Date: 07/08/2015
Final
Update from the Public Utilities Commission
TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
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01:41 PM -- Update from the Public Utilities Commission
Doug Dean, Director, Public Utilities Commission (PUC), introduced himself to the committee. He explained that the PUC has primary oversight responsibility over the Regional Transportation District's (RTD) light rail system but that the federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) of 2012 eliminated the PUC's ability to collect money from RTD to cover the costs of the oversight of this system.
Dr. Pamela Fischhaber, Chief of the Rail and Transit Safety Section, PUC, introduced herself to the committee and further explained MAP-21 and funding challenges for the PUC's oversight of RTD's light rail system. She said that the state needs to stay in compliance with federal regulations or could risk losing $250 million in federal funding. Mr. Dean and Dr. Fischhaber proposed that its oversight of RTD could be funded from the fees that the PUC collects from utilities companies that goes directly to the general fund. Mr. Dean discussed the PUC's responsibility for at-grade railroad crossings, how the legislature used to provide funding for local governments to improve these crossings, how the funding formula was changed in 2003, and how the PUC could be a resource for local governments again for improving these at-grade crossings.
01:48 PM
Joe Neguse, Executive Director, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), introduced himself as the new head of DORA and explained his professional background. He said that DORA would like to work with the legislature in reducing regulatory burdens and thanked the legislature for passing HB15-1382. He discussed the PUC's new approach to working with transportation network companies (TNCs). The panel responded to questions from the committee regarding how the PUC makes its records available to public.
01:58 PM
Mr. Dean described how taxicab companies have grown over time, why the $5 vehicle registration fee for taxicabs does not cover the PUC's expenses in providing regulatory oversight of taxicab companies, and the problems with permits that do not expire.
Ron Jack, Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Transportation, PUC, described problems with permits that do not expire and the benefits of changing to a permit that would have to be renewed annually. He discussed how a taxicab company's name can change over time. The panel responded to questions from the committee regarding at-grade railroad crossings, how these improvements used to be funded, how crossing improvements are prioritized, and federal regulations for railroad crossings.