That's the simple question a very complex plan by State Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver. He wants to do something to discourage drivers from heading to the slopes on I-70 between about 7:30 and 10:30 on weekend mornings, either by charging those who do, or rewarding those who don't. Romer, who is a skier and investment banker says he would drive during peak time anyway, since the toll, which could be as much as $12, is mere pocket change worth nothing compared to his time.Problem is, there is no easy way to collect a toll, and no conceivable way to accurately and efficiently award non-peak driver.
Maybe they should stick with the idea of the monorail.
11 comments:
As if the ski industry will allow a toll to be charged. Too many people in Denver is the problem, that's what you get when you invite growth.
Thank goodness we've avoided that pitfall here in the Springs!
I like the elevated bus transport that is being considered. It solves a lot of problems and is pretty flexible. It is a good halfway point betwen the monorail and the current congestion. Do you have a link for that?
Here's a link to Toll Road News:
www.tollroadsnews.com/node/2327
Here's an elevated rail proposal:
www.i70mountaintransit.org/railoni70.htm
I didn't see a clear look at bus plans - but it was a quick search.
Here's an example of the bus system I referenced:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-Bahn_Busway
Something like that makes a lot of sense. If you can go to a park/ride and then board a bus that goes directly to where you are going - say Keystone. You get on at the Park and Ride and board your bus....it drives onto an elevated track where it stays there until a certain point and then becomes a regular bus again delivering you to your destination.
It would all be based on that Denver - Glenwood stretch of I-70, but it could help Springs, Denver and Ft. Collins folks alike.
Oh, like in Adelaide!
Yeah, that would be cool and could really ease congestion.
The guy proposing this sounds like a rich investment banker prick that wants to make his life easier because he has money but no time. I feel really bad for that the chump - has to sit in weekend ski traffic - boo frickin hoo. Geez, maybe one of his options should be: take a day off and ski on a weekday - which means light traffic and smaller crowds at the resort. He probably can afford to take a day off. He should take his Lexus lane idea and shove it up his ass. Or maybe he should realize that his money isn't gonna get him around I-70 skier traffic. ...unless he buys a helicopter.
I think it's probably a short time before day trips for front range skiers will be extremely difficult (Like doing a beach day trip for the big east coast cities). Sure the distance is small, but the traffic makes it too much of pain. That just means we'll have to go up and stay a few days - which really is a good idea anyhow.
Oh yeah - here's the I-70 special that was on this weekend. The dual-mod bus idea is around the 2 minute mark. Great idea if you ask me.
http://search.cbs4denver.com/Link.ashx?R=http%3a%2f%2fcbs4denver.com%2fvideo%2f%3fid%3d37924%40kcnc.dayport.com
oops - link didn't post right
If it doesn't work, go to cbs4denver.com and search for
"I-70 Congestion Solutions Not Quick Or Easy"
http://search.cbs4denver.com/Link.ashx?R=http%3a%2f%2fcbs4denver.com%2fvideo%2f%3fid%3d37924%40kcnc.dayport.com
There was talk of linking existing standard rail lines together to create a train passage to Summit & Eagle counties. What happened to that? Because most of the line was already laid and still in good shape it was going to be a lot cheaper than the monorail, but I would guess a lot more ciruitous as well.
BTW why does it seem that there has been so little activity on the carpooling / vanpooling / bus front in this area? It seems to me that that's a no-brainer of an idea to reach the slopes. That's pretty much the norm in Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah.
Some nice vans with racks and media ports so you could plug in some zone music on the way home... I like it.
The monorail or train is an idea that probably can't work. It taxes the local communities up there too much (not really in terms of money, but in terms of reserving space for the mass amount of rental cars and buses to handle what happens after the monorail drops the folks off. Unless a monorail goes right to breckenridge or right to Keystone it no worky. The elevated bus line is brilliant in it's simplicity. Hop a bus in Westminster...go to Keystone. Hop a bus in Arvada...go to Keystone. It can be easily scaled...if one bus breaks down it ain't a catastrophe and it doesn't just deliver users to general area...it can deliver them to the specific area. If they want to get around once they are there they can take the local buses to get around the county....but the bulk of these weekenders are heading skiing first and to some out of the way restaurant later.
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