Calhan residents vote to join Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The town of Calhan in the county's northeastern corner is set to become the sixth member of the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority.
On Election Day, 60% of voters approved joining the authority.
Improving bad roads in Calhan is the motivation for the town's willingness to join the PPRTA; Mayor Roger Lemesany said that road conditions are the greatest need and the most common complaint from citizens.
"It was put on the ballot a long time ago and it passed, but something happened and we couldn't join back then," he said.
The PPRTA was established in 2004 with Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Manitou Springs, Green Mountain Falls and Ramah as founding members; each member agreed to a one-cent sales tax increase to be used for transportation projects through 2014.
The mayor said that Calhan also will pay the sales tax to join, and keep the town's existing penny tax for road repairs.
"Normally, we have to rely on state grants to fund road repairs," he said. "But we don't always get them and they don't provide much money. Our own local tax doesn't generate a lot of money because we're a small town. So joining the PPRTA will be a big help. Our roads have been bad for a long time."
In 2012, residents in the participating municipalities voted overwhelmingly to extend the tax through 2024; El Paso County Commissioner Holly Williams said that voters will decide next November on whether to extend it for another ten years.
"It's been such a popular program that I can't see voters not wanting to extend it," she said. "Calhan will get $53,000 a year through 2024 for maintenance needs. If the tax is extended, the town will get an additional $83,000 a year for capital projects starting in 2025."
Lemesany said that the town will use maintenance funds to fill numerous potholes, and repave streets as more money comes in.
"I'm worried about the high cost of construction materials," he said. "We had a project to repave several blocks of a street a few years ago. But by the time we chose a contractor for the bid, the cost increased so much that we could repave only one block."
The mayor listed Yoder Road and 8th Street as among the town's worst.
"Yoder Road used to be a county road but it was given to us," he said. "But because county trucks commonly drive on it, we're talking with the county about having (them) reclaim it."
The town has a public works budget of $1.4 million, which covers roads, sewer and water infrastructure.
"Drainage is a big issue here and we need to improve it," said Bruce Coulson, Calhan's public works director. "Fixing the roads won't do much good if we can't improve drainage."
Peggy Somers, a Calhan resident who uses a wheelchair, was among those who voted for the measure.
"A lot of people were wanting it done," she said. "There really wasn't a debate. It was just the issue of if they're going to do it. It did pass, so now we'll just wait for the roads to get done."
Past projects financed by the PPRTA include: A new interchange at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Union Boulevard; a variety of road, bridge and pedestrian maintenance projects; and helping to support bus services in Colorado Springs.
Of the PPRTA's revenue, 55% is devoted to capital projects, 35% goes to maintenance and 10% is spent on transit needs.
Colorado Springs City Councilman Wayne Williams said earlier this year that Fountain and Monument also have expressed interest in joining the PPRTA.
