Colorado governor wants public input on proposed pedestrian bridge outside the Colorado State Capitol Building
Gov. Jared Polis wants Coloradans' opinions about a proposed new pedestrian bridge outside the Colorado State Capitol.
The proposed walkway from the Capitol across Lincoln Street and into Veterans Park is expected to cost up to $18 million. Governor Polis says $8 million will come from the state, and the governor plans to raise the other $10 million.
Polis launched a statewide survey about the plans at .
"Now is the time where we have to figure out is this going to happen or not," Polis told CBS News Colorado's Shaun Boyd. "So, what do people want? Do they want to see a celebration ... with a 150 walkway? Do they want small projects in other parts of the state? Or do they want nothing at all?"
People on social media have criticized the bridge since the Capitol Building Advisory Committee agreed in an 8-4 vote to refer the project to the legislature's Capitol Development Committee. One person on Instagram wrote, "Like putting a bumper sticker on a Ferrari."
Governor Polis admitted he didn't expect such a visceral reaction, "One thing I was excited about is, there was so much passion, but how do you measure that right? I mean, people say 'I love it. I hate it!"
The survey asks four questions:
Do you want the walkway?
If not, do you want a different big project, several smaller projects, or no project?
If so, Do you want the walkway the way it is or scaled back?
Because our 150th anniversary is the same year as the United States' 250th birthday, are you more excited to celebrate one over the other?
Governor Polis says the project isn't about what he wants: "I happen to be in the seat during our special birthday." He went on to tell Shaun Boyd, "And yes, President Trump gets to be the guy in the White House who orchestrates our 250th, so whether you like me or whether you like President Trump that's irrelevant. It's about our birthday and we want to make sure we observe that appropriately."