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Colorado College students hold a press conference in Grand Junction at the start of a spring break road trip that aims at raising awareness about the state's transportation issues.
Colorado trek to highlight state’s serious transportation challenges with rallies along the way; local stop set for 9 a.m. Monday at the Frisco Transit Center
By Bob Berwyn
SUMMIT COUNTY — Instead of heading for the beaches of Mexico, one group of students from Colorado College has decided to use their spring break for a Colorado road trip — with a mission.
Touring from Grand Junction, Aspen, Frisco, Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo, the students will advocate for development of a 21st century transportation system, trying to build public support for investment in this critical piece of economic infrastructure.
The Summit County rally is set for Monday, March 22, at the Frisco Transit Center (behind Wal-Mart). Local citizens are invited and encouraged to attend to show support for addressing Colorado transportation issues.
The transportation campaign is being organized by the Colorado Student Public Interest Research Group. The tour started in Grand Junction on Sunday, where several TV stations showed up to cover the event, according to the group’s Twitter stream.
A statement from the group outlines the background of its mission:
“Colorado’s transportation system is in trouble with crumbling roads and at least 125 bridges deemed in poor condition, as well as a woefully underfunded public transportation system. With Colorado predicted to grow by millions more in the next 30 years, our 20th century transportation system will result in more traffic congestion, oil dependency, air pollution and pain at the pump for Colorado consumers and businesses.
In order to have a safe and efficient 21st century transportation system that mitigates these problems, Colorado needs long-term, stable funding to rebuild and modernize our roads and bridges and complete necessary public transportation projects.”
The students’ vision includes investing in visionary public transit projects like rapid bus service along Highway 82, completing Denver’s FasTracks system and high speed rail along the Front Range, as well as fixing crumbling roads and bridges.
The 6-day, 12-city tour includes cities along Highway 82, Grand Junction, Frisco, Blackhawk/Central City, Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Greeley, DIA and Golden. Along the way, the students will be highlighting local transit projects and infrastructure needs, meeting local leaders and calling on state and federal officials to create a comprehensive funding plan for a 21st century transportation system.
Get the complete itinerary here.
A good source of Colorado transportation news is online at Kevin Flynn’s Inside Lane.
Filed under: Summit County Colorado, transportation | Tagged: activism, Colorado, Colorado College, Summit County, Summit County News, transportation | 1 Comment »
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