House Committee on Transportation & Energy (03/02/2006)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY

Date:	03/02/2006	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:43 AM to 10:32 AM	Borodkin	X
		Green	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Hefley	X
		Knoedler	*
This Meeting was called to order by		Larson	X
	Representative Pommer	Lindstrom	X
		Ragsdale	X
This Report was prepared by		Sullivan	X
	Jamila Rockette	Welker	X
		McFadyen	X
		Pommer	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB06-1338 SB06-093		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole

09:44 AM -- House Bill 06-1338

Representative Plant, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 06-1338 which authorizes an area that is contiguous to any boundaries of the Regional Transportation District (RTD) to become part of the district, subject to an election authorized by the district's board of directors. The bill also specifies that the election be requested by a petition signed by a specified portion of eligible electors or by a resolution by the board of county commissioners.

Responding to questions from members, Representative Plant stated that if only part of a county is in the RTD, the entire county may vote to bring the entire county into the district, but if the entire county is not in the District, the county may not vote to bring only part of the county into the RTD.

09:49 AM

Wally Pulliam, board member of the RTD, answered questions for the committee and stated that the RTD does not have any issues with the bill as it stands. Members thanked the RTD for sending a representative from the District to answer questions on the bill. Responding to questions from the committee, Mr. Pulliam stated that the Tri-Towns, Frederick, Firestone, and Dacono, in southwest Weld County are possibly interested in entering the RTD.

There was debate among the committee as to whether the bill would allow only the tri-town portion of Weld County to enter the District. Representative Plant clarified that the bill as it is currently written states that a portion of a county may not vote to include itself into the District if there is currently no part of the county already in the District.

Cal Marsella, General Manager for the RTD, commented from the audience that current law already allows a portion of a county to petition to become part of the RTD.

09:55 AM

Carol Tone, representing the League of Women Voters (LWV), spoke in support of the bill. Ms. Tone stated that the LWV supports increased transportation alternatives. She further added that the bill expands the reach of the metro area public transportation system, which will result in increased access to jobs and housing.


BILL:	HB06-1338
TIME:	09:56:32 AM
MOVED:	Larson
MOTION:	Moved to refer House Bill 06-1338 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 9-2.
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	Yes
	Knoedler	No
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Sullivan	Yes
	Welker	No
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:00 AM

The committee took a brief recess.

10:06 AM

Chairman Pommer called the committee back to order.

10:06 AM -- Senate Bill 06-093

Representative Madden, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 06-093 which prohibits the Regional Transportation District (RTD) from charging a person using the transportation system any type of fee, regardless of what it may be called, for parking at a park-and-ride facility or any other parking lot or structure owned or leased by the district. Representative Madden distributed a fact sheet on the bill (Attachment A).

Responding to questions from the committee, Representative Madden explained that at this time it is difficult for the RTD to collect information on whether or not individuals who use the RTD parking facilities live in the District or are using the parking facilities for transportation purposes as opposed to non-transit reasons, such as for long-term parking or to shop at nearby retail stores. Representative Madden also clarified that the bill pertains only to parking facilities for the RTD and not to parking facilities for other transit agencies in the state.

10:16 AM

Cal Marsella, General Manager of the RTD, spoke in support of the bill. Mr. Marsella stated that the RTD has been working with Senator Tupa on the bill and that the RTD is still working with the legislature to find a way to implement and enforce an RTD parking program. Mr. Marsella stated that the RTD contacted the Department of Revenue (DOR) to see if DOR would check license plates for the RTD to ensure individuals using the District's parking facilities reside in the District. He said that because of privacy issues, DOR declined to provide license plate information to the RTD, but that current law does allow access to this information for certain purposes. Mr. Marsella stated that the bill includes a provision that allows individuals to voluntarily provide information to the district proving the individual resides in the District. Mr. Marsella also discussed how other transit agencies in the country manage their parking facilities.


BILL:	SB06-093
TIME:	10:31:05 AM
MOVED:	McFadyen
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 06-093 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 10-1.
SECONDED:	Borodkin
		VOTE
	Borodkin	Yes
	Green	Yes
	Hefley	Yes
	Knoedler	Yes
	Larson	Yes
	Lindstrom	Yes
	Ragsdale	Yes
	Sullivan	Yes
	Welker	No
	McFadyen	Yes
	Pommer	Yes
Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:32 AM

The committee adjourned.