CDOT shares results of Statewide Transportation Plan listening Tour

DENVER — The Colorado Department of Transportation released a midpoint report today, summarizing five months of outreach to build Your Transportation Plan, the most inclusive and expansive transportation planning effort in the history of the organization. Over the course of a statewide listening tour, CDOT received input from tens of thousands of Coloradans, feedback which will help determine a 10-year “pipeline” of transportation projects. That input is summarized at the statewide and regional level in the midpoint report.

To download the midpoint report, visit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o6q74vpnbxfl9y0/CDOT_YTP_MidpointReport_191024_vDigital.pdf?dl=1

To download individual graphics, photos, videos and other content from the report, visit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0lmwg9elvw81g51/AAAMlVCwLbhFF7v_ySBbrBPha?dl=0

Road condition & safety, growth & congestion, and a lack of travel options were the most important transportation issues identified. In addition to statewide results, residents, elected officials and other key stakeholders in towns and cities across the state identified local issues to be addressed. Using this feedback, CDOT will determine specific projects for every region of the state. This “pipeline” of transportation needs will help determine where future funding is focused.

“When we began this effort, our Department of Transportation committed to reach all Coloradans—regardless of where they live or how they travel,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “I’m grateful to our residents for taking the time to share important and helpful thoughts and concerns, and hope you will remain engaged as we build a comprehensive transportation plan to reduce traffic and better serve our state.”

Every four years, the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration require CDOT to take a fresh look at its transportation investment priorities and to build a transportation plan that helps deliver on those priorities. While CDOT has created and executed many of these plans over the years, CDOT tried a new approach this time with the most expansive outreach to date, with equal consideration for small-scale and large-scale transportation needs.

“This year, we doubled down on our outreach and sought input from residents from every corner of the state,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “Throughout these conversations, I have been struck both by the uniqueness of each community and by the common themes that emerge. We wanted to share this midpoint report so that residents know that we listened to their input and that it is directly impacting how we invest our resources, now and in the future.”

Earlier in 2019, the state Legislature allocated a total of $665 million for the state transportation system, requiring at least $50 million of this amount be spent on transit and a minimum of $153 million be allocated to rural areas. The input collected this summer will help determine how CDOT should invest these funds, along with two additional years of expected funding. The midpoint report will help direct the selection of specific projects for these dollars, which will be determined later this fall. 

As Your Transportation Plan takes shape in late 2019 and early 2020, residents can stay involved by following along with updates at YourTransportationPlan.com. When a draft plan is ready for review in early 2020, the public will have a chance to review and comment on the plan’s contents.

Statements from the General Assembly and Colorado Transportation Commission regarding the inclusive and expansive transportation planning effort initiated by CDOT:   

“We’re happy that the rural areas of the state are getting the attention they deserve in transportation funding. I’m thankful that CDOT made the effort to hear from its rural partners as part of its planning process. Yet, after all the meetings and conversations, the common sense solutions continue to stare us in the face: dedicate state funds to roads and bridges. Enough talking; more action."  State Sen. Ray Scott – District 7 (Mesa County)

"I’m excited to see that CDOT has been listening to communities all across the state. We need a plan that addresses our current transportation needs, but is also flexible enough to address the new technologies and transportation models of the future.  The power of our state’s dedicated transportation funding source began to decline almost 30 years ago, and we have never addressed the issue. It’s past time to get real about new, dedicated transportation funding."  State Rep. Matt Gray – District 33 (Boulder, Broomfield counties)

"The Transportation Commission, together with CDOT, is pleased to provide this update on efforts over the past months to refresh our state’s transportation plan through conversations with residents across the state of Colorado. It was gratifying to hear that many of the important underlying themes we have heard from residents and stakeholders in the past continue to be in the forefront of their thoughts today, especially the need to keep our system safe and in a state of good repair, concern about the impacts of congestion, and frustration with limited options for travel." 

Bill Thiebaut (District 10) - Chair of the Colorado Transportation Commission 

Karen Stuart (District 4) - Chair of Statewide Plan Committee, Colorado Transportation Commission

WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY.  

In early 2019, CDOT announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative to heighten safety awareness. This project takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.

ABOUT CDOT

CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located at its Denver headquarters and in regional offices throughout Colorado and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Governor Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.