DENVER — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is proposing funding for free rail and bus transit during the state’s ozone pollution season as part of his 2022-23 budget request.
Colorado Public Radio reports the $28 million proposal is part of $424 million in air-quality projects in the budget request, which also includes $150 million for electric school buses, among other projects.
The budget says the request “will serve to save riders money, help rebuild ridership, and reduce driving.” Denver’s Regional Transportation District has endorsed the proposal and is working on plans for a free-fare program.
The move comes after residents of the front range experienced their worst ozone season in decades, with 65 “action day alerts” between May 31 and Aug. 31. Those alerts advise residents to avoid driving or using gas-powered lawn equipment. Three-year monitoring shows an average ozone level above the federal standard of 70 parts per billion, which will likely mean the U.S. Environmental Projection Agency labels the region a “severe” violator of those standards. That would require state rules to address sources of ozone, including oil and gas operations, factories, and vehicles.
Another “free” proposal that the Government, therefore Taxpayers, therefore Everyone will pay for.
Nothing is free, let’s all stop believing it whenever a politician says it.
Electric buses? Like the type that emit ozone from the motors?
Another point. If the climate-controlled cars become free, they will become homeless shelters and even more working people will drive to avoid the squalor.
Typical Democrat dreamer. In order for there to be free transit all employees would have to work for nothing, all vendors would have to donate their products, same for contractors’ time and of course the electricity to run the trains would have to be free too. What he is saying is that instead of those who use transit paying for their rides he wants the state’s taxpayers to foot the bill.
You are exactly correct Mr. McGuire. Does the Front Range need better public transportation? Yes. As a Colorado taxpayer I am going to subsidize it for all the freeloaders? No.
One might describe all the Republicans who make great use of public roads and services but continually vote down taxes to pay for such things as far larger freeloaders than someone taking the bus.
Does the Gov use public transportation himself?