Wider interstate lanes are a top priority in a statewide transportation plan being drafted at the Capitol. Wednesday, 64 elected officials from across Colorado signed a letter urging  legislative leaders to consider other forms of transportation, including transit and bike paths.

“Multimodal transportation is often thought of as benefiting urban areas, but as a local elected official I see everyday how important these options also are for rural communities,” Grand Junction City Councilman Bennett Boeschenstein said in a statement. “Every community is different and has different needs, but we all deserve support to improve our mobility options and to address our regional transportation needs.”

Those endorsing the letter include the mayors of Aspen, Boulder, Edgewater, La Junta, Lamar, Longmont, Palisade, Telluride, Trinidad, Vail and Wheat Ridge, as well as dozens of council members and county commissioners from across the state.

Eight of the state’s 64 counties are represented on the list, along with seven Denver City Council members and four from Boulder.

The letter was addressed to Senate President Kevin Grantham, House Speaker Crisanta Duran, Senate Minority Leader Lucia Guzman and House Minority Leader Patrick Neville.

“Every community is different and has different needs,” the letter states. “Our constituents want a transportation system that is safe, modern and provides greater mobility options. In addition to funding roads and bridges, they want to see significant investments in public transportation, safer walkways and bicycling infrastructure.”

They might be in luck. Last week Duran and Grantham told a meeting of business leaders in Denver the statewide transportation plan they are drafting would build in flexibility to allow local leaders to set priorities for their share of the money.

If the legislature cannot reach agreement, however, or if a ballot initiative fails, big cities could address their needs and leave small towns, rural communities and crowded stretches of interstate behind, Duran has said.

Voters in November could ultimately decide any tax increase to pay for the statewide plan. Duran said the state would need to pay back $250 million to $300 million a year. Leaders have said they might propose a hike in the state gas or sales tax, along with money from the existing state budget.

The local leaders said in their letter Wednesday:

“?Whether it’s safe routes to schools, elderly or disabled residents being able to access medical care, or commuting to work, having non-driving options is critical. It is particularly important to have affordable options for low-income communities who rely on diverse modes of transportation. Building highways and expanding roadways work in some communities, but for our communities the needs are greater than just new lane miles. In each one of our communities there are important multimodal projects that need additional funding.”

The letter was endorsed by:

Keith Baker, Chaffee County Commission

Kathy Chandler-Henry, Eagle County Commission

Jill Ryan, Eagle County Commission

Gwen Lachelt, La Plata County Commission

Sarah Mudge, Lake County Commission

Shoshanah Beck, Leadville City Council

Jacob Mohrmann, Leadville City Council

Hilary Cooper, San Miguel County Commission

Kris Holstrom, San Miguel County Commission

Joan May, San Miguel County Commission

Thomas Davidson, Summit County Commission

Dan Gibbs, Summit County Commission

Karn Stiegelmeier, Summit County Commission

Michael Stefano, Alamosa City Council

Jan Vigil, Alamosa City Council

Renie Peterson, Aurora City Council

Aaron Brocket, Boulder City Council

Suzanne Jones, Boulder mayor

Lisa Morzel, Boulder City Council

Sam Weaver, Boulder City Council

Mary Young, Boulder City Council

Albus Brooks, Denver City Council

Jolon Clark, Denver City Council

Rafael Espinosa, Denver City Council

Stacie Gilmore, Denver City Council

Robin Kniech, Denver City Council

Paul Lopez, Denver City Council

Mary Beth Susman, Denver City Council

Kris Tegarden, Edgewater mayor

Bennett Boeschenstein, Grand Junction City Council

Chris Kennedy, Grand Junction City Council

Rick Taggart, Grand Junction City Council

Lynn Horner, La Junta mayor

Betty Velasquez, La Junta City Council

Frank McKenzie, La Junta City Council

Beverly Haggard, Lamar City Council

Oscar Riley, Lamar City Council

Roger Stagner, Lamar mayor

Dennis Coombs, Longmont mayor

Dawn Glanc, Ouray City Council

Dee Hilton, Ouray City Council

Dave Edwards, Palisade mayor

Cheryl Brown-Kovacic, Salida City Council

Eileen Rogers, Salida City Council and Chaffee County Transportation Advisory Board

Dave Appelhans, Sterling City Council

Todd Brown, Telluride City Council

Lars Carlson, Telluride City Council

Sean Murphy, Telluride mayor

Jenny Patterson, Telluride City Council

Kristen Permakoff, Telluride City Council

DeLanie Young, Telluride City Council

Pat Fletcher, Trinidad City Council

Phil Rico, Trinidad mayor

Emma Bird, Westminster City Council

Maria De Cambra, Westminster City Council

Anita Seitz, Westminster City Council

Joyce Jay, Wheat Ridge mayor

Kim Langmaid, Vail City Council

Dave Chapin, Vail mayor

Steve Skadron, Aspen mayor

Ann Mullins, Aspen City Council