First Regular Session Seventieth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 15-0480.01 Jason Gelender x4330 SENATE BILL 15-179 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Garcia, Crowder, Donovan, Grantham, Guzman, Jones, Kerr, Merrifield, Todd, Ulibarri HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Esgar, Pabon, Moreno, Salazar Senate Committees House Committees Transportation A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning investment in U.S. highway 50, and, in connection therewith, requiring a study to be conducted to determine the economic benefits of making safety and capacity improvements to the highway between the Kansas border and its intersection with U.S. highway 285. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The bill requires the department of transportation (CDOT) to conduct a study of the current economic benefits provided by the portion of U.S. highway 50 that runs between the Kansas border and U.S. highway 285 and the opportunities to increase those benefits. In preparing the study, CDOT must consult with, and may coordinate research efforts with or agree to delegate research to, relevant transportation planning or economic development entities, but CDOT itself, using its existing financial and staff resources, must study the extent to which various potential safety improvements are likely to increase the efficiency, capacity, and usage of the highway and thereby increase economic activity and benefits. CDOT must compile the results of the research into a single report no later than December 1, 2015, and must publish the report on its web site and provide copies of the report to the committees of reference of the general assembly that have jurisdiction over transportation. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add part 11 to article 1 of title 43 as follows: PART 11 U.S. HIGHWAY 50 STUDY 43-1-1101. U.S. highway 50 study - legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that: (a) U.S. highway 50 runs for approximately two hundred fifty miles between the Kansas border and its intersection with U.S. highway 285 near Salida and is a major east-west transportation corridor; (b) The portion of U.S. highway 50 that runs between the Kansas border and U.S. highway 285 directly links to several major north-south transportation corridors including interstate 25 and U.S. highway 285; (c) The portion of U.S. highway 50 that runs between the Kansas border and U.S. highway 285 is a critical economic driver for the state because it: (I) Provides the principal means of transporting goods between the numerous and diverse communities of southeast and south-central Colorado; (II) Allows Colorado citizens to efficiently travel to and between those communities in order to access employment opportunities, health care, and needed goods and services; (III) Provides a means by which both Coloradans and out-of-state tourists can access many of the recreational opportunities for which Colorado is known, including the royal gorge and the fishing, camping, and rafting opportunities afforded by the Arkansas river; and (IV) Links the citizens of southeast and south-central Colorado to the economic, cultural, and recreational opportunities along the front range and in the interstate 70 mountain corridor; (d) To ensure that the portion of U.S. highway 50 that runs between the Kansas border and U.S. highway 285 will continue to be an economic driver for the state, it is necessary for the state to make safety improvements to the highway, maintain it in good condition, and make certain that it has sufficient capacity to allow the safe passage of traffic with minimal congestion; and (e) Because state resources available to fund transportation infrastructure are limited, it is necessary and appropriate to require a study to be conducted in order to more clearly define and quantify the scope of the economic benefits provided by the portion of U.S. highway 50 that runs between the Kansas border and U.S. highway 285 and ensure that U.S. highway 50 receives appropriate amounts of funding for safety and capacity improvements and maintenance. (2) The department shall conduct a study of the current economic benefits provided by the portion of U.S. highway 50 that runs between the Kansas border and U.S. highway 285 and the opportunities to increase those benefits. In preparing the study, the department shall consult with, and may coordinate research efforts with or agree to delegate research to, transportation planning or economic development entities, including but not limited to the Pueblo county department of economic development and geographic information systems, the southern Colorado economic development district, and the engineering regions and transportation planning regions that include the portion of U.S. highway 50 that runs between the Kansas border and U.S. highway 285. The department itself, using its existing financial and staff resources, shall study the extent to which various potential safety improvements are likely to increase the efficiency, capacity, and usage of the highway and thereby increase economic activity and benefits. (3) The department shall compile the results of the research conducted pursuant to subsection (2) of this section into a single report no later than December 1, 2015, and shall publish the report on its web site and provide copies of the report to the members of the committees of reference of the general assembly that have jurisdiction over transportation. SECTION 2. No appropriation. The general assembly has determined that this act can be implemented within existing appropriations, and therefore no separate appropriation of state moneys is necessary to carry out the purposes of this act. SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.