I-70 Coalition, setting the pace for the future

Traffic on I-70

Don't Play in Traffic

Because the Rockies along I-70 are one of the wonders of our world, they are in high demand at key moments. We want you to know what your trip is going to be like and to help you make it as quick, interesting and fun as possible.  Our motto is, "Play in the mountains. Don't Play in Traffic."

We repeatedly heard from I-70 users that they wanted more timely information so they are better-able to make decisions about their travel.  In response, we have launched GoI70.com.   It's all going to be here: weather and road conditions, predicted travel times along various highway segments, the latest snow reports, carpool and shuttle reservations, information about restaurants, gas stations and things to do in the towns along the highway, lodging and dining deals and access to the GoI70 social network.   Want to stay in the loop while on the road?  Sign up to have text alerts sent to your phone, and access the mobile phone application at goi70.com/mobile.   

We hope to make your trip as comfortable as possible. Want to know the best travel times, find an extra rider to share expenses, get directions to a parking space, or a good deal on an overnight stay? It is all at GoI70.com.

What You Can Do Now!

Since major I-70 improvements are decades away, what can travelers do now to avoid the latter of the above two scenarios?

  1. Spend the night. Are you a day-tripper? Get onto some e-mail lists of resorts and lodging companies to take advantage of special deals. Or get a bunch of friends together to go in on a condo rental for the season. Having somewhere to relax during peak traffic times can increase your flexibility when it comes to hitting the road. Heading to the mountains for a summer weekend? Camping can be a cheap and fun way to extend your stay and avoid traffic headaches.
  2. Carpool. Fewer vehicles on the road means less of a traffic jam for everyone. And maybe you can catch some Z's while a friend or family member is at the wheel. Don't know anyone to ride with? Strike up a conversation on the chairlift, in the bike shop or in the hot tub to meet fellow travelers. Are you a commuter? Try carpooling just three times a week to get a taste of the benefits to your psyche and your wallet.   The Dinosaur Lots just off I-70/Morrison exit are a great place to coordinate a carpool to the mountains!
  3. Take public transportation. A bus or van service can also take the pressure off weary drivers. Try www.greyhound.com or www.ridecme.com.
  4. Avoid peak traffic. Don't head west on Friday afternoons or Saturday mornings. Avoid eastbound travel on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. If you're planning a mountain vacation or a trip to Denver from the mountains, make your plans to avoid these high-congestion times.
  5. Get creative with your workweek and vacation time. Use vacation time to tack an extra day onto your weekends. Or better yet, try taking a couple midweek days off instead. Take your Memorial Day or Labor Day holidays a week early or late.  Ask your boss whether you can work four 10-hour days so that every weekend is a three-day weekend. Or explore the possibility of changing your workweek to Tuesday-Saturday. Not only will you avoid traffic jams, you'll have slopes, trails, shops and grocery aisles all to yourself. Hey, you don't know unless you ask!  Visit www.flexoptions.org and encourage your employer to explore FlexTime work strategies!
  6. Look before you drive. Check on traffic and weather conditions before you leave. If I-70 is bumper-to-bumper, wait an hour or two on the couch or in your favorite restaurant.  Come Winter 2010, Goi70.com will be the one-stop-shop for I-70 travel information.  You can also check up-to-the-minute road conditions on television Channel 22 in Summit County or on the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) travel website, www.cotrip.org.  Dial 511 from any phone for the latest road and traffic conditions.

The items above are tactics that you might be able to use, starting today, to make your travel to and from the mountains more enjoyable and efficient. The implementation of these tactics requires new and unusual habits for many of us, changing the way we think about doing business, planning leisure time and organizing our lives. But with your participation and support, you're not only finding solutions to your own inconveniences, but also doing your part to chip away at the larger problem for everyone.

These tips are part of a much larger set of Travel Demand Management (TDM) strategies developed by the I-70 Mountain Corridor Coalition. To view the entire TDM document, click here.  To learn about the Coalition's current TDM direction, click here.  To contact our TDM Program Manager Tad Kline, email tkline@i70solutions.org