By Mary Shinn

Herald Staff Writer

State, local and tribal officials outlined the need for stable and increased funding for transportation to support the local economy Wednesday at the Transit Center.

Transportation needs across the state outweigh available funds, and the Taxpayers Bill of Rights is tempering the flow of money in the future.

TABOR could keep $1 billion in tax dollars out of the Colorado Department of Transportation's coffers over the next five years, said Sidny Zink, CDOT Commissioner for District 8.

“We always have more needs than money,” Zink said.

At the state level, CDOT just submitted a $1.2 billion budget for the 2016 fiscal year. But the department still will be facing an $800 million-a-year gap.

While the transportation department has been successful at doing more with less and partnering with local agencies to fund projects, in the long-term the state needs to examine sustainable funding, Zink said.

Right now, the department relies mainly on a gasoline tax that hasn't been increased since 1991.

“We can't think that's the answer,” she said.

The need for federal funding approved by Congress also was highlighted by Amber Blake, Durango's transportation and sustainability director.

The current appropriation, which supports local facilities and vehicles, will expire May 31. If Congress does not pass a transportation bill to support projects for several years, it can make it hard for local departments to plan for construction projects, Blake said.

In recent years, the city has been able to time local projects to coincide with state and federal projects to make the most of available funding.

For example, during the construction at the intersection of U.S. Highway 550/160, the city was able to construct medians and put in bike lanes at the same time.

mshinn@ durangoherald.com