Bill Ritter the visionary: Transportation edition

Many moons ago, I heard people complain that Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill Ritter was more of a populist than a visionary. I don't hear that any more. Ritter has repeatedly proved the doubters wrong with his comprehensive, bold solutions for Colorado's healthcare and energy crises.

Today, Ritter released yet another sweeping plan to make Colorado a better place to live. Transportation in the 21st Century: Keep Colorado Moving begins with the twin realizations that our transportation infrastructure is vital to our state and sorely out-of-date. And then moves on to explain how Ritter will go about solving the problem.

A press release that accompanied the plan states:

"The state has no clear financial plan for the future. Simply put, the process for funding our transportation system is antiquated and needs a 21st century overhaul. We will look for inefficiencies and eliminate them," Ritter added. "But we cannot solve this state's transportation funding dilemma - a $50 billion to $100 billion dilemma according to the state's own estimates - by eliminating a handful of jobs at the Colorado Department of Transportation and calling it a day."

Perhaps the Ritter campaign meant that last line as a jab at Both Ways Bob Beauprez. But I haven't the slightest idea how they could predict what that guy is going to do on any given day.

Photo courtesy of Bill Ritter for Governor.