Speaker 2, Presenter, said becoming an issuing authority under the state highway access code gives local governments the formal responsibility to review and issue access permits and requires coordination with CDOT.

The video, presented as a CDOT tutorial, explains that an "issuing authority" can be county commissioners, a municipal governing body or the Department of Transportation; access permits must be signed by both the local government and CDOT. "According to the code, a government entity has 45 days to come to a decision on an access permit," Speaker 2 said, adding that if that period expires "CDOT is deemed the responsible party" and will decide the permit.

Why it matters: local control over access permits affects safety on state highways and can shape local land-use outcomes. "Being an issuing authority gives a community more control over the gray area in the access code," Speaker 1 said, while also cautioning that authorities must still follow the access code and apply engineering judgment where the code does not prescribe numeric thresholds.

The tutorial stresses resource and staffing implications. Speaker 2 listed responsibilities for issuing authorities — reviewing and issuing permits, applying the code, dedicating staff time, assigning fees and coordinating closely with CDOT — and Speaker 4 noted that this includes engineering and planning time. "There could be a lot of redesign, rework," Speaker 5 said, warning that late involvement by CDOT can add time and cost.

CDOT involvement and best practices: presenters urged jurisdictions to involve CDOT early to avoid miscommunication and rework. Speaker 3 described routine collaboration: "We have monthly meetings with CDOT, but anytime we have questions, we are in constant communication with CDOT staff." The video uses a left-turn acceleration lane as an example of a situation that often relies on engineering judgment rather than a strict numeric rule.

Local example: the presenters cited Eagle County and the Edwards Spur Road project to illustrate benefits of collaboration. Speaker 2 noted, "Eagle County has been an issuing authority for 27 years," and Speaker 3 described the Edwards Spur Road project, completed in two phases over 10 years and including four roundabouts near I-70, as a product of sustained partnership with CDOT.

Takeaways and next steps: becoming an issuing authority "provides communities a seat at the table," Speaker 2 said, but jurisdictions should weigh staff commitments and available resources. For more information, the video directs viewers to contact their regional access manager and to CDOT's access permits web page for additional tutorials.

The tutorial did not propose a specific formal action in the video; it focused on explaining the responsibilities, timelines and recommended practices for jurisdictions considering issuing-authority status.