Colorado Gov. Bill Owens signed transportation legislation (HB 1310) May 30

that, among other things, creates a Statewide Toll Authority as an enterprise

within Colorado DOT to act as a one-stop shop to coordinate, promote and help

finance privately developed projects, including long-term concessions.

The legislature did not give CDOT Executive Director Thomas Norton the

flexibility he sought to create new toll revenue projects and use the funds

in other corridors. It also did not provide new funding for toll authority

staffing or environmental studies (though it did allow the state Transportat ion Commission make loans to CDOT for toll authority projects).