By Steven K. Paulson
Associated Press

DENVER — Gov. Bill Owens signed two bills Thursday to provide $15 billion for transportation over the next 20 years, including new toll highways and public-private partnerships.

As traffic whizzed past on Interstate 270 toward the Boulder Turnpike and drivers honked their horns, Owens called the legislation a big step toward solving the state's traffic problems.

"Years from now, we will look back on this day and see it was a milestone for transportation in Colorado," Owens said.

The governor signed two identical bills, one from the House and the other from the Senate, to show it had bipartisan support.

Senate President Stan Matsunaka, D-Loveland, said the funding was a victory for both sides, providing Democrats with an option for transit and the governor with the money he wanted for highways.

"This is a giant first step," Matsunaka said.

The state's portion of the latest 20-year plan approved by the Transportation Commission lists $32 billion in projects, $17 billion provided by existing revenue including a portion of the state sales tax and $15 billion by the new legislation. The state also receives federal funding for transportation.

The money will not start flowing for two years, in part because of the state's current budget crisis. However, it allows the state to go to the bond markets for $220 million for six key projects statewide.

Another $200 million in resurfacing and maintenance projects are planned later this year.

It also allows the state to begin an Environmental Impact Statement for an expansion of the Boulder Turnpike.

Transportation Director Tom Norton said he already has proposals from businesses for toll roads, including new toll lanes on C-470 around Denver. He also expects more public-private partnerships.

Over the past 20 years, dozens of businesses and municipalities have helped build or plan $160 million worth of state highways, interchanges and bridges in public-private partnerships. Owens predicted they will be even more popular, and expects them to raise about $2 billion for highway projects.

Businesses contributed because they wanted to speed construction that otherwise could have languished for decades. They got an immediate boost in property values and access and the state received free road improvements.

Owens said none of the existing state highways will be converted to toll roads, though new lanes could be added for those willing to pay, contributing another $2 billion.

Not everyone was happy with the bill, including Rep. Keith King, R-Colorado Springs, who saw the compromise as a defeat.

The Democrats won concessions that allow voters in the six-county Regional Transportation District to run ballot initiatives for tax increases.

Republicans, including King and Owens, gave up on their demands to increase the amount of sales tax used for transportation from 10 percent to 15 percent.

May 31, 2002

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