CDOT should be realistic about the costs of long-term projects

Provided by Colorado Department of Transportation
Financial terms released recently for the controversial Interstate 70 expansion through northeast Denver show that a partnership agreement will cost the Colorado Department of Transportation an estimated $2.2 billion over the course of more than 30 years.

Re: “CDOT’s I-70 deal with private partner will cost an estimated $2.2 billion over 30-plus years, documents show,” Nov. 14 news story.

Your reporter, Jon Murray, seems to be more astute about life cycle cost than the Colorado Department of Transportation since, as he notes, “CDOT says it typically does not include financing or operating costs in its project estimates.” It seems unethical to not at least estimate what may become the next generation’s burden. It informs inception, planning and design. The current generation is paying dearly for deferred maintenance turned today’s capital cost. Can we learn and evolve with our public infrastructure?

Steve Fisher, Denver

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