It is official. The Legislature cannot fix Colorado’s roads. We know it is true because Gov. John Hickenlooper gave up his idea Friday for a special session he hoped would give state politicians more time to focus on transportation. If he gives up, we give up.

Hickenlooper had flirted with the idea of a special session after explaining his understandable disappointment over the failure of Democrats and Republicans to achieve serious results for transportation.

Because the Legislature has proved its inability to put real money toward roads, bridges and highways for multiple sessions in a row, voters have no better option than to commandeer the responsibility. Other viable options are gone. The public must raise taxes or take control of the budget.

This is unfortunate. We live in a representative republic, in which elected leaders are supposed to manage budgets and take care of the basic needs of the public. Transportation infrastructure is perhaps the most legitimate function of state government, and our highways and bridges have been a dangerous mess for years.

Interstates 25 and 70, the state’s major north-south and east-west arteries, are inadequate to handle demand, let alone the growing strains that come with population growth.

The Legislature has tried bonding proposals and ballot measures for new taxes, all to no avail. Republicans kill Democratic plans; Democrats kill Republican plans.

Read more at the Colorado Springs Gazette