Colorado Expanding Tolling Systems on Two Denver-Area Highways

State transportation officials set new toll rates for two busy highway corridors outside Denver.

1 minute read

October 16, 2015, 12:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Monte Whaley reports on road tolls for two congested roads in Colorado. The state's High Performance Transportation Enterprise set the tolls for I-70 mountain corridor between Empire and Idaho Springs, west of Denver, as well as for U.S. 36 between Denver and Boulder.

The dynamic pricing of those toll lanes could bring a pretty steep price, according to Whaley. "Drivers jumping onto the toll lane on the Interstate 70 mountain corridor could pay as much as $40, while those traveling to a University of Colorado football game will pay more if they use the U.S. 36 toll lane."

The U.S. 36 tolls are set for the forthcoming second phase of that roadway's Express Lanes project, due to open in 2016. The mention of football reflects a special rate for special events. That will generate significant traffic along the route.

Under the state of Colorado's road toll system, an electronic ExpressToll pass earns a discount from the tolls charged to cars via their license plates.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015 in The Denver Post

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Mamdani behind a microphone, in front of a snowbank

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge

A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.

November 6 - CNN

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6 - Grist

People board a bus in Seattle.

Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion

Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.

November 6 - KOMO News

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.