Date: 09/09/2014

Final
Briefing by Action 22, Club 20, and Progressive 15

TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
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12:15 PM -- Briefing by Action 22, Club 20, and Progressive 15

Ms. Cathy Garcia, President/CEO, Action 22 introduced herself to the committee and distributed a presentation (Attachment H). She discussed why the Metro Mayors Caucus (MPACT 64), which includes Action 22, Club 20, and Progressive 15, conducted a transportation survey in the state this year. Ms. Cathy Shull, Executive Director, Progressive 15, introduced herself to the committee and discussed the results from the 2014 Transportation Survey. She reported that most people indicated in the survey that maintenance and repair were their top priority for where transportation funding should be spent. She also reported that 63.7 percent of survey respondents said that they would be willing to pay more for transportation. She discussed other questions in the survey and how respondents wanted to pay for these additional increases, with the majority selecting the gas tax. Ms Bonnie Petersen, Executive Director, Club 20, introduced herself to the committee and said that the three organizations would support a state-wide solution to transportation funding issues. She discussed why it was important for the metropolitan areas to involve the rural areas in transportation planning. She commented on how tourism and agriculture are both tied to transportation systems and how they impact the entire state. She stated that MPACT 64, which is a collaboration among four regional organizations covering all 64 counties in Colorado, has been working to raise the level of awareness in the state. She noted that there will be a state-wide transportation summit on November 20, 2014. She said that they would like to see CDOT fund focus groups to discuss funding solutions and the different findings of the two surveys.

14TLRC0909AttachH.pdf14TLRC0909AttachH.pdf

12:34 PM

Representative Ginal asked for additional information on how survey respondents were selected and how the questions were written. Representative Becker asked the panel if any of the organizations would support a ballot measure to increase the gas tax. Ms. Shull said they would support it but it would take a tremendous amount of public education to be successful. Senator Todd asked if the Transportation Summit would include rural organizations. The panel said that their organizations have not been a part of planning the summit and suggested that the Denver Metro Chamber may be helping CDOT to organize it. Representative Buck commented on the efforts by the panel to represent the rural voice on transportation needs in the state. Senator Todd stated that she would like to send a letter on behalf of the committee to the organizers stating that the committee would like to see Action 22, Club 20, and Progressive 15 be included in the Transportation Summit. Committee discussion ensued regarding the inclusion of rural representatives in state-wide planning.


12:54 PM

Senator Todd briefly discussed the details for the committee's upcoming tour of Denver Union Station and the Denver International Airport. The committee adjourned.