Pikes Peak Highway access to be limited

For pass-holders, access to the Pikes Peak Highway has always been unlimited. But now those days are numbered.

For families, that number is five. For individuals, it's 14.

That's how many visits, or carloads, will be allowed yearly under a new pass plan the city-run toll road is implementing Thursday to compensate for a drop in visitation this year, attributed to the slowing economy.

Daily tolls, $10 per adult and $5 per child, or $35 per car, when the highway is open to the summit, are not changing, though highway manager Jack Glavan said they could go up in 2010. That would require approval from Colorado Springs City Council and the U.S. Forest Service.

Glavan said visits are down 8 percent this year, and lodging tax revenue the highway receives is also down. With no signs of the economy improving soon, the highway is projecting another 4 percent drop next year.

Since the operation gets no money from the city, it has to look for ways to make up the costs, he said.

"Because of the budget crunch and all, we need to do it," he said of the fee changes.

Users now can buy an annual individual pass, granting an unlimited number of trips up the highway for one person, for $75. A pass for one family's unlimited trips is $100. Glavan said 540 passes were sold this year.

The passes will be punch cards under the new system. A family pass will be good for five carloads, and can be used by anyone, instead of being limited to one family. The price will stay the same.

The price of the individual pass is increasing to $100, and it will be good for 14 trips. It will be called the "Pikes Peak 14er," a reference to the mountain's elevation above 14,000 feet.

Passes sold this year will be valid until their expiration date, one year from the date of purchase, so today may be a good day for anyone planning a lot of trips next year to buy one.

The highway has made no announcement about the changes, which Glavan said is because its Web site, where it would post the information, is under construction. He said pass-holders have been warned at the toll gate.

Glavan said most pass-holders are runners training for the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon and anglers.

Matt Carpenter, the Manitou Springs man who has won the Marathon nine times, said many runners buy the pass to train at high altitude for the races. Although he was sorry to hear the highway is ending unlimited access, he doubts runners will use all their 14 visits, simply because there aren't that many weekends between when the snow is gone in June and the races happen in August.

"It's still neat they're throwing something locals' way," said Carpenter, who doesn't have a pass. He runs up and hitchhikes down.

For anglers, while they can pay a discounted $4 toll, many opt for an annual pass, Glavan said.

David Leinweber, owner of Colorado Springs fishing shop Angler's Covey, said Crystal Park Reservoir along the highway is stocked regularly and popular among anglers, and they will continue going because they are used to paying fees. Some may decide to hike up to their favorite fishing spots.

"It used to be that access to public land was free," Leinweber said. "I think it's just the reality. Everybody knows more and more that you have to pay these fees."

He would like to see the highway devise a pass specifically for anglers, since they don't use the road all the way to the summit.

Glavan said highway officials are considering creating an angler pass.

The highway is also raising fee for groups holding special events on the highway from $1,500 to $2,000 next year, Glavan said.

He said employees are driving the highway's vehicles less to save money, and officials may have to defer some maintenance projects. One project that can't be deferred is the paving of the road. The highway is under a court order to use tolls for the paving, stemming from a lawsuit filed over the environmental impacts of gravel. Paving is expected to be completed in 2012.