Commuting Solutions shares transit issues and proposals

At the Commuting Solutions membership meeting on Dec. 11, officials from the Colorado Energy Office and Governor Polis' office presented updates on how the state is addressing greenhouse gas concerns alongside growth and related transit requirements.

Kelly Blythe, Senior Policy Advisor for Land Use and Transportation, gave a roadmap outlining what Colorado is doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while meeting state transit needs.

The greenhouse gas roadmap consisted of the following action items:

● Encourage Land Use Policies to Build More Housing, Grow Walkable

Neighborhoods, and Increase Transit Access

● Encourage Land Use Policies to Support Strategic Growth

● Increase Energy Efficiency and Electrification for State Affordable Housing

Programs

● Create Local Climate Action Accelerator (CPRG)

● Build More Complete and Connected Streets

● Expand and Increase Statewide Transit Service, including Passenger Rail

● Pursue Programs to Increase Transit Ridership

● Streamline EV charger deployment

● Pursue clean miles policies

● Reduce pollution from urban freight

In order to meet these goals, the following State House and Senate bills have already been passed:

To address land use:

○ Accessory dwelling units (HB24-1152)

○ Minimum parking requirements (HB24-1304)

○ Transit-oriented communities (HB24-1313)

○ Residential occupancy limits based on family status (HB24-1007)

to address transit funding

○ SB24-184 - fees on rental cars to fund transit

○ SB24-230 - fees on oil and gas production to fund transit

○ SB24-032 - extension of ozone season zero fare and youth free fare program

To streamline EV charger permitting:

○ HB24-1173 - CEO now working to develop model code for local governments

● Awarded EPA grant for Local Climate Action Accelerator (CPRG)

The public can become part of the process, join meetings, get feedback, and gain

information on this process at the Colorado, Department of Local Affairs Land Use and Housing website.

Nathan Moore, Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Polis, spoke about Vision 2035 which is a goal-oriented project to help Coloradans shift from high greenhouse gas emitting transit to lower greenhouse gas emitting modes of travel.

Vision 2035 sets goals for reliable transportation options such as rail, biking, and

walking that encourages this mode shift.

The mode shift will be enabled through:

Expansion of transit service

Implementing policies to encourage compact land use and walkable communities to reduce the number and distance of vehicle trips

Increasing travel choices by investing in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and micro mobility services that assist with "first and last mile" connections to transit facilities.

Analysis done through the Visions 2035 sets the following metrics:

Roles in Reducing Transportation Emissions

Federal Role

● 35% of transportation sector emissions in 2035 are

projected to originate from sources largely

regulating at the federal level, including aviation

and interstate rail

● Federal investments in the transportation section

are also important funding sources for the state to

achieve its goals

State Role

● Set the vision and policies on how to achieve GHG

goals related to EVs and mode shift

Local and Regional Role

● Expanding and improving regional and local transit

and rail service

● Fleet Electrification

● Improving the built environment to support housing

near transit and increasing multimodal options

The analysis performed for the Vision 2035 study goals concluded that an additional reduction of 1.2 million metric tons (MMT) of greenhouse gas emissions would help Colorado achieve its 2035 climate goal of 65% emissions reductions by 2035. A 1.2 million metric ton reduction would mean doubling Colorado's non-auto mode share from today's level of 9.6% to 19.2%

by 2035.

Sub-goals to double mode share are:

● An increase in transit service of 83% (measured by transit revenue miles) from the current

level of 79 million transit revenue miles to 145 million in 2035.

● A 81% increase in bicycle infrastructure statewide, which would result in 3,540 miles of

new bicycle routes (1,770 new miles of bicycle lanes and 1,770 new miles of separated bicycle paths and lanes).

● A 3.4% statewide increase in sidewalks, resulting in 1,345 new miles of sidewalk on existing streets that currently lack sidewalks.

● Transit-focused housing with at least 52% of new housing units in transit-oriented areas, and 77% within existing Census Urban Areas.

Karen Stuart, CDOT Commissioner for Area 4 (covering Niwot and Gunbarrel), spoke about the budgeting challenges CDOT faces. Stuart said, "We never have enough money to resurface all that needs it. It is always a give and take as we are required to move money around to meet changing requirements."

Budget shortfalls will need to be back-filled by March while the ten year funding program updates are being delayed because the IIJ grant system is ending which will result in monetary losses to the budget in the short term. Other sources for funding are being sought.

287 Boulder-Larimer County Upgrade Project

Due to increased traffic accidents along the local portions of Highway 287, CDOT has recently undertaken a project to increase safety through a 47 million dollar INFRA grant to:

Install centerline rumble strips and median concrete barrier to prevent crossover accidents

Design is underway with construction anticipated to begin late 2025 to early 2026

The project includes two sections with monies required as follows:

Boulder County Improvements $23M

Larimer County Improvements $55M