HomeMy Public PortalAboutResolution 2008-04-01 Opposing Senate Bill 08-213 A Bill for an Act Concerning Authorization for the Board of Colorado Tolling Enterprise to Designate a Portion of Interstate 70 as a Toll Highway
TOWN OF FRASER
RESOLUTION NO. 04-01-08
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING SENATE BILL 08-213 A BILL FOR AN ACT CONCERNING
AUTHORIZATION FOR THE BOARD OF THE COLORADO TOLLING ENTERPRISE TO
DESIGNATE A PORTION OF INTERSTATE 70 AS A TOLL HIGHWAY
WHEREAS, SB08-213 authorizes the board of the Colorado tolling enterprise (board) to
designate all or any portion of one or more existing or new lanes of Interstate 70 between Floyd
Hill and the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, a 43-mile section of highway, as a toll
highway; and
WHEREAS, Grand County relies on Interstate 70 as a major transportation corridor for
residents, visitors and commercial business and SB08-213 prohibits the imposition of a toll on a
motor vehicle registered in Clear Creek, Gilpin, or Summit county by either an individual whose
primary residence is in the county in which the vehicle was registered or a business entity that
has a permanent place of business in the county in which the vehicle is registered but does not
include similar consideration for Grand County; and
WHEREAS, in March 2007 Governor Ritter appointed the 32-member Transportation
Finance and Implementation Panel, also known as the Blue Ribbon Task Force, to evaluate the
state's transportation needs and identify long-term programs and sustainable funding sources;
and
WHEREAS, the Blue Ribbon Task Force representing a broad spectrum of experts,
policymakers, representatives from private industry, community leaders and citizens considered
thirty nine (39) alternatives for generating more revenue for transportation and determined that is
was appropriate for everyone, residents, visitors and interstate truckers to share the cost and
recommended five primary revenue sources: Highway Maintenance Fee increasing vehicle
registrations by an average of$100 annually, Motor Fuel Tax increase of$O.13 per gallon, New
Visitor Fee of $6 per day for rental vehicles, Sales and Use Tax increase of 0.35% and Severance
Tax increase on oil and gas income of 1.7%; and
WHEREAS, the Blue Ribbon Task Force considered but did not recommend the
collection of tolls as part of their preferred funding solutions; and
WHEREAS, the 1-70 Collaborative Effort (CE) group, which includes representation
from various stakeholder groups interested in the corridor, has been underway since fall of2007.
The CE group is exploring both short and long term solutions in an effort to gain consensus on
what needs to be done to address the many transportation problems along this corridor; and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the CE group will reach consensus by this summer and
that once that happens, a financing method can be explored to implement the identified solutions,
i.e. whether that is a future rail system or a short-term dedicated carpool/bus lane; and
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WHEREAS, the State legislature should adopt a comprehensive solution to our State's
transportation system and how to finance these improvements prior to adopting piecemeal
solutions such as the proposed 1-70 tolls between the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels
and Floyd Hill, that are likely to have unintended consequences for communities and on tourism
which is one of the States leading economic engines.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Board of the Town of Fraser,
Colorado as follows:
1. We recognize the importance ofI-70 as one of the State's most important roadways,
impacting the economy of our community, its visitors and businesses; and
2. We also recognize the importance to develop a statewide transportation funding plan
to address the identified revenue - expense shortfall to maintain our existing
transportation system and to improve our future transportation systems to
accommodate the tremendous growth in population and visitors, including additional
road lane miles, mass transit solutions, multi-modal transportation solutions; and that
3. No residents or businesses of any county should be exempted from the payment of
tolls on 1-70 if a toll highway is adopted; and that
4. The Town Board ofthe Town of Fraser do hereby affirm their support to the
Colorado delegation in this matter and ask that they oppose the piecemeal solution to
funding along the 1-70 Corridor that is offered in SB08-213.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED By the Town Board of The Town of Fraser, Colorado
that copies ofthis resolution shall be distributed by the Town Clerk to our State Representatives
and to members of the 1-70 Coalition.
APPROVED AND PASSED this 16th day of April, 2008 by a vote of 4 to O.
TOWN OF FRASER
ATTEST:
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FRAN COOK, Mayor
ofCA-
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