Date: 09/30/2015
Final
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Update
TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
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09:30 AM -- Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Update
Herman Stockinger, Director of Policy and Government Relations, and Andy Karsian, Legislative Liaison, CDOT, came to the table to brief the committee. Mr. Stockinger discussed three facilities that CDOT plans to replace, including its headquarters in Denver, and the bonding it intends to do to pay for the projects. He stated that CDOT plans to bond roughly $127 million, and explained the reasons behind the need for new construction. He responded to questions on the operating costs of existing buildings that CDOT plans to replace and the projected savings from its new builds, why CDOT needs to replace its buildings now despite the extensive transportation infrastructure needs of the state, why CDOT was opposed to bonding for road construction projects in 2015 but plans to bond for its new offices, what the impact of construction inflation will be for the state, the use of funding for CDOT's offices instead of for bridges and road projects that are in need of replacement or repair, and if CDOT would back bonding for projects that would have a dedicated funding source.
09:49 AM
Mr. Stockinger responded to questions on the locations it is considering for its new buildings, why CDOT will not pay cash up front if it is available instead of doing bonding, if the bonding approach will save CDOT money in the long run, how long it has been repairing its buildings that it plans to replace, whether CDOT has considered leasing existing facilities instead of performing new construction, whether CDOT can provide a fiscal analysis of its planned new construction, and the funding source for the bonds it will issue.
Mr. Stockinger responded to questions on CDOT's recently-announced plans to spend $100 million on bike paths, what portion of those funds must be dedicated to bike projects, federal earmarking of pass-through funds that CDOT plans to use for bike paths, if any of the funds could be used for capital construction projects, how much money the state sends to the federal government versus what it receives, who will maintain the bike paths that will be put in under the program, and how local governments can be expected to maintain bike paths.
10:11 AM
Mr. Stockinger responded to questions on the alternative funding sources it considered in its new facilities planning, whether any of CDOT's bike path funding can be used for expanding public transit services, the use of local sales taxes to pay for state highway maintenance, and whether funding for bike paths would be better spent towards increasing public transit services. Committee discussion ensued on the prioritization of transportation infrastructure projects throughout the state. Mr. Stockinger responded to a question on what proportion of CDOT's budget comes from the federal gas tax.