Colorado's roads and highways are in poor repair—the state of transportation was even called a 'quiet crisis' ten years ago. The problems persist, as does the state's lack of funding to fix the problem.
"A decade ago, then-[Colorado] Gov. Bill Ritter assembled a bipartisan commission to study an issue of growing concern to state leaders: transportation," writes Brian Eason. "But a decade later, Colorado spends even less than it did then."
"The state faces $9 billion in unfunded highway projects over the next decade, on top of unmet needs at the local level," explains Eason. "The state’s roads have deteriorated from a B rating in 2007 to a C- today. At current maintenance levels, the pavement’s on a trajectory to get worse."
Planetizen correspondent Irvin Dawid reported earlier in May about the Colorado State Legislature's failure to reach bipartisan support for transportation funding. The end of the legislative session produced only incremental improvement. At the end of the legislative session, when state lawmakers secured $1.9 billion for transportation projects, funding generated by mortgaging state buildings. That $1.9 billion represents the largest infusion of road money since 2009, when the state last increased vehicle fees. A special legislative session suggested by Gov. John Hickenlooper to find a long-term fix has since been called off, and state legislators are not expected to produce a major transportation bill in the 2018 election year.
Which brings us to the headlining point of Eason's reporting. Pressure is building from outside the capital, according to Eason, for a ballot initiative that would bypass the legislature entirely. There is even a "Fix Our Damn Roads" initiative, which states its agenda bluntly.
Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary
Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.
Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024
A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.
Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts
From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.
Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding
The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.
Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly
The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.
LA's Top Parks, Ranked
TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.
City of Rochester
Boston Harbor Now
City of Bellevue
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.