CDOT's Mountain Rideshare Hopes To Reduce Traffic
DENVER (CBS4)- Some ski resorts are offering discounts to get people on the mountain this Super Bowl Sunday. The Colorado Department of Transportation has partnered with mountain businesses to offer extra incentives for mountain commuters to carpool.
Saturday is CDOT's Mountain Rideshare Day. The annual effort is part of a campaign to reduce traffic congestion, save money and cut down on pollution.
Officials estimated that 10,000 fewer cars would be on the Interstate 70 corridor Saturday due to ridesharing.
The Wooly Mammoth park-n-ride off I-70 and Morrison Road has a capacity of 900, and every spot was taken by 8 a.m. Saturday.
The ridesharing may have contributed to a faster commute for people heading up to the mountains.
"I think it's great," said Chris Reed, a skier who decided to carpool from Golden to Keystone. "It will help reduce the traffic going up there."
Reed met up with family members at the park-n-ride and packed into one car before hitting the slopes.
"Instead of trying to take three cars up there, we all get in one and go up and have some fun together," said Reed.
He's among other mountain commuters with an extra incentive Saturday to share a ride.
"Since we are running these promotions, it allows people to indulge with other restaurants, get discounts on parking at ski areas, and even get discounts on ski tickets," said CDOT spokesman Bob Wilson.
CDOT offers special deals to carpools on Saturdays.
Mountain Rideshare day aims to reduce the number of cars on the I-70 corridor by at least 10,000 vehicles.
On an average weekend this time of year some 30,000 to 35,000 cars pass through the Eisenhower Tunnel.
"If we can lower that number even somewhat significantly, it's going to help traffic flow and allow people to get up to the slopes faster and get back to the front range a lot faster as well," said Wilson.
Ski Report
Check the status of trails & lifts at Colorado ski resorts in the CBSDenver.com Ski Report section.
Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.
