Transportation Solutions News

[Denver, Colorado] -- A new report released today by Smart Growth America and CoPIRG, based on official data of the states’ American Reinvestment and Recovery Act transportation funding decisions thus far, found Colorado did well by prioritizing two-thirds of its stimulus dollars on road and bridge repair.  However, the report also concluded that spending almost one-fifth of the money on building new roads instead of public transportation projects missed an opportunity to maximize job creation and create a 21st century transportation system, the main goals of the stimulus money.

Research cited in the report shows that public transportation investment creates 31 percent more jobs and road and bridge repair generates 16 percent more jobs than new road and bridge construction. Shifting the new construction dollars to repair would produce, on average, 181 more jobs and shifting it to public transportation investment would produce, on average 433 more jobs. 

In addition to the increased job creation, spending money to repair our aging infrastructure versus building new roadway capacity is necessary given the current conditions of our roads.  According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Organizations (AASHTO) 56% of Colorado’s roads are not in “good” condition costing the average driver $292 extra dollars per year in damaged tires, suspensions and reduced fuel efficiency. In addition, the latest US Department of Transportation data shows 242 of Colorado’s bridges are “Structurally Deficient.”

“Colorado did a great job in prioritizing fixing our crumbling roads and bridges.  That’s a two-for because it is necessary and creates more jobs than building new highways,” said Danny Katz, State Director for CoPIRG, a statewide public interest group.  “Unfortunately, nearly 20 percent of the money was spent on new highways.  We can’t afford the highways we already have, how can we maintain these new ones?”   

The report focused on the Surface Transportation Program funds in ARRA. STP funds are the flexible transportation dollars that can be used by state and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) officials for a wide range of transportation infrastructure projects, including: public transportation capacity, sidewalks, repair and maintenance of bridges and roads, and new and widened roads and highways.   The federal government requires that at least half of each states funding to be obligated within the first 120 days, which is today, Monday, June 29.  The report analyzed the expenses reported as of June 15th. 

Here is a breakdown of how Colorado used its money:

“Compared to other states, Colorado is a leader in investing public transportation.  But spending on new highways acts like a ball and chain holding Colorado back from fully realizing the job potential and the public health, improved safety and traffic mitigation benefits that come from public transportation investment or fixing our crumbling infrastructure,” said Katz. 

When asked in a poll by the National Association of Realtors how they would spend the recovery money, a very strong majority of Americans (80%) said they prefer that stimulus transportation funding be used for repairing roadways and bridges and for public transportation.

“The support has moved away from building new highways in recent years.  Voters in the Denver metro area approved a sales tax increase to build FasTracks.  Transit agencies around the state have seen double digit ridership increases over the last year.  And I don’t know anyone who is comfortable driving on a road system that has 242 bridges that have been deemed unsafe.  Until we get through the backlog of repairs and catch up with the demand for public transportation, we should not be spending money on new roadway capacity,” said Katz


CoPIRG is the Colorado Public Interest Research Group.  For 35 years CoPIRG has been a non-partisan, public interest advocate working for a 21st century transportation system, affordable health care, good government and a sustainable economy.  CoPIRG has over 4000 members across the state.