Transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects could get a boost as Denver region’s climate-minded transportation plan takes shape

Governments within the U.S. have lengthy backed the auto by means of issues like single-family residential zoning, parking necessities and freeway constructing. However now, with transportation accounting for the biggest share of local weather emissions within the state and a rising push to do one thing about it, that seems to be beginning to change in Colorado.

If DRCOG doesn’t meet its targets of decreasing greenhouse gasoline emissions by 1.8 p.c in 2025, 8.9 p.c in 2030, and about 10 p.c in 2040 and 2050 from a longtime baseline, the Colorado Transportation Fee can require native governments to spend sure state and federal cash on initiatives that scale back emissions. 

That’s thrilling to Mike Silverstein, govt director of the Regional Air High quality Council and member of DRCOG’s Regional Transportation Committee, who famous that native governments produce other targets and aspirations for cleaner transportation programs – however these lack an “enforceable mechanism.”

“And this greenhouse gasoline technique that has been just lately adopted requires it,” Silverstein mentioned.

DRCOG’s long-term transportation plan, because it exists right this moment, nonetheless consists of main freeway expansions like Interstate 25 south of downtown Denver, I-25 north of Denver, and I-270 in Commerce Metropolis over the subsequent twenty-plus years. Some advocacy teams hope the local weather rule will disrupt these initiatives, too. 

“Colorado leaders can now not faux it’s doable to have it each methods — you can’t proceed to fund freeway widenings that induce demand for driving whereas spending a marginal quantity on multimodal initiatives,” reads a March letter signed by the leaders of 20 environmental, clear transportation, and neighborhood teams.

Nonetheless, some DRCOG Regional Transportation Committee members mentioned it will likely be tough to problem the area’s automotive tradition.

“We will do every part on this plan,” mentioned Kevin Flynn, committee co-chair and Denver Metropolis Councilor. “But when the choices made by 2.5 million people are completely different, based on their wants, if we do not perceive their wants and their journey patterns, we’re not going to hit these targets.”

Such a shift should still have to occur amongst authorities officers, too. On the finish of the assembly, DRCOG workers provided to validate parking for committee members.