State should attend to area transportation needs

When was the last time we got a big road project? In Greeley, that was probably a decade ago. Transportation money came to town to finish expanding U.S. 34 between Interstate 25 and Greeley. Nice job, by the way. Loveland just got a much-needed bypass on U.S. 287 directing traffic away from Berthoud. They only waited about 20 years.

So, it's been a while, at least for those of us on the east side of Interstate 25. In that time, Greeley and the rest of northern Colorado have graciously taken in those haggard souls fleeing from the crowded streets of Denver or other states, which has created a new problem -- a sorely neglected transportation system designed to handle probably about half of the traffic it now has.

In that time, we've had our share of squeaky wheels, gunning their engines for more funding. But northern Colorado has been sadly neglected as the region has swelled with massive commercial and residential projects. In 2004 and 2005, by the way, Weld County was named the No. 1 and No. 2 fastest growing area in the country, respectively.

Yet, much of the state's transportation funding has gone to projects such as Denver's T-REX or COSMIX (that's the T-REX of Colorado Springs).

Now, it's time to look north. Tom Norton, our state director of transportation, should know our traffic woes. He's from Greeley, after all, and spent years in the legislature advocating on our behalf.

We thank him, or whoever was responsible, for looking to the "North Forty," to get some widening of the Interstate going. The latest stretch of widening will be a $36 million project focused on five miles of I-25 from Colo. 52 (the Dacono exit) to Colo. 119 (a Longmont exit), in the southern portion of Weld County. And next year, the Colorado Department of Transportation will spread the love farther north to the Mead exit.

But it's just not enough. We know the transportation pot has lots of arms stretched for handouts. We know the gas tax, which hasn't been increased to keep pace with inflation and which funds transportation, has been become a sinking ship as cars become more fuel-efficient and use less gas. We know we have high bonds to pay off for those other major projects. These will likely be topics in the upcoming legislative session, or at least priorities for our new governor.

We also know that we can help ourselves. That's why we're thankful for the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization advocating for a Regional Transportation Authority, which could create a funding mechanism for northern Colorado transportation only. But, alas, it'll be a tax increase of some sort, and we know how voters feel about that. Watch for a ballot measure next year, though.

So, to Colorado legislators, Tom Norton and Gov.-elect Bill Ritter: Here we are. For years, we have waited so patiently in northern Colorado, watching the rest of the state get the transportation booty, the pretty bridge signs and the HOV lanes amid five-lane stretches.

Frankly, it's our turn. Northern Colorado's roads are hurting: The rest of northern I-25 toward Wellington, U.S. 85 north of Greeley, Colo. 66 east from I-25 to Platteville (what we at the Tribune have grown to call in recent years, the "Highway of Death"), Colo. 14 east from Fort Collins to U.S. 85, U.S. 287 north of Fort Collins, all could use a handout.

An overwhelming majority of this region's commuters are traveling east and west -- not south to Denver -- on roads not designed for such congestion. We could probably use some other alternatives, such as light rail or an increased commuter vanpool that caters to a variety of schedules and work weeks.

And, this also is an area where Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave can continue to help, as she did in helping secure money for the most recent I-25 widening: Please keep advocating for northern Colorado's transportation needs when you go back to Washington.

But Weld County residents have to do a little something, too. Get involved with the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization; the group has regular public meetings. Write your representatives with your transportation concerns. Be willing to accept a possibly higher gas tax in the future. Vote yes next year when that Regional Transportation Association ballot measure comes forth.

Of course, we could sit back and do nothing, watching with our binoculars as I-25 gets widened mile by mile. Maybe in 20 years, they'll reach us.