Spring Break
Lawmakers seek spendy solution to I-70 traffic
Nick Hemenway
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Opinion
To many college students, a perfect weekend in Colorado is found on the snow-covered slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Whether you ski or snowboard, the only things you need are a jacket and a ride to the mountain.
However, if some Colorado lawmakers have their way, the drive to the ski resorts could become more costly.
Anyone who has been to the slopes, especially on the weekends, knows that the worst part of the day is the traffic along I-70. From the large trucks to the vans full of out-of-state tourists who don't know how to drive on snow, the morning commute in the mountains is always a headache of stop-and-go traffic.
Every few years, legislators throw forth a new idea of how to unclog the main artery into the mountains.
In 2001, some proposed an elaborate monorail system to take riders from Denver International Airport all the way to Vail. This vision was short-lived due to its $4 billion price tag and its unproven performance in mountain terrain.
In the latest revelation from our state legislature, Sen. Chris Romer (D-Denver) has introduced a plan to charge fees to skiers and snowboarders who use I-70 during the weekend morning rush hour and to reward those who travel outside of peak driving periods.
According to the plan, skiers could be charged anywhere from $5 to $12 per trip for driving up the mountain between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. on the weekends, depending on traffic. If they wait until after the rush, they would be rewarded to the tune of $25.
Sen. Romer, explaining the program, told the Rocky Mountain News, "you're just reallocating money from those who are time-sensitive to those who are price-sensitive, and that's a perfect market-based solution."
Apparently, the senator doesn't know the difference between the free market and socialism.
How exactly the fees would be enforced is the question for the ages. Romer offered some vague suggestions.
One idea has ski resorts taking the lead in enforcement, involving parking lot attendants with scanners dolling out fees based upon the time vehicles arrive at the resort.
However, if some Colorado lawmakers have their way, the drive to the ski resorts could become more costly.
Anyone who has been to the slopes, especially on the weekends, knows that the worst part of the day is the traffic along I-70. From the large trucks to the vans full of out-of-state tourists who don't know how to drive on snow, the morning commute in the mountains is always a headache of stop-and-go traffic.
Every few years, legislators throw forth a new idea of how to unclog the main artery into the mountains.
In 2001, some proposed an elaborate monorail system to take riders from Denver International Airport all the way to Vail. This vision was short-lived due to its $4 billion price tag and its unproven performance in mountain terrain.
In the latest revelation from our state legislature, Sen. Chris Romer (D-Denver) has introduced a plan to charge fees to skiers and snowboarders who use I-70 during the weekend morning rush hour and to reward those who travel outside of peak driving periods.
According to the plan, skiers could be charged anywhere from $5 to $12 per trip for driving up the mountain between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. on the weekends, depending on traffic. If they wait until after the rush, they would be rewarded to the tune of $25.
Sen. Romer, explaining the program, told the Rocky Mountain News, "you're just reallocating money from those who are time-sensitive to those who are price-sensitive, and that's a perfect market-based solution."
Apparently, the senator doesn't know the difference between the free market and socialism.
How exactly the fees would be enforced is the question for the ages. Romer offered some vague suggestions.
One idea has ski resorts taking the lead in enforcement, involving parking lot attendants with scanners dolling out fees based upon the time vehicles arrive at the resort.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 7
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 1/30/08 @ 3:57 AM MST
I don't know , if he is throwing in a Chipotle burrito , that is pretty irresistible. LOL!
Alan Riley
posted 1/30/08 @ 8:18 PM MST
I hate to nitpick on one part of this article, but there's something that really gets annoying here. It comes with this line:
"vans full of out-of-state tourists who don't know how to drive on snow"
This is something I hear a lot from many people I have met from Colorado. (Continued…)
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 1/30/08 @ 8:38 PM MST
You wanna talk tough. We used to take our well worn Chuck Taylor Converse high top sneakers, and bumper ski. That's where you tie a rope to someones bumper and ski the ice on country roads , LOL!
I don't have to tell you what happened when you hit a patch of blacktop with no ice. (Continued…)
skiier19
posted 1/31/08 @ 8:45 AM MST
Alan-
I understand your concern, but in all honesty it cannot be denied that a lot of out of staters come here to ski and have no knowledge of winter driving in Colorado. (Continued…)
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 1/31/08 @ 1:03 PM MST
Yea I agree some of the snowboarders are real jerks. I have only skied twice. Not my finest hours. LOL!
I have always been pretty athletic. I played football and basketball. (Continued…)
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