Colorado criticized by East Coast nonprofit, says poor infrastructure costs drivers thousands of dollars

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – If someone told you that driving on bad roads and bridges cost you $2,610 annually, would you believe it?

This is the claim in a new study published on Wednesday by TRAVELa nonprofit transportation research group based in Washington, DC

The survey – “Keeping Colorado Mobile: Addressing the State’s Need for Safe, Smooth, and Efficient Mobility“ – Finds the above amount to be the average figure paid by Colorado Springs drivers in higher operating costs for vehicle damage, breakdowns, a lack of safety precautions and time lost in traffic congestion.

“Traffic congestion in the Colorado Springs area results in the average commuter spending an additional 54 hours annually stuck in traffic and using an additional 21 gallons of fuel,” said Rocky Moretti, a TRAVEL researcher.

According to the study, the city ranks second behind Denver and ahead of Pueblo for average infrastructure costs for drivers; Grand Junction has the lowest costs.

Trip said inadequate infrastructure costs the state $11.4 billion each year.

The study says: “Across Colorado, nearly a quarter of major local and state maintained roads are in poor condition, five percent of local and state maintained bridges (20 feet or more in length) are rated poor/structurally deficient, traffic congestion is stifling commuting and commuting and commuting and commutes and commutes and commutes and commutes and commutes and commutes and commutes and commutes and Commerce, and the state’s traffic fatality rate has risen significantly since 2019. Despite the recent increases in state and federal transportation funding, CDOT projects a $350 million per year shortfall in funding needed to maintain and improve the system.”

Krdo 13’s The road warrior asked Gayle Sturdivant, the vice president’s director for Colorado Springs, to respond to the investigation.

“It’s hard to say whether we think the results are accurate without doing our own analysis of the data,” she explained. “They have stated that their report is based on data from CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation). In Colorado Springs, we make different choices about investing in our roadway system.”

For example Sturdivant mentioned the 2C Expanded Street Paving Program and the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority—two funding sources from voter-approved sales tax increases—that support infrastructure improvements.

“The research may not be aware of that,” she said. “It may not be realized that some of the city’s busiest roads are actually state highways – such as Powers Boulevard (Highway 21) and Cimarron Street (US 24).

The study also indicates that its research applies to the “Colorado Springs Urban Area,” which may include neighboring counties such as Teller and Fremont.

Sturdivant added that she disagreed with the study’s claim that 81 people were killed in Colorado Springs traffic each year from 2018 to 2022.

“I think we actually had half that many,” she said. “Half is still too many. But we are trying to improve safety and reduce congestion. (Wednesday) For example, we activated four new safety zones around schools. We want to improve the signal technology that will perceive vehicle movement and vulnerable road use.

Matt Inzeo, CDOT’s director of communications, responded Road Warrior’s request for comment on the matter.

“We cannot comment because the data (TRAVEL er) using blending data on state and local roads and bridges. We cannot speak to local infrastructure as we do not build and maintain this infrastructure. We raised the issue with TRAVEL Staff as we reviewed a draft copy of their report. “

According to its website, TRAVEL was founded in 1971 as “A private, nonprofit organization that researches, evaluates, and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues. By generating traditional and social media news coverage, the tour informs and promotes policies that improve the movement of goods and people, making surface travel safer , and increase economic development and productivity.”

TRAVEL Listed 11 transportation-related agencies as sources of information for the study.