Issue 5A asks voters to extend sales tax for road projects

One of the measures voters will decide on this November is 5A, a proposal to extend a sales and use tax of .55 percent.

The tax is currently in place, but it’s scheduled to expire at the end of 2014. It is used to fund road and bridge projects by the Pikes Peak Transportation Authority (PPRTA). Past projects include the Union and Austin Bluffs Interchange, the Woodmen and Academy Interchange, and the Cimarron St. Bridge

“The PPRTA has funded nearly every transportation project in our region in the last eight years,” said Rachel Beck, from the Yes on 5A Campaign. “And without this funding, it’s unclear how we would pay for these needs.”

The PPRTA has a list of about 150 projects which include pavement construction, bridge and street light replacements, and road improvements.

One project on the list is replacing the bridge and adding sidewalks and bike lanes on Colorado Ave. Between 31st and 24th St.

“This is one of the county’s busiest transit pedestrian biking corridors,” Beck said. “But for most of the area, there aren’t any bike lanes and there aren’t any sidewalks so it’s really a safety issue.”

Garden of the Gods Campground is within the area where the PPRTA would make improvements on Colorado Ave. Its general manager, Susan Lee said she supports 5A.

“The whole area has just been totally ignored for so many years,” she said. “We have a lot of guests that come from all over the country and we want it to look nice, and that’s a deterrent for it.”

Voters will get the last say on 5A in November.