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Bridge Bill Crumbles
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Republican lawmakers put the brakes on a bill that would take money from increased registration fees to fix the state's aging bridges. Democrats endorsed a plan on Wednesday that would increase vehicle-registration fees from $25 to $10 and would dip into other state funds for 122 bridges and highway repair.
"A lot of these bridges are critical. In fact, hundreds of bridges in Colorado are already load restricted," said representative Joe Rice of Littleton. "We're already paying the price right now."
Representative Frank McNulty of Highlands Ranch said the plan was a bad idea.
"I'm actually pleased that Senate Bill 244 died," said McNulty. "I didn't support the fee increases associated with vehicle registration fees. But I think with that proposal dying we have an opportunity to bring something back that adequately funds transportation."
Republicans refused a fee increase, but would rather pull money from a general fund in the state's mineral severance tax. It's called the Colorado Plus One Plan. That would take part of the one percent of the six percent growth to state government and use that money to fund transportation projects.
"Over time it grows into a substantial amount that not only allows us to take care of the maintenance issues, that we have now, but issues like congestion and expansion of our transportation system," said McNulty.
--The Democratic plan would raise up to $260 million.
--The Republican plan would generate $59 million, but not for several more years.
CDOT originally supported the bill, but now looks forward to the next legislative session.
"We're disappointed but we do understand," said Stacy Stegman, a spokesperson for CDOT. "It's a tough political climate right now. The bill was a late bill and those are hard to morph and get to where it should be."
Stegman said that transportation funding is steadily decreasing and it is close to reaching a level of great concern.
"As long as there's a commitment to work on something next year we'll look for the future and look for what improvements we can make for that time," said Stegman.
Lawmakers remain optimistic that language on a new bill would pass in next year's legislative session.
"Knowing the personalities that are involved, I think everyone will come to the table for a good faith effort to arrive at a good transportation funding solution," said McNulty.
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