Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu

50C6CE55F5B2E23387258A3D005E41A0 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For PRESENTATION FROM COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS RULEMAKING

INTERIM COMMITTEE  TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
Date Oct 3, 2023      
Location Old State Library



Presentation from Colorado Department of Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rulemaking - Committee Discussion Only
11:09:36 AM  
The committee broke for lunch.
12:31:02 PM  
The committee came back to order.
12:32:01 PM  
Darius Pakbaz, Director
of Transportation Development representing the Colorado Department of Transportation
(CDOT); Erik Sabina, Deputy Director Trasnportation Development representing
CDOT; Theresa Takushi, GHG Program Manager representing CDOT; and Emily
Haddaway, Legislative Liaison representing CDOT, presented information
about Colorado's greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution reduction transportation
planning standard (Attachment E).
12:32:19 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz presented
an overview of recent legislation and policies related to current planning,
inlcuding House Bill 19-1261 concerning a climate action plan to reduce
pollution; Senate Bill 23-016 concerning GHG reduction measures; Senate
Bill 21-260 concerning sustainability of the transportation system; and
the GHG Pollution Reduction Roadmap.
12:32:27 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz talked
about the reduction of GHG emissions from 2005, outlined in House Bill
19-1061.  The law calls for a reduction in emissions by 26 percent
by 2025; 50 percent by 2030; and 90 percent by 2050 across all sectors.
12:33:04 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz provided
additional information about the GHG Roadmap, which plans to reduce pollution
from the transportation sector by 12.7 million tons by 2030.  The
reductions include low and zero emission rules; utility and public investment
in fleet turnover; infrastructure for light duty zero emission vehicles
and electrifiction; and the GHG transportation planning standard. Other
strategies outlined by Mr. Pakbaz include incentivising land use to increase
housing near jobs and reduce vehicle miles traveled; the clean trucking
strategy; developing post 2025 vehicle standands; Air Quality Control Commission
evaluation of indirect source rules; and expanding public transit.
12:35:05 PM  
There was a discussion
about public engagement during the rulemaking, including an advisory board
that convened regularly and held public meetings; public review of the
rule with different meeting formats offered; and an extended comment period.
12:41:44 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz indicated
that the GHG Planning Standard requires CDOT and Colorado's five metropolitan
planning organizations (MPOs) to create plans with more travel choices,
resulting in reduced GHG emissions.  Mr. Pakbaz talked about the benefits
of the standard, including burning less gas, 169 million gallons less,
or taking 300,000 cars off the road each year.  
12:44:29 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz detailed
the process for implementing the standard which includes developing long
range plans and evaluating the impact on GHG in 2025, 2030, 2040, and 2050.
 He said that evaluation must include sophisticated models, such as
 transportation demand models.  Mr. Pakbaz suggested that if
agencies do not meet the planning standard then they must use GHG mitigation
measures, such as biking and walking trails, transit, electric vehicle
charging, smart land use policies, and clean construction.  
12:44:46 PM  
There was a discussion
about the inclusion of a GHG transportation report in each agency's plan,
including expected emissions from projects; how the plan meets reduction
goals; and the levels of reduction.  Mr. Pakbaz said that the report
must include documentation for the modeling of emissions and reductions.

Mr. Pakbaz said that the Air Pollution Control Division in the Department
of Public Health and Environment will confirm and verify data in reports.
 He said that the final step is acceptance of the report by the Transportation
Commission.
12:47:18 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz talked
about additional reporting for mitigation action plans, including status
on each mitigation measure to meet the planning standard.  He said
that if a report is not accepted the Transportation Commission may restrict
certain funds.  He also talked about waivers on a project basis, as
long as projects do not exceed GHG emission levels.  Impacts of GHG
planning standard; examples from MPOs, and statewide exampes.
12:49:04 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz talked
about GHG transportation planning reductions for each region within CDOT
between the years 2025 and 2050.
12:49:36 PM  
There was a discussion
about CDOT's compliance with emission targets.  Mr. Pakbaz indicated
that CDOT achieved compliance using transit and multimodal projects, as
well as GHG mitigation.   He said that CDOT's GHG Transportation Report
from September 2022 details compliance.  Mr. Pakbaz talked about a
list of mitigation measures that may be taken to meet GHG emission goals.
He said that CDOT Policy Directive 1610 outlines these activities and their
affects on GHG.
12:50:51 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz talked
about the impacts of GHG planning standard, including additional focus
on transit, increased support of active transit, and additional multimodal
projects.  He provided examples of projects: the Pegasus microtransit
service to complement reconstruction of Floyd Hill on I-70; complete streets
projects througout the Denver region; and U.S. 34 transit services between
Loveland and Greeley.  Mr. Pakbaz talked about various reports submitted
this fall from planning organizations.  


