Colorado Toll Road Goes Private

The Northwest Parkway Public Highway Authority, owner of Colorado's newest toll road (opened 2003), has finalized the bid for leasing the 11-mile road after revenue did not match expectations.

2 minute read

April 18, 2007, 7:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


The Board of Directors of the Northwest Parkway Public Highway Authority, representing the three cities and counties the financially troubled roadway serves, had solicited bids from 11 investment firms and toll-road operators. They have selected a team of companies from Portugal and Brazil as the winner in a bid to operate the road which links the E-470 toll road with U.S. 36, under a long-term leasing arrangement.

"With toll revenues lagging original projections, Northwest Parkway officials began the search last year for private investors who might have a longer investment horizon and be able to weather the road's slower-than-expected move to financial stability.

Executive Director Steve Hogan said the parkway, which is owned by Broomfield, Lafayette and Weld County (sic), still is "on track" for a leasing arrangement that would retire about $416 million in bond debt and transfer financial risk to the private sector bidding team."

"They (the team of Brisa Auto-Estradas de Portugal S.A. and Companhia de Concessões Rodoviarias, of São Paulo, Brazil) are one of the largest toll-road operators in Europe," said parkway Executive Director Steve Hogan, adding that the parties will negotiate financial terms of the deal over the next 30 days."

"Governments have discovered that they can get billions of dollars in payments for other road construction and maintenance from their busy toll roads, which offer private investors a steady source of income over many years.

"The Northwest Parkway's leasing model is different from established toll roads because it does not yet have a robust flow of cash or the dense development in its corridor that would increase use of its toll lanes."

{Editor's note: It would appear that unlike the much acclaimed leases in Chicago (Chicago Skyway) and Indiana (Indiana Toll Road), the Authority will use the 'lump sum payment' to retire private debt used to finance the toll road, similar to the example of Virginia's Pocahontas Parkway}.

Thanks to Albert G. Melcher via Sierra Club Transportation Forum

Tuesday, April 10, 2007 in The Denver Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

July 4 - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business