This is an important petition to support because of environmental and economic benefits to people in Colorado. By supporting this petition, we could be on our way to creating a light rail train system that avoids the bumper to bumper traffic all along I-70 in sketchy weather conditions. Therefore there will be less carbon monoxide releases because there will be less cars on the road. We will also cut the annual high cost of road repairs! Please read the petition for more information.

Many people live in beautiful Colorado to enjoy the great outdoors, especially snow sports in the winter. However, everyone that travels up I-70 attempts to avoid the bumper-to-bumper traffic by leaving early or late, but it seems nearly impossible to escape the painful traffic. Building a light rail train along I-70, with stops at several ski resorts, would tremendously cut down on greenhouse gas emissions as well as annual road repair costs due to the high level of traffic.

            There is currently a light rail train, also known as Fas Tracks, constructed in the Denver Metro area and expansions are being planed to extend the system into Aurora and Boulder which is expected to cost around $6.5 billion and to be completed between 2013 to 2016. These funds come from federal appropriations, private contributions, and a region-wide increase on sales taxes. A light rail train system from Denver to Boulder Colorado is about 119 miles while from Golden to Avon Colorado, through I-70, is about 106 miles allowing for multiple stops at ski resorts such as Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail and Beaver Creek.

            Although initial construction costs are in the billions, annual road repairs for I-70 cost around $12,000 per lane mile. There is an average six lanes total going from Golden to Avon, which is 106 miles, so the total annual cost to repair this stretch of highway is about $7.6 million dollars. There are not just economic costs, but also high environmental costs. According to Developmental Research Partners, a car that commutes along I-70 emits 20 pounds of carbon monoxide each trip. On an average day, around 40,000 cars travel I-70, meaning 14,600,000 cars travel it annually. This would mean about 292,000,000 pounds of carbon monoxide are emitted each year by vehicles. This is just one of many greenhouse gases emitted from vehicles.

The first station for this new light rail would begin in Golden Colorado and have stops at Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail and Beaver Creek. In Golden there would then need to be a rather large parking structure to hold commuters from Denver and Boulder. Passengers could then choose to purchase a season pass for the train as well as have the option to purchase a ticket for the day. Please sign this petition to urge Colorado’s mayor, John Hickenlooper, and the Colorado senate to grant funds for this new light rail system from Golden to Avon Colorado. Doing so would help the fight against climate change, reduce the economic strains of annual road repairs, and most importantly, preserve the beauty of Colorado.

-Natasha Rosekrans and John Schmitz