Date: 07/20/2012
Final
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Report
TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
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09:45 AM -- Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Report
Mr. Ben Stein, Chief Financial Officer for CDOT, and Mr. Tim Harris, Chief Engineer for CDOT, introduced themselves to the committee and circulated a handout of their PowerPoint presentation (Attachment B). Mr. Harris began the presentation by discussing the Five-Plus-One plan -- five external initiatives and one internal initiative; bridge enterprise; and the partially-covered lowered alternative on I-70 East. Presenters responded to committee questions related to the I-70 East project about routing, expense, location, concept, design, assessment, priority of the project, and projected costs.
09:58 AM
Mr. Tony DeVito, Region One Transportation Director for CDOT, addressed the committee on issues related to I-70 West. He discussed the feasibility study which deemed the zipper lane unfeasible, and stated that the focus of the I-70 West project is now on the twin tunnel widening project between Idaho Springs and Floyd Hill. He explained that CDOT's ultimate goal is to break ground in April 2013 and be open to traffic by October 2013. Mr. DeVito responded to questions from the committee concerning the concept, the managed lane and corresponding toll, effect on traffic, detours, communication efforts with the public, and construction signage.
10:09 AM
The committee discussed ensued concerning the I-70 West twin tunnel projects' managed lane and funding sources. Mr. Stein stated that the federal TIGER grant funded $15 million of the $44 million project, while the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) and local governments have contributed the rest. Mr. Stein stated that projections indicate that revenues generated from the hot lane tolls will finance operations and maintenance of the hot lanes. Committee questions ensued concerning hot lane revenues on I-25 and U.S. 36.
10:16 AM
Mr. DeVito continued his presentation on the I-70 West initiatives, including a mobile application that will launch in August 2012.
10:19 AM
Mr. Harris introduced other corridor projects including North I-25, U.S. 36., Colorado Springs' North I-25, and the SH 82 Grand Avenue Bridge in Glenwood Springs. Mr. Harris responded to questions from the committee about projects on I-225 and on the timing and scope of the Glenwood Springs project.
10:24 AM
Mr. Stein discussed CDOT's definition of indirect costs.
10:34 AM
Mr. Stein continued to answer questions from the committee on indirect costs and project prioritization, particularly for rural parts of the state.
10:36 AM
Mr. Stein discussed the contract improvement initiative, which aims to improve efficiency of contract approval through technology and communication efforts. Mr. Stein discussed the implementation of House Bill 11-1002, which required CDOT to create a searchable on-line database for revenue and expenditures. Mr. Stein responded to questions from the committee on CDOT's process behind the contract improvement initiative.
10:42 AM
Mr. Mark Imhoff, Director of CDOT's Division of Transit and Rail, discussed the division's recent accomplishments with the committee. Specifically, Mr. Imhoff discussed grant process improvement efforts and the completion of the Colorado Passenger & Freight Rail Plan. Mr. Imhoff responded to questions from the committee related to the Regional Transportation District's (RTD) FasTracks program. Mr. Imhoff discussed the Interregional Connectivity Study and the I-70 Mountain Corridor Advanced Guideway System (AGS) Feasibility Study. Mr. Imhoff concluded his presentation by addressing the division's 2013 goals to develop new transit grant module, respond to new federal MAP-21 changes, and to initiate a State Transit Plan.
10:53 AM
Mr. Imhoff responded to questions from the committee on the utilization of mountain rail lines, the reconstruction of the 16th Street Mall, and the division's relationship with RTD. Committee discussion ensued on the need for additional conversation on CDOT's Strategic Plan (Attachment C).
11:03 AM
Committee discussion continued on CDOT's strategic plan.
11:12 AM
Mr. Stein continued his presentation on the uses of transportation funding and CDOT's budget. Mr. Stein noted that CDOT has modified the nomenclature of its strategic plan and expanded the categories from safety, system quality, mobility and program delivery, to maintain, maximize, expand, deliver, pass-through funds, contingency and debt service. Mr. Stein responded to questions from the committee.
11:25 AM
CDOT concluded its presentation with a brief explanation of inflation's effect on its funding and the impacts that federal legislation, known as MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century), will have on state transportation projects. Committee members made closing remarks.