Denver Metro Counties’ Contribution to Colorado’s Economic Activity. Time for Regional Solutions?

A comparison of the seven-county Denver metro area’s economic contribution with their population shows the outsized economic dominance of the seven-county Denver metro region. A 2015 report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analyses shows the metro area has 68 percent of the state’s GDP with 55 percent of the population. Denver and Arapahoe counties have more than half the regional total (57%) and a 39 percent share of the state total. The economic activity of both counties exceeds their share of the population. Jefferson, Boulder and Adams counties each are producing from $20 to $24 billion in economic activity. Total Colorado GDP was $308 billion with a population of 5.5 million.

County and Municipal Regional Transportation Cooperation

The recent population and economic growth of the Denver metro area is beginning to focus the attention of county commissioners and mayors on joining together for regional solutions to congestion problems that anger voters and hurt businesses and jobs. Although state ballot initiatives to fund transportation failed, many metro counties win voter approval to invest some of their sales tax to add and improve roads and bridges. They frequently cooperate with their cities, the state transportation department and each other on larger projects.

Question: Should they end waiting for a state solution and initiate a regional sales tax for local and region transportation projects?

See Denver Post: Front Range towers over Colorado economy, new county GDP numbers show