Redefining The Roaring 20s -- Colorado's Role In Building A Better Future

It’s 2020, ya’ll! That means more than Roaring 20s themed parties and a push to bring back certain 1920s slang. For us, the Roaring 20s means looking at what defines us moving into the future. What will this decade’s legacy be ten, 20, even 30 years from now? 

In this post, we’re diving into the rising development and growth in Denver and our beautiful State. In the coming decade, we expect growth. That means more people moving to CO, more innovations in tech, and changes to the landscape of Denver.  

We remain optimistic that the people of Denver and Colorado can continue influencing the global business landscape and its tech leaders. This influence can be achieved not only through physical growth but also in the fight against climate change by using the power of human innovation in technology to confront the issues our planet faces.  

How Colorado Is Making Waves In The Roaring 20s

Colorado Traffic

Part of the legacy we hope to see in Colorado is finally deciding to do something about our highway and traffic system problems. Multiple pieces of legislation that attempt to bring more funding or solutions to the major traffic bottleneck within the I70 corridor have not passed in recent years. That means tensions are building.

Right now, lawmakers appear to have a bipartisan agreement at the State Capitol that the State’s transportation system needs a serious infusion of money. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has identified $9 billion in needs from repair and replacement to improvements to help alleviate congestion. 

For decades, the gas tax has served as the State’s main source of funding for transportation projects. Each time a driver fills up their gas tank, 18 cents go to the federal government, and another 22 cents go to the State. However, the state gas tax hasn’t been raised in nearly three decades. 

Instead of increasing the gas tax, many legislators and citizens want another solution. Here are a couple of resources to dive further into this timely topic. 

• Lawmakers Agree Colorado’s Roads Need More TLC. They Definitely Don’t Agree On How To Pay For It
• When it comes to repairing Colorado roads, is there a better solution than the gas tax?

Public Transportation 

Related to Colorado traffic issues, there’s been a swing in thought towards funding and creating a more reliable and comprehensive public transport system.

In 2019, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration FTA Acting Administrator, K. Jane Williams, joined officials in Colorado to highlight $18 million in federal grants for the State to improve the safety and reliability of its transit bus systems and enhance mobility for riders. The grants are part of $423 million in transit infrastructure grants nationwide announced by the U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. 

The projects being funded by this grant are listed here. 

Denver has continually struggled to fund public transportation, but right now, there’s a battle between drivers and those in need of transit.  Denver Public Works Director Eulois Cleckley told 9News that what Denver really struggles with is the city claiming road space from all of the cars, read more on his interesting perspective on this topic here. 

By improving access and efficiency of public transportation in Colorado, we’re not only helping our residents get around and save money, but we’re also helping the environment. According to the United States Department of Transportation, transportation accounts for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. By moving more people with fewer vehicles, public transportation can directly impact and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It can also help reduce congestion and emissions from cars stuck in traffic. 

Colorado has already started to approach these issues; one way is with the unique offering of the Winter Park Ski Train. This Amtrak service ties together the area’s best skiing and landscapes. The ride begins at Denver Union Station, offering direct rail access to Denver International Airport. As a result, it’s possible to touch down from anywhere in the world and ride the rails all the way to the pristine slopes at Winter Park Resort.

There was also a proposed Hyperloop One Rail, which was proposed to create a line from Denver to Vail that takes only nine minutes. That train is still in proposal stages. 

As these advancements continue, we hope people understand how much public transport could ease traffic woes and contribute to reducing our carbon footprint as a city. 

Climate Change

Part of Colorado’s identity is attached to the mountains and revels in the natural landscape of our state, but how do we collectively become agents of change to protect these assets?

From a business perspective, companies can take a stand and practice corporate responsibility through green initiatives. There are many Colorado companies that focus on sustainability practices and others that are actually developing solutions to fight climate change. 

As individuals, we can make small changes in our daily consumption habits that have a lasting impact over time. These changes include using reusable bags, even for produce, reusable coffee containers, fewer paper towels, and fewer plastic bottles. And the list goes on.

Recycling

Currently, Denver’s recycling program needs improvement. Compared to its peer cities such as Seattle, Washington, and Austin, Colorado’s capital recycles less than half of what they do, according to a 2016 report by Eco-Cycle. And compared to the U.S. as a whole, Denver residents recycle 14% less of their overall waste than the national average. There are initiatives to improve Denver’s recycling rate, which you can find out about here. 

One of the world’s recycling superstars is Germany. Germans recycle 66% of their municipal waste trash, leading both the EU and the world. The secret to their success lies in a culture of environmental stewardship that has been slowly instilled through government mandates — enforced by fines — on both citizens and the manufacturers who produce the trash. They also leverage color-coded bins around cities — from parks and schools to public transit stops and residential collection sites:

• Yellow for plastic
• Blue for paper
• Brown for organic matter
• Green for colored glass

Simple changes made by manufacturers and citizens can help improve our overall state of recycling, but it will take efforts on all sides. 

Pollution And Air Quality

There are many organizations and groups fighting to keep Colorado’s air and water clean and free of pollution. One of these organizations includes Conservation Colorado, which collaborates on key environmental issues, working collectively at the State Capitol, and establishing strategic partnerships. 

Colorado already has high standards for development in our State when it comes to residences and manufacturers, but we can always increase our standards. Together with the multitude of organizations fighting against pollution, we can continue to keep our air and water clean and preserve the beauty that makes our great state so special. 

These ideas reflect our desire to move through the Roaring 20s with a focus on making this State as awesome as possible. By 2030, we hope technology and the human desire for change can play a large role in defining what this decade represents. 

Here at BWBacon Group, we know and live what you are experiencing as an employer or job seeker in Denver, Boulder, Dallas, San Francisco, New York City or any of the other cities we work in. We believe great recruiting starts and ends with understanding people.

If you have any questions about living, working or playing any of the areas we serve, please contact us. We are happy to help. Seize the day, every day, that’s what we say!