The bankrupt Environmental Impact Statement study for a controversial metro wide beltway may soon get an infusion of cash.
Colorado Department of Transportation officials said this week that $8.2 million may be available from House Bill 1310 to finish the EIS and determine a route, if there is to be one at all, for the beltway. The money is part of about $30 million CDOT expects to receive for the Denver region now that House Bill 1310, which was passed in 2002 and set aside money for a number of transportation projects, has kicked in, according to DRCOG spokeswoman Sherry Patten.
According to Karin McGowan, director of policy and legislative review, CDOT asked DRCOG Tuesday to help prioritize HB 1310 revenue. The preliminary recommendation from the regional transportation committee, which includes members of DRCOG, CDOT and RTD, was to complete current EIS studies, including the northwest parkway EIS. McGowan said the group thought they needed $8.2 million to finish the beltway study, beyond the draft EIS.
However, the state must still trim $260 million from its budget, and Patten said one possible target is the money set aside by HB 1310. No decision likely would be made regarding those funds, Patten said, until the legislature reconvenes in January.
Late last month, CDOT officials said the draft EIS was out of money and began asking local governments to help fill the $4.5 million funding gap. At the time, CDOT officials said they would continue to look for other funding sources.
The $8.2 million from HB 1310 is more than the $7.5 originally set aside for the entire 74-route scope. The list of alternatives are down to 16, but the higher amount of money intended to bail out the study has some government officials shaking their head, wondering what the money is being spent on.
“I have no idea what direction the legislature is going to take. I hope they see their way clear to finish what they started,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Michelle Lawrence.
In Golden, city officials are convinced there has always been a predetermined outcome to the study, cramming the beltway down state Highway 93 and into Golden.
Lawrence and Arvada City Councilwoman Lorraine Anderson said the time is fast approaching when Jeffco, Arvada, Broomfield and CDOT need to sit down and discuss moving forward with a beltway link from Broomfield’s Northwest Parkway through the west edge of Arvada to the east side of state Highway 93 near state Highway 72.