The Colorado Senate Transportation Committee rejected a bill that would have levied tolls on I-70 during the weekend ski traffic rush hour and on Sundays, but approved another that would charge drivers to use the Eisnhower Tunnel located on the interstate.
The accepted plan, introduced by Sen. Andy McElhany, was approved by the committee on a 5-2 vote and requires motorists driving through the Eisenhower Tunnel to pay a $5 toll each way.
McElhany's bill will head to the Senate Appropriations Committee, where it must be approved before going to the full Senate.
The bill is aimed at providing $3.5 billion for highway improvements between Floyd Hill and Summit County.
Residents of Clear Creek, Summit and Gilpin counties would be exempt from the toll, but opponents claim that businesses in the mountain corridor depend on workers who shouldn't be tolled for driving to work.
Other opponents argued that the toll booths could slow traffic, but McElhany told committee members that the booths would be constructed in a way that would not impede traffic.
Federal authorities have already approved Colorado to toll the highway, so if approved in the Senate, it bill will likely go into effect.
Colorado Sen. Dan Gibbs doesn't want that to happen.
"We think (the toll is) bad for business, we think it's bad for Colorado! In Colorado, tourism is our second-leading economy," Gibbs said. "Us folks in the Front Range, in the foothills and in the mountain communities are united to work together to build a collaborative effort."
