Private road bill sent to governor

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

House Bill 1003, state legislation that would put restrictions on the building of private toll roads, passed the state legislature and is now on Gov. Bill Owens' desk.

On May 26, press secretary Dan Hopkins said Owens is likely to sign the bill. The bill was sent to the governor on May 24, and he has 30 days to act on it.

HB 1003 would require private toll roads to go through a public approval process similar to that required of public roads. The process would require consideration of environmental concerns, effects on landowners and other issues. It also would protect churches and cemeteries from condemnation by the Colorado Department of Transportation.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said the bill "sets up a solid public process and guarantees that the public and affected neighbors will always have a say in any decision-making related to private toll road projects." Pommer added that "real people had a say in the evolution of this bill. This is how government should work."

Earlier in the session, the legislature passed Senate Bill 78, which made it unlawful for private corporations to exercise eminent domain. Both bills were developed in response to concerns about a private firm, Front Range Toll Road Company, which had plans to build a private toll road in Colorado.