Colorado road funding supporters withdraw ballot initiative

Supporters of Initiative 175, a Colorado ballot measure aimed at mandating increased spending on road projects, have announced they will withdraw the initiative following a deal with state lawmakers.

The group Restore Our Roads reached an agreement with legislators and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser to dedicate funds for roads while ensuring other state budget sectors remain protected. The withdrawal follows months of negotiations driven by concerns from Democratic lawmakers that the measure would divert significant funds from critical services.

If passed, Initiative 175 would have required the legislature to spend all revenue from vehicle registration, motor parts, and gas taxes on roads. An analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff indicated this would have required over $2 billion annually in road projects, with approximately $540 million being drawn from the state’s general fund, which supports Medicaid and K-12 education.