Mr. Pakbaz mentioned that the GHG Emission Reduction Roadmap is being revised,
Roadmap 2.0, as well as updates to the planning standard in the winter.
 Mr. Pakbaz talked about upcoming updates to the CDOT 10-year plan
and regional transportation plans from MPOs.
12:52:38 PM  
There was a question
about safety assessments.  Mr. Pakbaz indicated that safety assessments
are completed with each project.  He indicated that two programs provide
safety improvements, including the federal Highway Safety Improvement program,
and the FASTER safety program.  


There was a discussion about road fatalities and projects.  Mr. Pakbaz
talked about updates to the Colorado Safety Transportation Plan.
12:56:22 PM  
There were additional discussions about safety and accidents in terms of the condition of the roads. There was a discussion about funding for the road map versus road maintenance.
12:57:34 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz talked
about the cost of the road map.  He mentioned much of the costs were
covered by the Colorado Energy Office.
 Mr. Pakbaz
talked about additional funds for rural roads.
12:59:22 PM  
There was a discussion
about structuring the GHG reduction and rural Colorado.  Mr. Sabina
indicated that the reduction structure isn't restricted to CDOT.  He
mentioned that MPOs meet their own targets through their regional transportation
plans, such as projects on or off state highways.
Mr. Sabina
talked about reductions that include land use, bicycle and pedestrian services.
01:02:05 PM  
There was a discussion
about CDOT's reduction in GHG emissions.  Mr. Sabina talked about
continual updates to CDOT plans to meet targets, including the addition
of the Pegasus transportation service and planning for Front Range Rail.
 He discussed MPO plans in terms of joint efforts since projects include
state highways. There was discussion about MPOs' deadlines on plan completions,
including larger and smaller MPOs having different deadlines.
 
01:06:02 PM  
A committee member
asked about the priority for rural roads and bridges, as well as plans
for bike infrasture.  Mr. Pakbaz talked about updates to the bicycle
and pedestrian plans and folding into larger plans, including the 10-year
plan.  He mentioned that CDOT is improving data collection to look
at infrastructure for bikes and pedestrians.
01:11:02 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz talked
about funds for rural roads and bridges, including 25 percent of funds
from the rural road portion of the 10 year plan.
01:11:37 PM  
Mr. Pakbaz indicated
that when MPOs do not meet reductions in GHG emissions they may apply for
other funds or use mitigation measures.  There was a discussion about
air quality measurements and use in the plans.  Mr. Pakbaz indicated
that CDOT is already looking at air quality measures, including particulate
matter and ozone, on some projects. These projects include Floyd Hill,
North I-25, and the US 550 and US 160 interchange in Durango.
He mentioned
that there is air quality monitoring and notification if limits are exceeded.
 Ms. Takushi indicated that GHG measurements are not being taken,
only air quality
01:14:17 PM  
Representative Froelich
asked for more graphics, specifics on targets and where the state is falling
short, outlines of projects during the SMART Act hearing.
01:15:16 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis
asked about GHG emission targets for Denver Regional Council of Governments
and the North Front Range planning regions.  She asked about the level
of the targets and additional efforts.  Mr. Pakbaz mentioned that
the planning standard is one tool.  He said that revisions to the
road map may address this issue.






Colorado legislature email addresses ending in @state.co.us are no longer active. Please replace @state.co.us with @coleg.gov for Colorado legislature email addresses. Details

The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 7, 2024, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 8, 2024, unless otherwise specified. Details