we have sat idly by while southern portions of I-25 and most of the US-36 corridor were improved.  Residents of the north metro area pay our fair share of taxes and it is time we got a return on that money.

According to an analysis by NATA, the north area of I-25 carries more traffic volume per lane than any other metro area highway.  Their study shows that 29,000 cars per day use each lane. 

Compare this to US-36 / Boulder Turnpike which is always being improved and receiving funds.  US-36 at Pecos Street carries a full one third less traffic at 19,666 per lane. 

A few quick thoughts about all of this:

• It highlights how CDOT continually ignores the needs of the north metro area.  The north metro continues to grow, our area of I-25 is the most congested highways in the state and yet they have not even completed the needed environmental studies to fix the problem. 
• It further highlights that DRCOG does little for the north metro area when it comes to highway improvement funding.  This is further emphasized when you consider the lack of funding we received from the so-called stimulus plan. 
• Congressman Jared Polis who represents both the US-36 and the I-25 corridors said back in August, “Highway 36 is my top highway to fund.”  Why is that Congressman?  You promised readers of these pages to equally represent your entire district and more specifically the Adams County portion.  If I-25 is more congested – and it obviously is – shouldn’t it be your “top highway to fund?”
• Lastly, I have to wonder why the heck none of the transportation managers in the north metro area didn’t raise a huge red flag over the lack of a proper study from CDOT years ago?  Were you asleep at the wheel?  Maybe we should take a bit of focus off of FasTracks and work on solutions that will actually do something to alleviate roadway congestion. 

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