I-70 is F@&KED

[Soups]

What ever happened to the Breck/Copper/Vail super epic connect gondola?

That would be EPIC™

[hatchgreenchile]

my solution: build two or more resorts north or south of I70 so people have other places to go and don't have to all take the same route up. Ie. create a sick ski area at Cameron Pass (don't they get 400+ " a year?), expand Eldora into a real resort, maybe create a faster route to Steamboat. Spread out the skiers more.
Or best yet..close the state

Not a year round solution. Summer traffic is just as bad, if not worse then peak ski season. A Cameron Pass area would be interesting though…

Mass transit is the solution. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Two reversible lanes from Golden to Dillon. Buses, 4+ HOV, or heavy tolls only. You gotta get a system built where you can hop on a comfortable bus from the city to Summit that’s both fast and affordable or else people won’t take it.

[The SnowShow]

Not a year round solution. Summer traffic is just as bad, if not worse then peak ski season. A Cameron Pass area would be interesting though…

Mass transit is the solution. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Two reversible lanes from Golden to Dillon. Buses, 4+ HOV, or heavy tolls only. You gotta get a system built where you can hop on a comfortable bus from the city to Summit that’s both fast and affordable or else people won’t take it.

agree re: the summer. I do like the reversible lane idea and buses....

[Garth Bimble]

I solved this problem a long time ago.

While the government toadies have been sitting on their fat asses talking about ways to fix things I went out and got re-educated and re-trained. Now I have a job that allows me to ski during the week and because I do it from home, home can be in the mountains so eventually I won't be driving I-70 at all.

I'm fucking brilliant. Who wants to touch me?

[hatchgreenchile]

That would be EPIC™

They should call it Skilink....

[The Dude]

They should open the berms to buses only and get the resort areas to kick in and subsidize them.

I'd like to see them take all of the RTD regional buses that don't get used on weekends put to use. Have people park at the P&R in Morrison and Red Rocks for overflow, just load up the buses and take them to a specific resort. Buses sit there until the afternoon when people start to show up to head back east. I don't see the ski areas subsidizing the buses, they could care less since they know the people will come, but it would be nice to include it in the cost of a season pass.

[bean]

There are not too many alternatives in the network to I-70, but there is the null case of people currently not going to Summit County due to the traffic, which might (?) invoke the paradox or negate the additional capacity.

I've got a Cu/WP pass and will avoid going to Copper mid-season unless it's mindblowingly amazing there or if I'm heading farther west after skiing. Now if there were an extra lane or two to deal with the traffic coming back from Summit, I'd be there plenty. I know I'm not the only one who all but refuses to go to Summit because of traffic coming home.

[Soups]

I've got a Cu/WP pass and will avoid going to Copper mid-season unless it's mindblowingly amazing there or if I'm heading farther west after skiing. Now if there were an extra lane or two to deal with the traffic coming back from Summit, I'd be there plenty. I know I'm not the only one who all but refuses to go to Summit because of traffic coming home.

Had that same mindset when I had the Superpass a couple years. Pretty much only went to Winter Park unless it was my Friday off. Now I just do Loveland. Avoid Summit/tunnel like the plauge on weekends.

[pfluffenmeister]

^^^ yup, i had the RMSP last year and rarely stayed on I-70 until Cu Mtn..

[Blizzard_of_Oz]

^^^ yup, i had the RMSP last year and rarely stayed on I-70 until Cu Mtn..

So you're saying Bean, Soups and yourself would be part of the problem if road capacity increased

Lots of talk about bus lanes etc. How much would people be willing to pay for a return ride to LL/Basin or Cu/Breck or Vail?
Petrol for a return trip to Copper in an old Subaru is of order $25-30 (erring on high side). I suspect most people don't think about wear & tear, tyre use etc. though it should factor in.
If there are 2 people in the car, the bus would have to be sub-$20 to be competitive ... and some of you wouldn't be able to bring your quiver of 6 carbon skis. Anyone know what percentage of Sat/Sun traffic is single occupancy vehicles? Mostly I see 2 or more per vehicle...

[The SnowShow]

But the traffic from Summit usually starts right near the Empire/WP exit. Sometimes a bit further up but depends on the time.

Two solutions...rent or buy a condo and avoid rush hours or have a flex job that let's you ski during the week

I've got a Cu/WP pass and will avoid going to Copper mid-season unless it's mindblowingly amazing there or if I'm heading farther west after skiing. Now if there were an extra lane or two to deal with the traffic coming back from Summit, I'd be there plenty. I know I'm not the only one who all but refuses to go to Summit because of traffic coming home.

