Asphalt Pavement Market Expands with Colorado Wins
BY Thomas Peterson, P.E.
Creating increased funding for streets & roads starts with advocacy, engagement in Colorado
For many years, the focus of the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association (CAPA) was to support asphalt users in the proper design, construction and maintenance of asphalt pavements. One crucial reality was the fact nearly every governmental agency lacked adequate funding to properly maintain the condition of their road network. To address this challenge and recognizing that nearly 40% of the 9-million-ton asphalt market in Colorado is city and county pavements, we expanded our advocacy to include guidance on pavement management and asset management.
A key focus of Mike Skinner, P.E. CAE, director of engineering at CAPA, is to support cities and counties throughout the state in making the case to increase funding to maintain and improve the condition of streets and roads. Mike stated, “Increased funding for streets and roads is a win-win-win for all involved. The citizens win with smoother, safer roads that are often tied to the mantra ‘No More Potholes.’ The local governments win by improving the street network and being able to stretch the taxpayer dollars by improving streets in fair condition for much less than rebuilding them [later]. The industry wins by having more tons to pave and [work for] their crews.”
As an association, we have helped a number of agencies over the years. This includes tax measures in the City of Greeley, Grand Junction, Denver, Littleton, Canon City and Colorado Springs, to name a few. We have provided funding resources to implement voter outreach campaigns and have provided stakeholder input into best practices for success.
One shining example is the City of Fort Morgan, which is a city of approximately 15,000 located along I-76, 80 miles northeast of Denver. It is known for having an agricultural economy and for the Cargill meat packing plant. In 2017, the city budget for street maintenance and capital improvement was around $1 million. City leaders were considering a sales tax ballot measure.
CAPA hosted a luncheon of stakeholders to consider a campaign and providing funding for voter outreach. A 1% sales tax measure was proposed and a “Strictly Streets” campaign developed. The City Council approved the initiative on the condition that the funds could only be used for streets. The ballot language stated, “street, alley and related infrastructure improvements and maintenance.”
Arguments in favor of the sales tax were that the city streets were in poor condition, in decline and that current funding levels were not adequate to maintain, let alone improve, the condition of the street system. The sales taxes are paid by everyone who shops, eats or stays in Fort Morgan, not just city residents. The city attracts spending from a regional market of about 38,000 people—more than 3 times its population—and all of that spending could help fix the streets. Also, there had not been a tax increase of any kind since at least 1992—25 years.
The Fort Morgan Chamber of Commerce stepped up and led an effort that focused on a Sales Tax Issue Messaging Plan. The plan included a community wide survey, website, Facebook, Twitter, public meetings, town hall meetings with civic groups, guest columns in the newspaper and paid advertisements highlighted by utility bill inserts. The result was a voter-approved measure (61% in favor) and an increase in street funding from $1 million per year to $3 million per year. The city develops an annual Street Improvement Plan and has made great progress in improving street condition since the start of the program in 2018. To learn more about the Fort Morgan Strictly Streets Program, visit here.
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The November 2024 election saw four local agencies in Colorado receive voter approval for street/road funding measures. This includes the City of Colorado Springs, the City of Greeley, Arapahoe County and Jefferson County. Each agency had voter outreach and education campaigns. Two agencies that failed in voter approval for street/road funding were in Larimer County and Mesa County; they did not have voter outreach campaigns.
The asphalt industry of Colorado through CAPA understands the benefit of educating agencies and consultants on the principles of pavement management (keeping the good roads good) and the value of asset management (spend a dollar today to prevent spending $10 dollars tomorrow). We will continue to support asphalt users throughout the state to create wins through increased funding for streets and roads.
Tom Peterson is the executive director of CAPA. For more information, contact him at tompeterson@co-asphalt.com or Mike Skinner at mikeskinner@co-asphalt.com or visit the CAPA website at www.co-asphalt.com.