Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

Date:09/25/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:10 PM to 02:30 PM
Becker J.
E
Buck
E
Place:Field Hearing
Carver
E
Cooke
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Coram
X
Representative Tyler
Esgar
X
Garcia
E
This Report was prepared by
Kraft-Tharp
X
Matt Kiszka
Melton
X
Mitsch Bush
X
Moreno
X
Neville P.
E
Nordberg
E
Scott
E
Todd
E
Winter
E
Baumgardner
X
Tyler
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Call to Order
Briefing from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
Briefing from the Gunnison Valley Transportation Planning Region
All Points Transit
Public Comment and Committee Discussion		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only


01:10 PM -- Call to Order

Representative Max Tyler, Chair, called the committee to order, and asked the members of the committee to introduce themselves.















01:15 PM -- Briefing from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)

Dave Eller, CDOT Region 3 Transportation Director, and Tracy Trulove, Public Information Officer, CDOT, presented to the committee on transportation issues in Region 3. A Region 3 fact sheet was distributed to the committee (Attachment A). Mr. Eller discussed key projects that had been completed in the region in recent years, as detailed in the attachment. He discussed the cash management of Region 3 and the safety measures that had been implemented on local roads and highways. He responded to a question on a bypass project in Glenwood Springs. Mr. Eller spoke to additional projects that are currently underway in the region. Committee discussion ensued on key transportation infrastructure projects throughout Region 3.

15TLRC0925AttachA.pdf15TLRC0925AttachA.pdf

01:30 PM -- Briefing from the Gunnison Valley Transportation Planning Region

Kathleen Sickles, Town Administrator of Cedaredge, presented to the committee. Ms. Sickles discussed the transportation challenges of the Gunnison Valley TPR (GVTPR), funding needs for infrastructure projects within the TPR, and safety concerns in the region surrounding wildlife accidents and bicycle use of roads with minimal shoulders. Ms. Sickles spoke to the All Points Transit service in the area, which provides rides for senior and disabled citizens, as well as general public transit services.


01:35 PM -- All Points Transit (APT)

Sharon Fipps, Executive Director, and Rex Swanson, Board President, All Points Transit, presented to the committee on the transportation services provided by APT throughout counties in the region. Ms. Fipps discussed the increasing demand for the service from growth in the senior population in the area. She said that the region was expecting 74 percent growth in its senior population in the next 10 years. She said that reliable transit represents quality of life for people, especially senior citizens, which depend upon it for numerous reasons. Ms. Fipps responded to questions from the committee on whether APT receives Medicaid funding for the medical transit services it provides.

Darcy Arnold, Senior Accountant, APT, discussed how APT was struggling to initiate conversations to establish an APT revenue stream from Medicaid funding. Committee discussion of Medicaid funding for medically-related transit ensued.

Ms. Fipps explained the importance of Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER) Act moneys for the APT service and the region. The APT representatives responded to questions on the anticipated growth in Colorado’s senior population, whether APT is unique to the region, the cost of rides and subsidies for senior citizens on APT, APT’s service schedule and service area, and the vehicles used by APT.


01:53 PM

Mr. Swanson discussed the relationship that APT has with the city of Montrose and Delta County. Representative Thurlow joined the committee and introduced himself.








01:55 PM -- Public Comment and Committee Discussion

Glen Davis, Montrose County Commissioner, came to the table and presented to the committee on the economic problems of the region, focusing on lost jobs in the coal and dairy industries. He said the area is losing its younger population to jobs in the Front Range, and that this demographic is being replaced by older citizens. He discussed the safety issues of the commute from Montrose to Telluride, including wildlife deaths and road accidents, especially during the winter.

Commissioner Davis said that he is not opposed to overpasses for pedestrians and wildlife, but that the stretch of highway from Montrose to Ridgway and on to Telluride is in serious need of development to accommodate the traffic flow of seasonal tourism industry workers. He asked the committee to consider prioritizing this highway for state funding. Committee discussion ensued on the TPR process and state funding options for transportation infrastructure development.

Commissioner Davis discussed the development of a regional trail system from Montrose to Moab, Utah, in partnership with regional counties, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service. He spoke to current funding and prioritization of statewide transportation projects.


02:13 PM

Art Goodtimes, San Miguel County Commissioner, addressed the committee, speaking to the intended development of a Regional Transportation Authority in San Miguel County, the need to address the repeal of the authority in 2019, the criticality of infrastructure in the area, and difficulties faced by municipalities and counties within the TPR process. Mr. Goodtimes responded to questions on the loss of commercial status for the Telluride airport.


02:20 PM

Doug Atchley, Delta County Commissioner, came to the table and discussed the importance of transportation infrastructure to Delta County’s economy, economic drivers in the area, the loss of coal mining jobs in Delta County, the funding priorities of the Gunnison Valley TPR, and Delta County’s regional transportation issues. Committee discussion ensued with Commissioner Atchley on the need for east to west transportation infrastructure in the state.


02:30 PM

The committee adjourned.