Business Leaders Push for State Tax Credit to Combat Rising Traffic on I-25
Projected Traffic Increase Spurs Call for Greater Use of Alternative Transportation Options
According to The Denver Post, to tackle increasing traffic congestion along Interstate 25 in south metro Denver local business leaders are urging more companies to use a state tax credit aimed at reducing single-occupant car commuting. Denver South a group focused on economic and transportation issues in the area is promoting the Alternative Transportation Options Tax Credit.
Businesses that push their workers to use alternatives like Eco Passes, e-bikes, or vanpool programs can get a 50% tax credit on costs up to $125,000 per year. Even though there is a lot of traffic and more traffic is expected, not many companies are taking advantage of this chance.
A lot more people are going to be driving along I-25, which goes through parts of Denver, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties. By 2050, the number of vehicles will have gone up from 252,000 to 289,000 per day. The highway was designed to hold about 200,000 cars per day, but it’s already too full in many places.
David Worley, head of Denver South, said that these traffic problems had to be fixed because this important corridor is very important to the region’s economy. The tax credit is meant to help reduce traffic by getting businesses to support other ways for their employees to get to work.
Denver South Urges Increased Participation in State Tax Credit to Address Traffic and Emissions
A law passed in 2022 set up the tax credit scheme that was extended until 2027. It was a reaction to earlier plans that would have made companies cut down on the number of miles their employees had to travel to work. As a more flexible answer, Denver South and other business groups backed this voluntary program.
This tax credit is an important way to control traffic growth and lower greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s worrying that not many people are taking advantage of it right now. To make this better, Denver South has been holding informational events to make more people aware of the tax credit and get more companies to use it.