It used to be fun to drive around Colorado. You could cruise along, enjoying the views, without much hassle. It was even OK commuting to downtown Denver. Well, not any more. Mountain highways are nearly impassable on weekends and metro traffic is always a nightmare. And, it's only getting worse.

In Denver, with the state's soon-to-be-infamous highway improvement program (bearing the unfortunate label T-REX), conditions will deteriorate before getting better. The best part of T-REX is the light rail system along the southeast corridor. By the time new highway lanes are ready, traffic will once again exceed I-25's capacity. As the southwest corridor has demonstrated, embattled commuters will be grateful for an alternative to simmering in their cars.

The immediate problem is surviving the next 5 years of highway construction. At its informational meetings, the Colorado Department of Transportation bungled an opportunity to explain its plans. CDOT representatives apparently thought maps would take the place of solid information, information about construction schedules, lane shifts, bridge construction, building demolition, detours, expected delays, neighborhood impacts and alternatives to I-25.

Former Senate President Tom Norton, executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation, is a shrewd politician and a capable leader. He will need all his skills to ensure the success of not only the massive construction project, but also the important public relations effort. In a 5year program, it is the latter that will cause him the greatest headaches as Coloradans are frustrated, frantic and downright furious trying to negotiate the construction zones.

What can CDOT do to help commuters? First, of course, is providing thorough information, with frequent updates as plans inevitably change. Public meetings work if they are truly informative, with CDOT employees fully prepared to answer questions. That means that all department employees should be well-versed in the intricacies of T-REX so that they can answer questions at a public meeting, a community picnic or the local supermarket. Employees are the department's greatest asset in getting accurate information to the community.

Full media coverage is equally important. It needs to contain more than just maps and timelines. CDOT could greatly help by advising commuters on alternate routes rather than just saying, "alternate route suggested". There will be inevitable impacts on neighborhoods as drivers take surface streets to avoid congestion on I-25. What will be the best ways, with the fewest negative impacts, for commuters to avoid traffic snarls?

Businesses can help ease the strains, but need leadership to do this. More telecommuting could be a major relief as employees work at home or commute at off-hours. Staggered start and stop times could spread the traffic flow so that people don't hit the roads all at once. Flexible hours and 4-day work-weeks can ease rush hours. Many businesses already utilize these strategies, but to do it on a larger scale requires extensive planning and coordination and, therefore, leadership.

T-REX will soon be underway. While 5 years of ever-worsening traffic jams will seem interminable, drivers would be heartened to know that long-range plans for relieving future congestion are in the works. We all want to understand what impacts are coming as the state struggles to keep people moving.

There are many unanswered questions. Will these plans include more light rail? Will we have more toll roads, lanes, tunnels? How will we pay for these improvements? How can I, as an individual commuter, plan where I want to live and work, given the difficulties of simply moving about the Denver metro area or along the Front Range? Where should I, as a business owner, locate for the best interests of my customers and employees? Will traffic make Colorado an uneconomical place for transportation and distribution hubs?

As we grind our way through the next 5 years, we should expect our political leaders to begin the broader transportation discussion now and to have answers before the crisis gets even worse. More highway lanes won't do the job. We need long-term planning, thoughtful alternatives and coordinated leadership to be ready for the future.