Colorado Department of Transportation

Source: CDOT[3][5]

The Colorado Department of Transportation has its roots in 1909, when the first highway bill was passed by forming a three-member Highway Commission to approve work and allocate funds. The Commission first took their post on January 1, 1910. In 1917 the State Highway Fund was created and the State Highway Department was formed. In 1935, Highway Department employees were joined by 44 new co-workers selected from among 7,500 applicants to become the first members of the Colorado State Highway Courtesy Patrol. The Patrol became a division of the Highway Department.

In 1947, the first National System of Interstate and Defense Highways was approved by the federal works administrator. In Colorado, approved routes included all of I-25 from the Wyoming border to Raton Pass; all of I-80S (now I-76); and I-70 from Denver to the Kansas border. In 1953 the state legislature passed a new law reorganizing the Highway Department and renaming it the Colorado Department of Highways. In 1956, Congress passed the Federal Interstate Highways Act. Among the approvals was the section of I-70 from Denver to the Utah border. In 1968, legislation reorganized highway matters and created the Colorado Department of Highways (CDOH) with 3 main divisions: Division of Highways, Division of Planning and Research, and Division of Patrol. In 1991 – CDOH became CDOT to better align its functions and budgets with Federal Highway Administration / U.S. Department of Transportation.

The state adopted a low emission vehicle standard in 2018 and a Zero emission vehicle standard in 2019, which are projected cause a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030.[6] This is part of Governor Jared Polis's plan to cut transportation emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030.[7]

In 2019, Shoshana Lew assumed leadership of CDOT.[8] Under her leadership, the Colorado Transportation Commission approved a policy designed to stop any increases in greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in Colorado, by requiring transportation planners to calculate any emissions associated with a project and mitigate accordingly.[9] The policy was approved by the State Transportation Commission on a 10-1 vote.[10] Apart from environmental benefits, this policy could deliver $40 billion in economic benefits, including fewer traffic collisions.[11]

Under this policy, the governor-appointed Colorado Transportation Commission would have authority to restrict funding for use only on climate-friendly transportation projects if the CDOT or a regional planning authority fails to meet its emissions reduction target. Lew stated that this policy allows for capacity increases, but that major projects would require offsets in the form of climate-friendly additions. Examples include the Bustang and Flatiron Flyer bus systems that serve Colorado communities.[9] The transportation commission would also have the authority to grant waivers to this policy. Lew stated this policy enables Colorado to "lead by example" in reducing emissions, in the face of increasing impacts of climate change.[10][12] The policy has received nationwide plaudits for "showing us how to end America's addiction to highway expansion".[13] However, it also received criticism for some who were concerned that the CDOT had become "preoccupied with cleaning the air."[9]

• Amtrak
• List of airports in Colorado
• State of Colorado

• Official website
  • Colorado highway conditions
  • Colorado Department of Transportation maps and information
  • Transit and Rail Programs