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 there: weather and road conditions, predicted travel times along various highway segments, the latest snow reports, carpool and ski bus/van info, information about restaurants, and things to do in the towns along the highway, lodging and dining deals to help you wait out the traffic, and access to the GoI70 Message board with real time updates from your fellow travelers.   Want to stay in the loop while on the road?  Follow @goi70 on Twitter, and/or access the mobile phone application at goi70.com/mobile.   

We hope to make your trip as smooth as possible. Want to know the best travel times, learn about carpools or ski buses, view the weekend travel forecast, or find 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? A Sunday night stay is the best way to avoid the traffic!  Find deals on Sunday overnights on GoI70.com under the Deals section!  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.
  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? SkiCarpool.org is a longstanding successful site that connects those looking for a ride with those wanting to take on riders and share expenses.  The Dinosaur Lots just off I-70/Morrison exit are a great place to coordinate a carpool to the mountains! Ski resorts often have carpool parking programs that save you money, offer close in parking, or give you discounts on resort services.  More info here via GoI70.com
  3. Take public transportation. A bus or van service can also take the pressure off weary drivers.  GoI70.com lists all the options here, along with local transit services. 
  4. Avoid peak traffic. Traffic on I70 is fortunately very predictible.  Congested times include westbound on Friday afternoons, Saturday and Sunday mornings. The heaviest traffic is eastbound 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.  Learn about the typical traffic patterns at GoI70.com and you will easily avoid the masses.
  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.  Goi70.com is 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 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.