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CDOT details safety goals, speed‑camera pilot and answers toll enforcement questions
Summary
CDOT outlined a safety target to reduce fatalities and serious injuries 22.5% by FY27, described pilot speed camera results and defended toll enforcement practices amid lawmaker concerns over express‑lane fines and revenue disclosures.
Colorado Department of Transportation officials told the Joint Transportation Committee they have set an explicit safety target and are deploying enforcement and engineering tools to reach it, while answering legislative concerns about toll‑lane fines and transparency.
Keith Stefanik, CDOT’s chief engineer, described the department’s safety ‘‘wildly important goal’’: reduce fatalities and serious injuries by 22.5% from FY23 levels by the end of FY27. Stefanik listed four strategies, including expanded local law‑enforcement hours, a target of 200 automated speed‑enforcement days, a $13 million fund for safety projects at locations with high risk to vulnerable road users, and a public high‑visibility DUI enforcement campaign.
On automated speed enforcement, Stefanik cited a pilot on State Highway 119 in Boulder in which the department moved from a warning period into active enforcement; the department reported a roughly 80% drop in speeding during the initial warning period and continuing declines after enforcement began: "Just with the warning period, we have seen a decrease in speeding of about 80%."
Toll enforcement and revenue transparency drew sustained questioning. Senator Sullivan said a constituent alleges an express‑lane "toll enforcement, scheme, revenue scheme" and asked how much revenue has been collected and what percentage of appeals succeed. CDOT staff and the CFO said express lanes are administered by the Colorado Transportation Investment Office (CTIO) and that initial collections rose as enforcement began but have fallen as compliance improved; CDOT pledged to provide specific revenue and adjudication figures as a follow‑up.
Why it matters: Automated enforcement and tolling programs are framed by CDOT as safety tools but have political and equity implications. Lawmakers requested hard numbers on express‑lane fines and adjudications; CDOT agreed to supply follow‑up figures. The hearing also recorded an advocate request to restore funding for cannabis‑related impaired‑driving prevention.
