“Driving Forward” Event Featured Senate President Kevin Grantham, Speaker of the House Crisanta Duran and CDOT Executive Director Shailen Bhatt
Transportation is one of the most important issues facing lawmakers this year. The need to repair and expand Colorado’s roads and bridges has never been so dire, provided Colorado’s recent population boom and lack of a reliable, permanent funding source for transportation.
In an event hosted and moderated by Fix Colorado Roads and the Colorado Business Roundtable on February 21, 2017 key state policymakers heard directly from the business community about how Colorado’s current transportation infrastructure system impacts business and commerce. The evening also featured a conversation with legislative leaders about solutions being considered at the Capitol and the status of their negotiations.
“This is the first dedicated transportation event with new leadership where policymakers were able to hear first-hand from the business community,” said Jeff Wasden, president of Colorado Business Roundtable. “These business leaders see Colorado trailing states such as Utah and Texas, two of our biggest competitors, on key commerce and tourism opportunities due to outdated, unmaintained and congested roadways. We can no longer kick this can down the road; real revenue is on the line. We’ve heard from many in the business community who want lawmakers to come together and act today.”
Fortunately, lawmakers have promised to act. Senate President Kevin Grantham and Speaker of the House Crisanta Duran both promised to make transportation a priority in their opening day remarks of the 2017 legislative session, highlighting Colorado’s $9 billion transportation funding gap. According to a poll commissioned in April 2016 by Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance/Fix North I-25 Business Alliance, nine out of 10 voters agree that Colorado’s roads are in “desperate need of repair.” However, a compromise solution has yet to be reached at the Capitol.
Thank you to the attendees and speakers of "Driving Forward" for participating in that future solution for Colorado transportation.
Check out these articles for more coverage of the event: