Colorado Gov. Jared Polis was late arriving at the Regional Issues Summit in Loveland on Tuesday morning – stuck in traffic, a host joked, as hundreds of business and civic leaders took a break and waited.

The governor arrived at the Embassy Suites Conference Center, after weaving through hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of ongoing work on Interstate 25. He spoke of the $625 million he hopes to get into next year’s state budget for transportation statewide.

Polis, however, needs lawmakers to play ball and adopt his budget proposals next session, and he needs a long-term solution.

Don’t get used to enormous windfall, even as it salves the governor’s critics and skeptics, who know his passion for commuter rail over highway lanes.

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Meanwhile, it’s hard to argue with dollars. Last session, Polis and his Democratic majorities in the House and Senate abided by the persistent requests of Senate Republican leader Chris Holbert of Parker to put significant dollars into the state’s overcrowded transportation system.

The state’s highway system saw a $300 million boost, most of it’s one-time money and short-term gains.

Polis told the crowd the voters have spoken. Three times in two years on ballot issues to fund transportation, and three times they’ve said no.

Constituents consistently tell officeholders that transportation is a priority, but how they would like for it to be paid for remains elusive.

Consider: Voters handily rejected Proposition CC. The ballot measure would have used refunds from the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, issued when the state exceeds a constitutional spending cap, to boost transportation and education.

Last year they rejected Proposition 110, which would have raised sales taxes, and Proposition 109, which would have required lawmakers to pay back $3.5 billion in bonds using the existing state budget.

“It’s always wonderful to know what the voters don’t want to do,” Polis said. “But we also have to figure out what it is they want to do.”

While some statehouse Democrats are talking about yielding the issue to regional efforts and local tax votes – pretty much the way it’s handled now – Polis is talking about borrowing money for major projects, even if he doesn’t know how he’ll pay it back.

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Voters already are scheduled to decide on borrowing $2.34 billion next November, but there are cold feet among Democrats to try again. Some are talking about yielding the leadership to local and regional efforts, since statewide efforts keep striking out with voters.

TABOR requires voters to decide taxing and borrowing issues.

“We do the most with what we have every day, but if there’s anything long-term in meeting the transportation needs of the state, there needs to be some bonding and capital mechanism,” Polis said.

The existing opportunities to invest in roads and bridges are too erratic, he said.

Polis acknowledged that the $625 million he hopes to put in next year isn’t sustainable. It’s built on savings he’s found in the state Department of Transportation, as well as other parts of government, and lower interest rates.

“But the way it works is when we are in a downturn or a recession, that number is just devastated and it’s close to zero General Fund money for transportation, because it’s all obligated by the other needs of the state,” the governor said.

Bonding would be the appropriate way to pay for major road and bridge projects, but there has to be a way to repay those bonds, Polis said.

“We … know we need to figure out the long-term money for transportation,” Polis said.

He concluded, “I look forward to continuing that discussion with Republicans, Democrats and Northern Colorado communities to find a way forward with better capital mechanisms, rather than trying to fund transportation on an operating basis.”

The morning of speeches and panel discussions on major topics – also including health care, energy and business – was held by the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance, a partnership of the chambers of commerce in Greeley, Loveland and Fort Collins, as well as the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp. and Upstate Colorado Economic Development.

The governor talked about the region’s collaboration spirit, citing examples in higher education in the region, thanks mostly to the University of Colorado, Colorado State and the University of Northern Colorado.

“As governor we try to replicate and expand what works,” Polis said. “We love Northern Colorado examples that can work elsewhere to ensure our economy keeps growing to save families and small businesses money, and to make sure that everybody, no matter where they live or their economic background, has the opportunity to succeed in our great state. That always starts with a great education.”

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He said education is about job skills “not just for the economy of today, but the economy of tomorrow.”

Polis said that’s why he was so passionate to establish free universal all-day kindergarten this year.

“It makes an enormous difference, not just in Northern Colorado, but across the state,” he said.

Polis said his administration would continue to expand preschool opportunities for low-income families, which would allow families a source of daycare and help some parents re-enter the workforce.

He talked about state money for local projects in northern Colorado, reducing tax fees for small retailers, “hopefully offsetting some of the effects of the tariffs and the trade wars.”