'It's Ridiculous' Says Driver About Proposed Boulder Turnpike Toll Rates
BROOMFIELD, Colo. (CBS4) - It's no secret Denver's traffic is getting worse as more people move to the state. Denver was recently ranked among the Top 25 worst cities in the country for congestion.
At a meeting on toll lanes Tuesday evening it was revealed that to avoid the heavy traffic on the Boulder Turnpike, drivers will have to pay the price.
Travelers driving Highway 36 between Interstate 25 and the Interlocken area in Broomfield could pay between $2 and $7 to ride the toll lanes. That's up to $14 roundtrip.
Drivers who attended the meeting were quite upset over the toll news, but the Colorado Department of Transportation says when it comes to the fees, their hands are tied.
"I think it's ridiculous. When I go to other states the tolls are usually like $1 or $2, $3 at the most," said a woman who attended the meeting. "I've never seen such high rates."
The construction on U.S. 36 opened up the highway to extra lanes. The express lanes will pay for that work to a private company operating the turnpike. It's because voters didn't want to fund the work with new taxes.
Commuters can reduce their fees dramatically by enrolling in the express toll system, or by riding free with three or more people in their vehicle.
The committee overseeing the fees says they are fair for what the operation costs and CDOT had no other choice. The committee is expected to make a final vote on the tolls in May, but it's likely they will pass as is.