Joint Committee Committee on Joint Transportation (01/29/2015)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT TRANSPORTATION

Date:	01/29/2015	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:20 AM to 12:04 PM	Becker J.	X
		Buck	X
Place:	Room 271	Carver	X
		Cooke	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Coram	E
	Senator Baumgardner	Esgar	X
		Garcia	X
This Report was prepared by		Kraft-Tharp	X
	Mistia Zuckerman	Melton	X
		Mitsch Bush	X
		Moreno	X
		Neville P.	X
		Nordberg	*
		Scott	X
		Todd	X
		Winter	X
		Baumgardner	X
		Tyler	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Presentation by the Joint Budget Committee Presentation by the Regional Transportation District Presentation by the Public Utilities Commission		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

10:20 AM -- Presentation by the Joint Budget Committee

Senator Baumgardner, Chair, called the meeting to order. A quorum was present.

10:27 AM

Members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) came to the table. Representative Rankin introduced JBC staff. He referred the committee to page 46 of the FY 2015-16 Staff Budget Briefing Summary (Attachment A), which was distributed to the committee, and described the budgeting process. He said that the JBC first considers the recommendations from the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, then receives detailed briefings from each department and supplemental requests to clear up issues for the fiscal year before the JBC begins final figure setting.

150129 AttachA.pdf

Representative Rankin discussed two budget issues raised by the Colorado Department of Transportation. He said that the first issue was that the $700,000 for the FY 2014-15 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program was not spent because the grants were just awarded, and that $550,000 would be moved to the next fiscal year. The second issue was a request from CDOT that money for the "Drive High, Get a DUI" program be awarded directly to CDOT rather than have it transferred to CDOT through multiple departments. Members of the JBC responded to questions from the committee regarding the SRTS program.

Representative Hamner discussed Senate Bill 09-228 funding. She said that 2 percent of the General Fund would be transferred to CDOT in the first year. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the role of CDOT and the Transportation Commission in determining how the funding is spent.

10:38 AM -- Presentation by the Regional Transportation District

Tom Tobiassen, First Vice Chair, Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors, came to the table. He introduced himself and other members of the board, including Tina Francone, Ernest Archuleta, Claudia Folska, and Bill James.

10:42 AM

Phil Washington, Director, RTD, and Doug MacLeod, Controller, RTD came to the table. A packet of information and a PowerPoint presentation were distributed (Attachments B and C). Mr. Washington gave an overview of RTD's rail lines and projects, including:

150129 AttachB.pdf

150129 AttachC.pdf

the Gold Line to Arvada and Wheat Ridge;
the North Metro Rail Line to 124th Street, and possibly up to State Highway 7;
the East Rail Line to Denver International Airport;
the I-225 Rail Line providing connectivity from Nine Mile Station to the East Rail Line at Peoria;
the Northwest Rail Line to Westminster;
the Northwest Area Mobility Study to determine transit priorities;
the Southeast Rail Extension;
the Eagle Public-Private Partnership project;
Denver Union Station; and
U.S. 36 Bus Rapid Transit.

Mr. Washington discussed the challenges, budgets, and completion dates of the rail lines. He also provided an overview of the relationship between the Northwest Rail Line, the Northwest Area Mobility Study, and the plans for bus rapid transit on U.S. 36. He discussed the difference between commuter rail and light rail lines and how the SmartCard will make paying fares simpler. He invited the committee members to attend the National Transportation Infrastructure Day on April 9.

11:00 AM

Mr. Washington responded to questions from the committee regarding public transportation to Fort Collins, RTD's jurisdictional boundaries, the recycling of rail lines, how projects are prioritized, and the need for RTD to involve the public in plans for the arterial rail lines.

11:21 AM -- Presentation by the Public Utilities Commission

Doug Dean, Director, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), introduced himself to the committee and distributed a handout (Attachment D). He gave an overview of the commissioners on the PUC and discussed their responsibilities. He said that the PUC's five areas of responsibility are:

150129 AttachD.pdf

operating authority;
rates;
service;
safety; and
infrastructure.

Mr. Dean introduced staff from the different PUC sections, including the following:

policy advisors;
regulatory and legal affairs;
administrative support;
economics;
telecommunications;
transportation and administration;
administrative hearings;
gas pipeline safety; and
rail and transit safety.

Mr. Dean discussed the PUC's oversight authority of limousines, taxis, and the safety of the light rail system. He also commented on budgetary challenges related to actions at the federal level, such as funding from the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act and federal court cases concerning electric utility rates. Mr. Dean answered questions from the committee regarding how court decisions on electric utility rates affected rate payers near Pueblo. He said that the PUC could not force Excel Energy to sell electricity to Pueblo. Committee discussion ensued.

11:55 AM

Ron Jack, Section Chief of Operations of the PUC, answered questions from the committee regarding the regulation of towing charges. Mr. Dean answered questions regarding the Office of the Consumer Counsel and changes in rates.

12:02 PM

The committee adjourned.