The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce has submitted formal comments to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) regarding the proposed 2050 Statewide Transportation Plan. The Chamber highlighted concerns that the current funding model for transportation infrastructure does not address inflation and lacks a clear strategy to close funding gaps, particularly affecting rural areas like Mesa County.
According to the Chamber, funding formulas favor population centers and overlook the responsibilities rural counties have in maintaining extensive road networks essential for connecting communities and industries to broader markets. The statement points out that closures along I-70 through Glenwood Canyon can cost Colorado up to $2 million per hour, disrupting shipments, tourism, and various industries in Western Colorado.
The Chamber’s submission is supported by several other leaders and organizations across Colorado, including Mesa County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel, former El Paso County Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez, the American Concrete Pavement Association of Colorado/Wyoming, Arnusch Farms, Associated General Contractors, the Colorado Contractors Association, the Colorado Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, the Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association, the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Club20, and the Industrial Property Owners Consortium. These groups collectively emphasize that strong transportation infrastructure is necessary for economic growth across all sectors.
The Chamber urged CDOT to ensure that the 2050 plan addresses three main issues: equitable funding based on lane miles and economic impact rather than population alone; adjustments for inflation so revenues match rising costs; and a clear plan to address existing funding shortfalls which have left rural highways in poor condition compared to national standards.
“Our comments made clear that the current funding model leaves too many unanswered questions. Revenues have not kept pace with inflation, and there is no clear plan to close the growing gap. At the same time, funding formulas heavily weighted toward population centers overlook the significant responsibility rural counties like Mesa carry in maintaining hundreds of lane miles that connect our communities and industries to statewide and national markets.”
“Nowhere is this more evident than along I-70 through Glenwood Canyon. Each closure on this corridor costs the state an estimated $2 million per hour. For Western Colorado, those closures stall shipments, deter visitors, and disrupt nearly every industry. A single stretch of highway should not be able to grind our statewide economy to a halt—but without stronger investment and resiliency planning, that remains our reality.”
“We are not alone in sounding this alarm. Leaders and organizations from across Colorado are raising their voices alongside ours… From agriculture to construction, chambers to property owners, there is a shared recognition: Colorado cannot build a competitive future on crumbling roads.”
“The 2050 Statewide Transportation Plan must address three critical issues: equitable funding that reflects lane miles and economic impact, not just population; inflationary adjustments that ensure revenues keep pace with rising costs; and a clear strategy to close the funding gap that has left Colorado’s rural highways ranked among the worst in the nation.”
“Our Chamber, like others across the state, will continue to advocate for strong, reliable transportation infrastructure because it is the backbone of business. Western Colorado’s employers are ready to grow, innovate, and compete—but that requires a transportation system that works. We urge CDOT to take these comments seriously and ensure that the 2050 plan delivers a future where all corners of Colorado can thrive.”
The full comments submitted by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce can be accessed online.
