Colo. drivers may have to pay at least $30 in fees for road repair

DENVER - State lawmakers want Colorado drivers to help fix the state's broken roads and bridges, by opening their wallets.

It is part of a $250 million a year plan by Democrats to keep Colorado's roads in good shape. Legislators weren't able to pass a similar bill last year.

If it passes this year, the average Colorado driver would pay $30 to $40 more a year in vehicle-registration fees to fund bridge and road reconstruction.

Gov. Bill Ritter (D-Colorado) was one of the many who spoke in favor of the plan at the State Capitol on Wednesday.

Ritter acknowledged the plan would have a "moderate" impact on families facing a recession. However, he said Colorado needs to catch up on repairs to its transportation system both to protect people's lives and attract businesses.

The proposed fees would be based on vehicle weight and would be on top of the annual registration fees vehicle owners pay. Passenger car owners would pay an extra $23 a year for each vehicle. Owners of many sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks would pay $28 per vehicle.

Ritter says the state's budget is already under so much stress that there is "no way for us to generate additional dollars to transportation" from the general fund.

Ritter said he expects there will be bipartisan support for the new transportation-funding bill once it is taken up in the current legislative session.

However, House Minority Leader Mike May (R-Parker) was one of several Republicans to voice concerns about the proposal.

"The citizens are having a hard time. Why not take the money they've already spent and put it to work? And let's talk about fees when the economy recovers," said May.

The state transportation department lists 125 bridges in Colorado as "structurally deficient" and to repair all but the Interstate 70 viaduct in Denver would cost about $600 million. Replacing the viaduct would cost at least $700 million, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

The Colorado Contractors Association estimates that an annual investment of $250 million or more in transportation construction would create 10,000 direct jobs and the potential for 30,000 others.

More specifics on the new vehicle-registration fees expected to raise about $230 million a year include:

• $16 for motorcycles, motorbicycles and scooters.
• $23 for any vehicle weighing between 2,001 and 5,000 pounds.
• $28 for any vehicle weighing between 5,001 and $10,000 pounds.
• $37 for a passenger bus or vehicles that weigh between 10,001 and 16,000 pounds.
• $39 for vehicles weighing more than 16,000 pounds.
• A new $2 per day rental-car fee that would raise an estimated $24 million a year.
• A supplemental unregistered vehicle fine of $25 for each month or portion of a month (not to exceed $100) that a vehicle remains unregistered after the 30-day period during which initial registration was required.