Telephone Town Hall Offering Citizens Forum to Talk Transportation in Central Front Range

May 2, 2014 - Southeastern Colorado/CDOT Region 2 - CAŇON CITY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is hosting a telephone town hall next week for the residents of Custer, rural El Paso, Fremont, Park and Teller counties, providing an opportunity for them to ask questions and provide input about their regional transportation priorities.

On Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m., citizens living in the Central Front Range will be called at random through an automated system and invited to take part in the telephone forum.  Anyone who wants to participate but did not receive a call can dial in, toll-free, at 1-877-229-8493, PIN 112034. Those who choose to join the call will have the chance to express their thoughts and ask questions about transportation.  Participants also will be able to use their keypad to answer live polls.

“This conversation between CDOT and the users of its transportation network is one I’m looking forward to,” said Central Front Range Transportation Planning Region Chairman Adam Lancaster.  “Improving safety and maintaining and upgrading our road system are vital.  By implementing a telephone town hall, it’s providing citizens a convenient way to get their voices included in the transportation planning process.”

CDOT is hosting the telephone town halls for residents in all 64 counties through early June.  Coloradans are being encouraged to join the conversation and express their thoughts on how CDOT should focus its limited funding, discuss the link between transportation and the economy, and weigh in on regional priorities.

“Since 2007, I’ve seen CDOT’s budget decline from about $1.5 billion to around $1.2 billion.  This significant decrease in funding has forced the department to do more with less,” said Colorado Transportation Commissioner Les Gruen.  “Despite that, we’ve seen several improvements to our transportation system, including the addition of passing lanes on Highway 285 through South Park, a number of bridge replacements, upgrades to State Highway 69 in the Wet Mountain Valley and several paving projects.”