DENVER - The state's top transportation official refused to blame legislators for failing to fix the highway system this year. Instead, he blamed a lack of appreciation by the public for how much highways cost. "From early on, I didn't have high expectations about accomplishing something really big in the Legislature because the climate wasn't right," said Russ George, executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation. "My concern isn't the Legislature. It's the public." The Legislature ended its annual session last week with Republicans and Democrats pointing fingers at each other for not finding a better way to pay for roads. But George is happy that people are finally talking about the highway crisis, and he's planning to start a public-education campaign, starting with civic groups and local governments.