Colorado roads of the future

Re: “Colorado’s stalemate over transportation,” Feb. 21 news story

All of us in Colorado know that our transportation systems have “hardening of the arteries.” It’s increasingly difficult to get people and goods to their destinations timely, safely, equitably, cost-effectively, and in environmentally responsible ways. This year our legislators have an excellent opportunity to pass a bill that makes major progress on all those dimensions.

The bill being sponsored by Sen. Faith Winter and Rep. Matt Gray will create a funding mechanism that can not only restore our roadways but also fund multi-modal transportation: transit, bikeways, and walking infrastructure. It’s time we move away from our L.A.-like dependence on cars, and into clean transit (electrically-powered), biking, and walking.

For example, with bold vision and investment, Colorado can solve our I-70 mountain corridor congestion issue by investing in SMART systems: Suspended Monorail Automated Rapid Transit. Colorado companies in this industry that can provide jobs while moving thousands more people and tons of goods between the front range and mountain communities, without widening the highway and despoiling our environment.

Polls show people will use their bikes to get to their destinations if safe in protected bike lanes. It’s time to increase our people-powered biking and walking modalities, supported by smart community planning. Let’s get this done in a Colorado bipartisan way!

Becky English, Denver