[The SnowShow]

Now that the tunnel project is complete, how has traffic been for people during high volume? In three recent trips back, it seems to still slow down at the Winter Park exit but then opens up right before Idaho Springs, and then is fast through IS and to the tunnel.

[Danno]

Now that the tunnel project is complete, how has traffic been for people during high volume? In three recent trips back, it seems to still slow down at the Winter Park exit but then opens up right before Idaho Springs, and then is fast through IS and to the tunnel.

that seems to indicate that it is working. Because it used to get worse through IS, not better.

[GPP33]

So far it looks like the tunnel project is helping. Traffic was stupid going up the east side of the pass today but cleared up around Georgetown. Traffic was way heavier than I thought it would be today but I don't think we've seen truly heavy ski traffic yet.

[bean]

The tunnel has definitely helped things. A third EB lane back to the Empire onramp to mitigate that merge would be hudge.

[bendtheski]

Looks to me like the new tunnel not only added a lane, but also a pretty generous shoulder on both sides, and really bright lighting; probably all contributing to reduce "tunnel trauma". It does seem to be helping with moderate (there's that word again) traffic.

I think it's left to be seen how effective it will be during peak travel times, like this coming weekend when delays EB on the approach to the eisenhower tunnel, Plume hill, WP/Hwy 40 merge may well outweigh any relief through Idaho Springs.

[Danno]

Looks to me like the new tunnel not only added a lane, but also a pretty generous shoulder on both sides, and really bright lighting; probably all contributing to reduce "tunnel trauma". It does seem to be helping with moderate (there's that word again) traffic.

I think it's left to be seen how effective it will be during peak travel times, like this coming weekend when delays EB on the approach to the eisenhower tunnel, Plume hill, WP/Hwy 40 merge may well outweigh any relief through Idaho Springs.

Of course it's not going to effect traffic all the way to summit. But often the only place there is traffic is from the 40 merge through Idaho Springs, that's what it's designed to mitigate. And during times of extremely high volume, it will only do so much, it's not going to be a magic traffic reducer, it's just not going to continue to be the pinch point.

[Slaag Master]

only in radorado!!! you need to increase your driving skill set!!!!! kowalski lives!!!!!!!!!!!

[bendtheski]

^careful, or we'll bring our junk-show to your neck of the woods!



I'm a veteran of Garden State Parkway and L.I.E. shore traffic; I-70's for amateurs!

[fastfred]

I'm a veteran of Garden State Parkway and L.I.E. shore traffic; I-70's for amateurs!

very well said and the truth

everyone should goto the north east or mid atlantic to learn how to drive and see what traffic really is, 70 mph bumper to bumper will wake people up

there isn't a problem on I70, it's a made up white people of colorado problem

[hatchgreenchile]

For the past few weeks I’ve been at WP exclusively and seen minimal delays on EB 70 from Empire. The tunnel is a big, big help. They did a stellar job, and going forward, that 3rd lane will really payoff during the busiest weekends.

The Eisenhower fire system retrofit should help on storm days when LL Pass is closed, but obviously, you’re going to have to bore another tunnel and construct additional lanes sooner or later…

[bendtheski]

very well said and the truth

everyone should goto the north east or mid atlantic to learn how to drive and see what traffic really is, 70 mph bumper to bumper will wake people up

there isn't a problem on I70, it's a made up white people of colorado problem

Prolly shouldda included countless trips to Kmart from North Jersey on the T-way/Northway, many times in whiteout conditions, to my impressive list of driving credentials.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Attn: Summit/ Vail skiiers:

With the reported benefits of the tunnel and the continued metering/Eisenhower suckage a new plan may be in order. Has anyone seriously considered Trough Road or Ute Pass>Granby>Berthoud?

[hatchgreenchile]

Attn: Summit/ Vail skiiers:

With the reported benefits of the tunnel and the continued metering/Eisenhower suckage a new plan may be in order. Has anyone seriously considered Trough Road or Ute Pass>Granby>Berthoud?

2+ hours in fair weather. Ute Pass north of the mining plant is dirt, so your rig will be soaked with grime real fast. Stick with 9 to 40.

[simple]

that 3rd lane will really payoff …

Funny you use that term. That new section of 3rd lane may be a toll lane starting in 2015 if CDOT has their way. Seems like creating a toll lane on a interstate hwy in that fashion might be controversial and possibly illegal. Guessing a good fight happens in 2014. We are waiting for an announcement on the public meeting dates.