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1/5/2009

Greeley: Don’t leave U.S. 85 out of planning | GreeleyTribune.com

http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20090105/NEWS/901049947/1002/NONE Five years ago, the Colorado Department of Transportation embarked on addressing the problem of congestion on north Interstate 25. Weld County’s population was booming. Fort Collins was one of the Front Range’s fastest growing towns and Colorado’s governmental pockets were relatively deep. A $20 million study later, Colorado is still just talking about relieving congestion despite a new lane connecting Longmont to Denver. But plans include loftier goals than just a new lane. They include a rail all the way from Denver to Fort Collins, new lanes on I-25 and even relief for commuters on U.S. 85 in the form of a commuter bus. But that’s not enough for Greeley officials. U.S. 85 is Greeley’s lifeline to the metro area and should play a greater role in transporting people to and from Denver, city leaders think.

Tunnel traffic sets Dec. record - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11368388 Traffic through the Eisenhower Tunnel set a new record last month, with vehicles eclipsing the 1 million mark for the first time in December. The December 2008 traffic count of 1,015,899 vehicles eclipsed the December 2007 count of 941,955, said Stacey Stegman, spokeswoman with the Colorado Department of Transportation. The 2007 December count at the tunnel likely would have eclipsed 1 million, but a severe winter storm hit the Colorado mountains the last two days of that year and shut down portions of Interstate 70, Stegman said.

Part of plane wreckage moved - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11359695 Soft ground in a ravine at Denver International Airport where a Continental Airlines jet crashed nearly two weeks ago made retrieval of the wreckage difficult Friday, forcing officials to wait until Saturday morning to complete the move. The National Transportation Safety Board had the plane's wrecked fuselage loaded on two flatbed-truck trailers around 4 p.m., but soft ground at the crash site made it tough for trucks to drive out of the low area west of Runway 34R, said DIA spokesman Jeff Green. The NTSB planned to take the wreckage to a ramp area at DIA near Continental's hangar for further examination.

Fort Lupton railcar company reaches end of line : More Business : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/jan/03/fort-lupton-railcar-company-reaches-end-of-line/ A Fort Lupton-based company that was lobbying to make diesel-fueled passenger cars for one of RTD's FasTracks lines has gone belly up and will liquidate. Colorado Railcar Manufacturing closed its doors Dec. 23 and had no employees as of Dec. 31, according to its Web site and a recorded message on its voice-mail system. The company pegged the move on a "major liquidity problem" and said its lenders have a secured position in the company's assets.

12/19/2008

The Pueblo Chieftain :: State lawmaker backs Obama recovery plan

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2008/12/19/news/local/doc494b781ebc48b942817072.txt President-elect Barack Obama has promised legislation to spend billions of dollars on the nation's roads and bridges early next year and Colorado's economy needs that money, new state House Speaker Terrance Carroll said Thursday. Carroll, who has represented Denver's House District 7 for three terms, met with The Pueblo Chieftain editorial board and said the state has 125 road projects that would qualify for federal funding next year - part of an economic stimulus plan that Obama hopes will reverse the slumping national economy. Carroll acknowledged that the state's economy is suffering from the nation's economic woes, but said major road construction projects would help reverse that trend. "If we can get back to work on our transportation infrastructure, that should provide the jobs and revenue to help offset any slowdown," he said. "It will be the engine that rights the ship." Lawmakers are bracing for a new session that will require them to cut spending. Last fall, Gov. Bill Ritter ordered a freeze on $38 million in capital projects as well as a hiring freeze in response to a drop in state revenues. Carroll said the Democratic majority in the Legislature will be looking for ways to maintain budgets for state programs, but said tax increases are not being discussed.

More stories in National/Economy | Colorado/Economy

Can Obama answer Vail’s wish list? | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20081219/NEWS/812189912/1001/NONE Many towns and other municipalities are clamoring to get some of Barack Obama’s proposed economic stimulus money, and Vail, Colorado is among them. The town plans to apply for some of the funds for projects such as building an underpass at Simba Run, improving the Frontage Road, or building more employee housing at Timber Ridge and West Vail’s Chamonix property. There will be much competition for the money from other cities and towns, and the details of the proposed stimulus package, which is designed to encourage job growth in areas of infrastructure and sustainable energy, are vague, said Town Manager Stan Zemler.

More stories in National/Economy | Colorado/Economy

GJSentinel.com: County asking Washington for $198 million

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/12/18/121908_1a_Fed_wish_list.html Once President-elect Barack Obama takes office, local officials anticipate the new president will sign a federal stimulus package to inject millions of dollars into public-works projects across the nation. In anticipation of that stimulus package, Mesa County, the cities of Grand Junction and Fruita and the town of Palisade have compiled a wish list of 12 projects, totaling $198.2 million. The list includes road, bridge and public transportation projects as well as public buildings and two wastewater treatment plants.

More stories in National/Economy | Colorado/Economy

The Steamboat Pilot - AAA: Christmas travel will drop across Colorado this year

http://steamboatpilot.com/news/2008/dec/19/aaa_christmas_travel_will_drop_across_colorado_yea/ Travel in the western United States, including Colorado, will be down 1.9 percent during the Christmas holidays, with 15.5 million Western residents traveling more than 50 miles away from home, according to AAA Colorado. Travel by automobile will be down 1.5 percent from 2007 despite a gas price that is $1.27 less than 2007. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Colorado is $1.60. Air travel will be down 6.7 percent in the Western region and 8.5 percent nationwide. Travelers should expect different trends in airfares depending on the week of travel. Airfares nationwide during Christmas week are down 9 percent compared to 2007. Airfares for the week of New Years are up 3 percent.

DIA expects a busy holiday week - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_11265826 Denver International Airport expects more than 1 million passengers to go through the airport during the week ending Monday, a slight drop from last year but still busy. Similar passenger traffic is expected through the Christmas and New Year's holiday period. As a thank-you to travelers, the airport is making the first hour of parking in any of DIA's garages free of charge on Dec. 22, 23, and 24. Short-term parking and valet parking are excluded from the offer. Passengers are advised to allow plenty of time to park, check in and get through security.

Frontier sees tiers of joy - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_11266983 Frontier Airlines on Thursday began offering airline tickets in three price tiers, a move some analysts said could give the discount carrier a competitive edge, at least temporarily. Passengers on Denver-based Frontier can now choose among a threadbare "economy" fare, a "classic" fare that includes complimentary checked bags and in-flight television, and a "classic plus" fare that is fully refundable and offers free flight changes. "Changes that have taken place in the airline industry have been tough on consumers," said Frontier president and chief executive Sean Menke. As jet-fuel prices escalated this year, most airlines responded by charging a host of fees, including one on checked bags. That frustrated customers, who asked Frontier for a fare that bundled services rather than charging for them separately, Menke said. The end result, after more than six months of work, is what Frontier is calling "AirFairs."

Airlines slash holiday fares into Aspen | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20081219/NEWS/812199995/1001/NONE Not only are airline seats into Aspen still available for the Christmas holidays, they’re surprisingly affordable. A check of airfares late Thursday produced an eye-popper for Bill Tomcich, president of Stay Aspen Snowmass, a local reservations agency, and the resort’s liaison to the airline industry. Both United and Frontier were offering $119 one-way fares between Aspen and Denver through Jan. 5, and some fares were listed as low as $109 one-way, before taxes and fees. “I could book you that seat tomorrow for $119. Last year, that seat would have cost you $450,” he said. “I’ve never seen fares this cheap in Aspen at Christmas.”

More stories in National/Economy | Colorado/Economy

GJSentinel.com: Planning Commission: Mesa County needs plan for energy-industry road damage

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/12/18/121908_4a_Road_plan.html The Mesa County Planning Commission is recommending the Mesa County Commission devise a policy for roads damaged by heavy, energy-industry traffic. Mesa County “needs an additional policy regarding road improvements and maintenance on county roads impacted by gas exploration and development,” the Planning Commission wrote in its recommendation. It was drafted Dec. 4 as the commission debated a proposal for a compressor facility near Collbran. According to the meeting minutes, Planning Commission Vice Chairman Mark Bonella said the Mesa County Commission “needs to come up with some sort of a pay schedule or something. This is something that needs a long hard look at ... Something needs to be done.”

More stories in National/Energy Policy | Colorado/Energy Policy

The Steamboat Pilot - Hybrid bus joins transit fleet

http://steamboatpilot.com/news/2008/dec/19/hybrid_bus_joins_transit_fleet/ There haven’t been many complaints so far regarding Steamboat Springs Transit’s first hybrid bus — except when it comes to its looks. “I think it’s kind of cool-looking,” Lynn Wilhelm, SST’s fleet foreman, said about the bus, distinguished by a large hump on the top that houses regenerative batteries and an associated cooling system. “But there are some guys who say they don’t like it.” Operations Manager Jonathan Flint said he hopes to have the hybrid in service by the first of the year, but that depends on how soon officials can have a graphic wrap installed in Denver.

Fare, tax hikes possible for Eagle County buses | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20081218/NEWS/812189898/1001/NONE ECO Transit could raise fares or propose a sales tax increase to voters to make up for a shrinking budget and an increase in passengers in Eagle County, Colorado, officials said. About 80 percent of the ECO Transit budget comes from Eagle County sales tax revenue, which the county projected to decrease 5 percent in 2009. ECO Transit also had one of the biggest yearly increases in ridership in 2008 — making its budget tight, said ECO Transit Planner David Johnson. “We’re running very close to break even,” Johnson said. The tightening budget has forced officials to start looking at ways to increase revenue for ECO Transit, and both raising fares and increasing sales tax are options, officials said.

CDOT plow gets stuck on Hwy. 82 | AspenTimes.com

http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20081218/NEWS/812189924/1001/NONE You know it’s deep when even the Colorado Department of Transportation’s plows get stuck. A combination plow and sander dumptruck slid into the center median on Highway 82 at Lazy Glen, upvalley of Basalt, on Thursday afternoon. Traffic, which was already slow because of slick roads and occasional blizzard conditions, crawled past the site because one westbound lane was closed. The stuck truck was affecting traffic at 3:30 p.m. and into the evening commute. Two other plow drivers responded to the area at around 4 p.m. to devise with a strategy for pulling out their colleague, and they worked into the evening to execute their plan.

12/18/2008

AP: Obama picks Lahood for transportation - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11255448 A senior Democratic official says President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Republican Congressman Ray LaHood of Illinois to be his transportation secretary. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper was reportedly among those considered for the post. The 63-year-old LaHood did not seek re-election this fall after 14 years in the House representing a district that includes Peoria. He is the second Republican that Obama has named to his Cabinet.

Air-traffic gains spur DIA plans - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_11257274 Denver International Airport was designed to handle up to 50 million passengers annually, and on Tuesday the airport will hit that mark for the first time in its 14-year history, DIA officials said. To handle a projected 24 percent growth in air traffic by 2015 — to 62 million passengers — DIA now must plan for expansion, even in uncertain times for the industry, airport manager Kim Day told Denver City Council members Wednesday. By 2015 or 2016, DIA officials anticipate that the airport will need a seventh runway, expansion of public parking and rental-car facilities, at least 20 new gates on existing concourses and upgrades to DIA's baggage system and automated train, Day said.

GJSentinel.com: Airport chief says new security rules ‘scariest’ yet

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/12/17/121808_1a_Airport_security.html A new security directive from the Transportation Security Administration is being called “scary” by staff members of the Grand Junction Regional Airport. The measure further guards against security risks among airport employees and in restricted-access areas of individual airports, officials said. Airports throughout the nation must implement the security measures. “This is the most scary thing I’ve seen put out through the TSA since they’ve been in existence,” airport Manager Rex Tippetts told the Grand Junction Regional Airport board Tuesday. “This came absolutely, positively, out of the blue to everyone Thursday morning. TSA is saying this is a done deal.” As part of the directive, TSA will require individual airports to take on the duties of verifying, examining and keeping all documentation related to airport workers. Previously, employers such as airline and car rental companies took care of that process, TSA officials said.

‘As miserable as any other year’ in Vail | VailDaily.com

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20081217/NEWS/812179935/1001/NONE The conditions on Interstate 70 have been bad during the last week, said Chris Cooke, a tow truck driver for the West Vail Shell station. But they’re always bad at this time of year, he said. “They’re as miserable as any other year,” Cooke said. A series of storms have created icy, snow covered conditions on Interstate 70 during the last week, and the Colorado Department of Transportation says it’s handling the weather the way it always does — monitoring the storms and working until the roads are clear. When a storm is headed for the Vail Valley, crews switch to 12-hour shifts and, depending on the temperature, treat the highway with either a liquid de-icer or a sand and salt mixture. When the storm arrives, they start plowing.

New bridge connects mall to light rail : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/18/new-bridge-connects-mall-to-light-rail/ Light-rail riders now can walk to Park Meadows from the County Line Station platform. A bridge from the station platform over to the mall's parking lot opened for foot traffic Wednesday morning. Paid for as part of the T-REX project, the connection wasn't in the original work because the mall wasn't within RTD boundaries at the time. Riders who wanted to go to Park Meadows had to cross over Interstate 25 on a pedestrian bridge to the RTD park-n-Ride on the east side and take a shuttle bus back to the mall on the west side. Since then, the mall has been annexed into the district, but the connection was held up in part over concerns of mall owners that commuters might take up shoppers' parking. RTD agreed to post guards at the entry to the station access, which will be locked. Light-rail riders who park at the mall may find their vehicles towed.

12/17/2008

The Longmont Times-Call - Markey says she’ll tackle transportation

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=13031 Colorado’s 4th Congressional District “has huge transportation needs,” says the woman who’ll be taking her oath of office on Jan. 6 to represent that 18-county northern and eastern Colorado area for the coming two years. Fort Collins Democrat Betsy Markey told Longmont City Council members Tuesday that she’s applied for assignment to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, a panel that may play a key role in channeling federal money toward meeting those needs. Markey, who last month won election to the 4th Congressional District seat by besting incumbent Fort Morgan Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, also expressed sympathy for Longmont officials’ concerns about getting FasTracks commuter rail service between Denver and Longmont. Markey predicted that because of growing political focus on concerns about carbon emissions and climate change, “I think there’s going to be much more discussion about transit” in Congress.

The Longmont Times-Call - Gov. Ritter to propose transportation and health-care agendas soon

http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=13035 Gov. Bill Ritter plans to unveil proposals to address transportation and health-care issues soon, but he declined this week to discuss specifics. Details of Ritter’s transportation agenda for next year may be announced as early as next week, the governor told reporters and editors attending a Colorado Press Association forum Monday previewing the 2009 state legislative session that starts Jan. 7. In addition to transportation, Ritter said, “you’ll see a health-care agenda from us.” “We’ve worked very hard on the details since the end of the last session,” which concluded last May, said Ritter, adding that his administration has been consulting with people both inside and outside the state Capitol. Currently, the Democratic governor said, “we’re still really at a place of trying to fine-tune” proposals, in part because of hopes they can be addressed “in a bipartisan way.”

