A viable transportation system is critical to the south metro area.   Highways are essential to a prosperous economy and to enjoy the many benefits living in Colorado has to offer. I have built more highways and successfully negotiated  the details of more transportation projects than anyone in this race.  When serving as an Arapahoe County Commissioner, I led the effort to devote an ever increasing portion of successive annual budgets to roads and transportation.

As County Commissioner I served as the county’s lead negotiator for the TREX project. Remarkably, the design of the project had light rail running down the west side of I-25, yet employment centers were on the east side.  Initial plans did not include any practical method for moving commuters across the highway to their offices.

The pedestrian bridges that exist today were added only after we insisted that they be included. 

Santa Fe Drive through Littleton was once dubbed “the ribbon of death” for the number of accidents, many with multiple fatalities.   As County Commissioner, I led the effort to elevate the importance of safety improvements to this corridor.   This $12 million project went from a cold start to full funding in 18 months.   This is unprecedented speed for a project of its size and complexity.

Since Santa Fe was widened, there have been no fatal accidents.

Also as County Commissioner, I successfully negotiated the land swap that led to the construction of the I-225 and Parker Road interchange. This was part of the Four Corners Agreement to move traffic more easily around Cherry Creek State Park.  This particular project involved negotiations with the County, the Colorado State Parks Division, and the federal government.

Success with projects such as the Santa Fe Drive improvements and the Four Corners Agreement required close cooperation among the state, county and local governments in the area.

In Congress, I will work to increase funding for transportation.  And I will do so in conjunction with our state and local governments.    Today, cooperation at all levels of government is needed to ensure that projects get funded and built.