Transportation o cials get stricter about express lane penalties

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Colorado Department of Transportation is getting serious about enforcing penalties for Interstate 70 mountain express lanes, and Idaho Springs is the early focus.

Enforcement will focus on the interstate’s Mountain Express Lanes between Idaho Springs and U.S. 40. Soon, though, serious penalties will be a reality everywhere, according to state officials.

“Starting Friday, July 21, motorists who drive unsafely in the Express Lanes on the I-70 Moun- tain Corridor will be issued fines known as civil assessment penalties,” a press release stated. stages of drafting the plans and regulations. e county anticipates this process to be completed by July 2024. e county is currently evaluating plans, reviewing existing conditions and developing a process to include the public in its decision-making. is phase is anticipated to conclude in August of this year, according to the county’s website. e following phases involve multiple e county anticipates the project to take 18 to 24 months with adoption of the other four plans planned for October of 2024.

For the past month, drivers have received mailed warnings for violations such as using the Express Lanes when they’re closed, weaving across the solid yellow lines and driving in lanes with oversized vehicles.

As of July 21, the warnings will cease, and drivers will be mailed fines starting at $75 and increasing to $150 if not paid within 20 days of issuance, the statement said.

More than 5,000 warnings have already been issued to drivers, according to CDOT.

County,” Je erson County Development and Transportation Director Abel Montoya said in a recent press release.

Public review of the land use code is expected for December of 2024 and public hearings in early 2025.

Residents can get involved with the drafting process through public workshops, surveys and open houses over the next two years by visiting the Together Jeffco website (https://togetherje co.com/).