Rail Authority identifies I-70 rail options | SummitDaily.com

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20081217/NEWS/812169919/1001/NONE A high-speed train capable of traveling almost 300 mph along the Interstate 70 mountain corridor could have five stations in Summit County, under a proposal being studied by the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority. The organization — comprised of representatives from nearly 50 counties, municipalities and other organizations — is moving forward with a feasibility study that will examine if a proposed rail system criss-crossing the state along both Interstate 25 and I-70 would be practical. “We believe we have captured things pretty well, and now we are at the point where we can begin doing evaluations,” said rail authority chairman and Clear Creek County Commissioner Harry Dale. “This is just a starting point.” Over the past three months, the organizations’s High-Speed Rail Feasibility Study team identified a route, rail technology and station options that can be examined during the study.

Rail group lays out options - The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/newsheadlines/ci_11248110 A group promoting long-distance passenger rail in Colorado will study options ranging from conventional 79 mph diesel rail to ultra-high-speed maglev trains that might travel 250 to 300 mph. Maglev refers to magnetic levitation, by which trains elevate over a guideway and are propelled for frictionless travel. By June, the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority expects to complete a study assessing routes, rail technologies, station locations and the financial feasibility of building and operating trains the entire length of the Interstate 25 corridor in Colorado and between Denver and Grand Junction in the Interstate 70 corridor. The authority, which has a $1.25 million grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation for the study, includes 50 cities, counties and other groups in both corridors. "We will look at ridership, revenue, capital cost, operating cost and the technical feasibility" of building the rail lines, said Harry Dale, a Clear Creek County commissioner and chairman of the rail authority.

Rail agency studies ideas for routes to cross state : Traffic : The Rocky Mountain News

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/16/winter-park-decided-be-too-costly-high-speed-commu/ The Rocky Mountain Rail Authority's push to develop a high- speed intercity train network across Colorado will study spurs to Aspen, Steamboat Springs and Breckenridge but has eliminated a branch to Winter Park as too costly. The authority has outlined about 600 miles of basic routes, potential stations and types of trains it will study, based on meetings with officials and planners from along the routes, chairman Harry Dale said Tuesday. The authority is doing a $1.5 million feasibility study to determine whether a train system capable of traveling up to 125 mph can be financed and operated along the major east-west and north-south travel corridors of the state. The skeleton map of the system shows a line going between Denver International Airport and Grand Junction, paralleling Interstate 70, and another stretching between Trinidad and Cheyenne, parallel to Interstate 25.

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Colorado News :: Transportation and Infrastructure

1/5/2009

Greeley: Don’t leave U.S. 85 out of planning | GreeleyTribune.com

Tunnel traffic sets Dec. record - The Denver Post

Part of plane wreckage moved - The Denver Post

Fort Lupton railcar company reaches end of line : More Business : The Rocky Mountain News

12/19/2008

The Pueblo Chieftain :: State lawmaker backs Obama recovery plan

Can Obama answer Vail’s wish list? | VailDaily.com

GJSentinel.com: County asking Washington for $198 million

The Steamboat Pilot - AAA: Christmas travel will drop across Colorado this year

DIA expects a busy holiday week - The Denver Post

Frontier sees tiers of joy - The Denver Post

Airlines slash holiday fares into Aspen | AspenTimes.com

GJSentinel.com: Planning Commission: Mesa County needs plan for energy-industry road damage

The Steamboat Pilot - Hybrid bus joins transit fleet

Fare, tax hikes possible for Eagle County buses | VailDaily.com

CDOT plow gets stuck on Hwy. 82 | AspenTimes.com

12/18/2008

AP: Obama picks Lahood for transportation - The Denver Post

Air-traffic gains spur DIA plans - The Denver Post

GJSentinel.com: Airport chief says new security rules ‘scariest’ yet

‘As miserable as any other year’ in Vail | VailDaily.com

New bridge connects mall to light rail : Local News : The Rocky Mountain News

12/17/2008

The Longmont Times-Call - Markey says she’ll tackle transportation

The Longmont Times-Call - Gov. Ritter to propose transportation and health-care agendas soon

Rail Authority identifies I-70 rail options | SummitDaily.com

Rail group lays out options - The Denver Post

Rail agency studies ideas for routes to cross state : Traffic : The Rocky Mountain News