With gas prices rising by the day, Coloradans are looking for alternatives to driving everywhere. The methods of travel and the vehicles people choose to drive have a profound impact on the environment and the quality of life we all enjoy. Transportation options such as light rail, commuter rail, bus, walking, and bicycling can minimize environmental impacts, reduce congestion, lessen fossil fuel use, and improve people’s everyday lives. They can also save you a lot of money in the era of $4 per gallon gasoline!!

Especially now, Coloradans need a statewide multi-modal transportation vision that includes creation and expansion of public transit systems, increased bike and pedestrian access, regional connectivity, and a "fix-it-first" approach to roadway funding (new money should be spent to fix our existing highways and bridges before going to build more lanes and new highways). Increased focus on and funding for public transit, pedestrian and bike access, and the use of alternative fuel vehicles is needed to help the state move forward in solving our transportation challenges and saving Coloradans money.

CEC is working on effecting changes in Colorado's transportation policy that take this vision into account. We are working on changing the bias in the transportation funding policy that effectively funds projects that serve sprawling development over projects that serve more compact, mixed-use developments. We are also working to ensure that our limited transportation dollars are spent as efficiently as possible and that we focus on decreasing demand on our roads and bridges as a way to reduce our growing transportation funding shortfall. Lastly, we are working to get more transit options in place for people seeking to drive less and take the bus or train more.