Date: 09/30/2015

Final
Transportation Authority Update

TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
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10:25 AM -- Transportation Authority Update

Dan Blankenship, Chief Executive Officer, Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), presented to the committee on Regional Transportation Authorities (RTAs). He distributed a packet of materials to the committee (Attachment C), and asked the committee to sponsor a bill to extend the property tax authorization available to RTAs that is due to expire on January 1, 2019. Mr. Blankenship gave the committee an overview of the RFTA, its VelociRFTA bus rapid transit (BRT) service, transit priority measures implemented within the RFTA's service area, the BRT's performance in 2014, and projected increases in demand.

15TLRC0930AttachC.pdf15TLRC0930AttachC.pdf

Mr. Blankenship discussed challenges faced by the RFTA to maintain its facilities and equipment in a state of good repair, the sales tax rates levied by various jurisdictions under RTA law, and discussed funding scenario outcomes if the RFTA was to utilize a mill levy. He discussed the details of the RFTA's legislative request to increase the sunset of the mill levy authorization to 2029, if not indefinitely. Mr. Blankenship responded to questions on how many times voters within the RFTA have approved additional sales taxes.

Rick Sonnenburg, Program and Contracts Manager, Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA), presented to the committee on the PPRTA. He provided an overview of the PPRTA and the ballot measure that was put to the voters within the RTA to increase local sales taxes by 1 percent. He noted that the 2004 ballot measure earmarked funds from the sales tax increase of: 55 percent for capital projects, 35 percent for maintenance work, and 10 percent for transit services. Mr. Blankenship discussed how the PPRTA's board went back to the voters in 2012 with a new list of projects and asked for a continuance of the 1 percent sales tax increase.

Mr. Sonnenburg said that the PPRTA collected revenues of over $700 million for transportation projects from its 1 percent sales tax collection over the 2005-2014 period. He responded to questions on PPRTA's need to use or extend the property tax increase request authorization that it is allowed by law. The committee discussed the successes of the PPRTA in funding and completing transportation projects within its jurisdiction, and the interim committee bill process.