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CDOT Budget Woes Could Shelve Key Projects

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Nov 20, 2008 5:08 pm US/Mountain

CDOT Budget Woes Could Shelve Key Projects

Written by Paul Day
Reporting
Paul Day
DENVER (CBS4) ― Colorado drivers should get ready for a rough ride.

Badly needed road reconstruction projects may not happen next year because of budget shortfalls.

The Colorado Transportation Commission on Thursday recommended shelving $120 million worth of planned capital improvements for 2010.

"The basic infrastructure deteriorates more quickly," said Heather Copp, chief financial officer for the Colorado Department of Transportation, "The band aids don't last very long."

Projected revenue shortfalls mean the transportation agency must slash spending by one third.

Nearly $430 million must be chopped out of next year's budget, which takes effect in July.

"The 2010 recommended budget for CDOT, when adjusted for inflation, is equivalent to what the agency spent in 1983."

"So we've lost 25 years of spending power," Copp said.

So instead of rebuilding Colorado's crumbling roads, the agency will only be able to fill potholes and patch bridges.

The badly needed reconstruction of the Santa Fe Bridge at Interstate 25 in Denver is just one example of projects being shelved.

The problem stems from hard economic times -- state sales tax and income tax revenues are projected to go down. And people are driving less.

Colorado is expected to lose a couple hundred million dollars due to the decline in federal taxes collected on the sale of gasoline.

The economic stimulus package under discussion by President Elect Barack Obama could help restore projects being cut, but for now, the situation is bleak.

"We're not expecting that to improve any time soon," Copp said.

CDOT maintains public safety will not be compromised as a result of the budget cuts. In fact, money for snowplowing and de-icing is actually being increased to make sure roads stay open and safe during winter storms.

The recommendations now go to Ritter and the Legislature's Joint Budget Committee for consideration.

 

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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