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Mar 16, 2008 3:25 pm US/Mountain
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Mountain Locals Troubled By Talk Of Highway Toll
SILVERTHORNE, Colo. (AP) ―
Some mountain locals are raising questions about a legislator's proposal to use tolls to ease ski and other mountain highway congestion.
They say they fear it doesn't take their views and interest into consideration, the Vail Daily reported.
"To base a bill off the opinions of 88 people on an online survey is very concerning. To move a bill forward without considering the effected communities in the mountains could have a negative effect," said state Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne.
State Sen. Chris Romer, a Denver Democrat, is pushing the idea, and asking for online comments on it.
Gibbs, who commutes regularly to Denver on I-70, said mountain residents need to be involved in decision making on this issue because it is vital to their lives.
"While I appreciate innovative thinking, I think it's important to consider the fact that the citizen putting their opinions on the online forum don't necessarily live or work along the I-70 corridor and aren't as affected by the changes that could be made," said State Rep. Christine Scanlan, whose district includes Eagle and Summit counties.
"Although the wiki-bill is a fun way to engage people in public policy, I am more in support of the work being done by the I-70 Coalition, and I think they deserve to be heard," Scanlan added.
The I-70 Coalition is an organization of mountain towns working on ways to reduce traffic between Denver the mountains. It favors consideration of alternative solutions such as a train.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)