McElhany's I-70 Toll Bill Passes Senate Committee

A bill that would require all motorists on I-70 to pay a toll at the Eisenhower tunnel cleared a Senate committee today.

SB 213, sponsored by Sen. Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, was approved on a 5-2 vote. Among the senators voting "yes" were five co-sponsors of the measure.

The decision by the Senate Transportation Committee came after about two hours of testimony. Most of the witnesses testifying before the committee spoke against the bill. In fact, other than McElhany, the only person speaking in favor of the bill was Denver Chamber of Commerce president Joe Blake.

McElhany's bill would authorize the state to collect a toll of up to $5 on all cars and trucks moving in both directions on I-70.

McElhany, who is the Senate minority leader, said his bill aims only to secure a mechanism for funding whatever recommendations come out of the state department of transportation I-70 study process now underway.

The committee killed a competing proposal by Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver. SB 209 would have charged tolls on vehicles with less than three occupants only at peak travel times.

I-70 Bills Get Hearings Today

Two bills aimed at reducing congestion on I-70 through the Rocky Mountains will be heard by a Senate committee today.

Both bills, introduced by Sens. Chris Romer, D-Denver, and Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, contemplate tolls on the highway. Romer's proposal would assess the tolls on vehicles carrying three or fewer people and which are traveling during peak use periods. McElhany's bill proposes to charge tolls at all times.

The Romer bill would use money generated by the tolls to pay for mass transit expansion along the corridor, while the minority leader's measure would use the money to add additional lanes to the highway.

A report in today's Rocky Mountain News says that Colorado has already been given authority by the federal government to charge tolls on the interstate highway.

Some West Slope lawmakers are critical of the measures.

According to a report in this morning's Denver Post, Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, thinks the General Assembly will be dealing with "Johnny-come-lately," since there is an ongoing review process underway. And the article quotes Rep. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, as saying there is no "magic bullet" to solve the I-70 congestion problems.

The state department of transportation has been sponsoring a collaborative study of possible ways to ease traffic woes on I-70.

The Rocky Mountain Rail Authority is also examining the feasibility of developing a high-speed passenger rail system for the I-70 corridor.

The bills are SB 209 (Romer) and SB 213 (McElhany).

Rocky: Senate Republican Leader Wants Tolls on I-70 to Pay for New Lanes

According to a report in today's Rocky Mountain News, Sen. Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, plans to propose that a toll be charged on I-70. The purpose would be to widen the highway.

According to the article by Rocky reporter Chris Barge, the toll would be collected at the Eisenhower Tunnel and would be used to pay for the improvements between there and Denver.

The proposal, if made, is similar to one suggested by Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver. He has said he'll ask his colleagues to authorize HOV lanes on I-70 and charge fees to vehicles that have less than three occupants. The charges would apply during ski season and on Sunday afternoons all year.

The Rocky story says that McElhany's proposal contemplates collection of tolls every day throughout the year.