When Colorado voters rejected Propositions 109 and 110, it did not mean roads would crumble. Voters said no to one ballot measure that would have forced the state to spend $3.5 billion on roads using existing money. The other would have increased the state sales tax to pay for $6 billion dollars in road projects.
Colorado Department of Transportation spokeswoman Amy Ford said the 'no' vote stifles hopes to move forward on some transportation issues.
“Projects that could have started should these ballot issues have been passed such as making improvements to I-70 in the mountain corridor,” Ford explained. “Adding an express lane westbound or tackling Floyd Hill.”
Ford said the lack of funds will delay projects from the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains. CDOT still has money despite the measures failing.
Gas taxes and vehicle registration fees generally cover road repair, and over the last two years, Colorado lawmakers have passed legislation to fund nearly three billion dollars in new projects.
“You’re going to see several projects moving forward thanks to the dollars that have been pushed into the system over the last couple of years,” Ford said. “I-25 south in the Gap area, and central I-70 up north.”
CDOT might get another chance to get some of that money. Earlier this year lawmakers passed Senate Bill 18-001. Part of that bill came with a caveat that if voters rejected transportation ballot issues this year, lawmakers would put another transportation issue on the ballot in Nov. 2019.
However, lawmakers can change their mind and pass another bill to not put something on the ballot.