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8C4D59DFC123EBBF87258A12005CDB30 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UPDATE, BUS RAPID TRANSIT, AND TRAFFIC SAFETY WITH DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

INTERIM COMMITTEE  TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
Date Aug 21, 2023      
Location Old State Library



Colorado Department of Transportation Update, Bus Rapid Transit, and Traffic Safety with Department of Public Safety - Committee Discussion Only
10:54:16 AM  
The committee took a brief recess.
10:54:20 AM  
The committee came
back to order.
10:54:38 AM  
Emily Haddawy, legislative
liaison representing the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT),
made introductory remarks about CDOT's presentation (Attachment E).  Shoshana
Lew, Exectuvie Diretor of CDOT, talked about the department and its current
maintenance activities to prepare for winter.
11:04:44 AM  
Director Lew shared
that the department's vacancy rate is lower than last year at this time.
 She shared that in August 2022 the vacancy rate was at 37 percent,
while this year the rate is at 18 percent.
11:05:58 AM  
John Lorme, Division
of Maintenance and Operations Director representing CDOT, talked about
preparations for winter.  Director Lorme shared that the division
plows the equivalent 6.5 million miles annual, and that the current workforce
is younger than previoulsy and that accident rates are down.
11:10:23 AM  
There was a discussion
about post winter repairs, including Berthoud Pass and the Eisenhower Johnson
Memorial Tunnels.
11:10:53 AM  
Mr. Lorme discussed
a new career development course to help road maintainers become managers.
 He indicated that the department is focusing recruitment on 18 to
21 year old individuals.  Mr. Lorme said that salaries have increased
from $36,000 to $55,000 and compensation includes housing.  In addition,
he indicated that the accident rate for new employees is near zero.  
11:13:21 AM  
Mr. Lorme said that
the department is building employee housing, in addition to offering a
housing stipend for employees.  He talked about four projects in Frisco,
Fairplay, Basalt, and Steamboat Springs.  Mr. Lorme said that the
Frisco and Fairplay projects are in the development stage.  He talked
about the development of an unused vacant lot in Fairplay which is using
vacancy savings from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Mr. Lorme said that the
lot will include 12 family homes and cost $6.5 million.  He shared
that employees staying in the housing will support the Highway 285 corridor,
including Highway 9 and US Highway 24.
11:16:01 AM  
Mr. Lorme talked
about other department housing untis in Frisco and Glenwood Springs.  He
said that the department shares a 22 house development in Frisco with the
town, with 11 units specifically for CDOT.  Mr. Lorme said that the
Glenwood Springs housing is a joint project with the Iron Mountain Hot
Springs and includes administrative offices for CDOT and the Colorado State
Patrol (CSP), as well as 19 apartments, with four for CDOT employees and
several for CSP employees.
11:17:27 AM  
Ryan Noles, Bus Rapid
Transit Program Manager representing CDOT Region One, provided information
about the program.  Mr. Noles talked about the goals of the bus rapid
transit (BRT) program for Region One, including a reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions and delays for passengers, viable transit for the future,
improving transportation options, and moving more people across the transportation
system in additional modes of transportation.
11:18:56 AM  
Mr. Noles talked
about the inclusion of BRT in the 10-year transportation plan, including
the expenditure of $170 million over the next two to three years.  Mr.
Noles continued to talk about the program regionally, including several
feasibility studies from the Regional Transportation District, the Denver
Regional Council of Governments Metro Vision 2050, and Denver Moves Transit.
 He said that 29 corridors were identified for BRT with development
of two moving forward, East Colfax and Colorado Highwy 119.  Mr. Noles
shared that the evaluation included ridership, cost, reduced vehicle miles
traveled, and saving time.  He talked about typical BRT elements,
including rapid service with higher frequency; dedicated lanes or signal
priority; stations; and a better experience than local bus service.  
11:23:31 AM  
The timeline for
BRT implementation was discussed.  Mr. Noles talked about the first
project on Federal Boulevard, Wagon Road Park and Ride to Englewood station.
 He said that the project is currently going through the National
Enviornmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and preliminary design.  


Mr. Noles outlined the Colorado Boulevard BRT project, between I-70 and
I-25, and indicated that a corridor study started last month.  Mr.
Noles said that the projects will focus on key corridors that connect high
volume routes.
11:26:52 AM  
Keith Stefanik, Chief
Engineer representing CDOT, talked about traffic safety.  Mr. Stefanik
talked about reducing serious injuries and fatalaties by 15 percent and
mentioned that injuries and fatalaties have increased since 2013.  He
shared factors in fatalities, including impaired driving, agressive driving,
speeding, and roadway departure.
11:29:38 AM  
Mr. Stafanik talked
about increases in pedestrian, bicycle,  motorcycle, and large trucks
accidents.
11:30:03 AM  
Mr. Stefanik provided
details on the overall perspective of advancing safety, including establishing
a safety culture in CDOT, by focusing on safe roads, safe driving, safe
people, and post care.  He mentioned that the approach is a holistic
approach and includes 425 core safety projects, 29 shovel ready projects,
and 38 immediate projects.  Mr. Stefanik provided additional details
about the projects.  
11:33:31 AM  
Mr. Stefanik talked
about partners working toward safe driving, including the National HighwayTraffic
Safety Administration and the Colorado State Patrol (CSP).  He also
talked about new programs and initiatives, including the Second Annual
Colorado Traffic Safety Summit and law enforcement education events to
foster community engagement and support.
11:35:02 AM  
Mr. Stefanik discussed
post-crash care as a measure to eliminate secondary crashes by clearing
crashes quickly.  He talked further about efforts to improve Colorado's
traffic indicent management in six jurisdictions with high rates of serious
injuries and fatalities.
11:37:36 AM  
He mentioned that
CDOT is working with CSP on speed enforcement, impairment, and media campaigns.
11:38:21 AM  
Mr. Stefanik discussed
fatality data and road conditions, including any data that CSP may have.
 The chair asked that CDOT send the map of road projects currently
underway to the committee.
11:41:55 AM  
Mr. Lorne will check
into mowing on roadways and the effect on accidents that involve animals
and sight and touch base with Senator Pelton.
11:44:24 AM  
There was a discussion
about driving impaired, including the cause, substances, and other issues.
 Mr. Stefanik will provide data on this issue and indicated that there
is a rise in impaired driving due to substance and alcohol use.  He
mentioned that federal funds are used for media campaigns.
11:46:46 AM  
Mr. Stefanik talked
about an increase in the use of media and the effectiveness of campaigns.
 He mentioned that social media and paid advertisments reach the public
the best, but campaigns and placement of information has to be changed
regularly.
11:49:39 AM  
There was a discussion
about the employee housing program, including caps on payments, in addition
to a comparison to the market rate for housing.  Mr. Lorne indicated
that CDOT is working with the property management in their organiziation
and that the payments are based on employee salary.  He mentioned
that the project is focused on first line employees.
11:59:47 AM  
There was a discussion about speed and roadwork in Glenwood Canyon.
12:02:06 PM  
Mr. Noles answered
questions about BRT timelines, including traffic analysis and communication.
 He mentioned that CDOT is looking at improving existing service while
the projects are being implemented.
12:05:32 PM  
Mr. Stafanik will
provide statistics on safety to Representative Dickson.  
12:07:18 PM  
There was a discussion
about rural road projects and budget.  Representatives from CDOT affirmed
the committment to rural roads and indicated that money can shift based
on federal dollars, although six percent each year is committed to the
rural road repair program.  There was a request to be included in
discussion about funding commitments.
12:09:39 PM  
The committee took
a recess for lunch.






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