Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper the state can do a much better job communicating at a more local level the need and impact of transportation projects, during a news conference on Friday, the Longmont Times-Call reports.

During a discussion of the FASTER vehicle-registration fee increases that Republicans have cited in their criticisms of Ritter and the Democratic-controlled Legislature, Hickenlooper suggested state officials hadn’t done a good enough job explaining the local implications of the state being “many billions of dollars behind” in paying for needed transportation projects.

Hickenlooper said it’s government’s job to communicate a need “before we start telling how much money we need.”

Hickenlooper said the state should fashion its transportation-needs message, telling people “here’s a bridge you need” or explaining how extra turn lanes on a specific state highway serving a community would result in safer traffic flows.

Go to the Longmont Times-Call to see the entire article.