CDOT

Colorado Department of Transportation Executive Director Shailen Bhatt has said all the right things since taking over early this year. He talks about his job like he’s looking out for everyone who uses our streets — not just cars and drivers — giving us reason to believe that the titanic government agency will change course and … Continued

The fresh coat of snow that covered Denver last night may be pretty to look at, but if you’re walking to, say, a bus stop on Hampden Avenue, you’re actually breaking the law. That’s because some sidewalks on Hampden Avenue, a state highway under the Colorado Department of Transportation’s jurisdiction, are closed during icy conditions. Yep, next to … Continued

Sunday is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a day in which people recall their friends and family members who’ve been killed or seriously injured because of traffic violence. It’s also a time to reflect on how to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on our streets, which have become scenes for traffic violence so … Continued

If you have a minute, this video is good for a laugh. In it, Independence Institute President Jon Caldara says the Colorado Department of Transportation has been “infected by mission creep.” How? By investing money in transit and bicycle infrastructure. Caladra is referring to CDOT’s new regional bus service, Bustang, and Governor John Hickenlooper’s commitment to spend … Continued

Yesterday the Transit Alliance held its annual Transit Event, which honored advocates, lawmakers, and companies from the world of transit, walking, and biking. RTD Interim General Manager Dave Genova was a lock for the keynote address for obvious reasons, but the other speaker was a less obvious choice: Shailen Bhatt, executive director of the highway-inclined Colorado … Continued

Colorado Department of Transportation Director Shailen Bhatt on Wednesday announced a $20 million initiative to outfit the state’s roads with cutting edge technology. His goal: Eliminate roadway deaths and congestion by asking tech ventures to step in and help solve problems. The initiative, dubbed “RoadX,” will contract out the development of high-tech solutions to road troubles. Semi-autonomous vehicles, for … Continued

The Colorado Department of Transportation finalized rates for express lanes on US 36 and I-70 this week, and people are freaking out. The express lanes create an incentive for people to travel by more efficient means: Buses and carpools can use them for free, and to ensure that the lanes keep flowing smoothly, anyone else … Continued

People in the Southwest are driving less and using transit more, but transportation spending doesn’t reflect those trends, according to a new report from the Southwestern Energy Efficiency Project. Instead state DOTs are building more roads, as though nothing has changed. Meanwhile regional transportation agencies like the Denver Regional Council of Governments aren’t spending enough on … Continued

Two camps emerged after Governor John Hickenlooper announced that the state will invest more than $100 million in making Colorado better for biking and walking: those who saw the bid as a way to expand travel choices while reducing traffic injuries and deaths, and those who viewed it as a threat to the idea that all transportation dollars should be spent … Continued