Skip to main content
Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu

S_TRA_2016A 01/28/2016 09:58:49 AM Committee Summary

Final

STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING



COMMITTEE ON JOINT TRANSPORTATION

Date: 01/28/2016
ATTENDANCE
Time: 09:58 AM to 11:25 AM
Becker J.
*
Buck
*
Place: RM 271
Carver
X
Cooke
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Coram
X
Senator Baumgardner
Esgar
X
Garcia
X
This Report was prepared by
Kraft-Tharp
X
Jessika Shipley
Melton
X
Mitsch Bush
X
Moreno
*
Neville P.
X
Nordberg
X
Scott
E
Todd
X
Winter
X
Tyler
X
Baumgardner
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Briefing from the Joint Budget Committee pursuant to Joint Rule 25

Legislative Council Staff Fiscal Notes presentation

Update from Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws

Presentation from the High Performance Transportation Enterprise
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only





10:00 AM -- Briefing from the Joint Budget Committee pursuant to Joint Rule 25



Representative Hamner, chair of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), introduced the JBC members and staff. Representative Rankin discussed the FY 2016-17 budget requests from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), which are listed in the staff budget briefing summary (Attachment A). He spoke about the Heat is On Program, which involves a statewide impaired driver public education campaign. He responded to questions from the committee about the department's funding requests and discussed issues in the news related to CDOT. Senator Steadman commented about federal appropriations for transportation projects. The committee discussed funding for the construction of bike trails across the state.



Attachment A can be viewed at Legislative Council.





















10:10 AM



Discussion about Safe Routes to Schools funding and Great Outdoors Colorado funding continued. The conversation centered on the purposes for which various sources of federal funding may be used. Representative Rankin brought up a memorandum written by JBC staff concerning Senate Bill 09-228 triggers (Attachment B). He explained the components of SB 09-228 that impact transportation and capital, how the bill triggers transfers to the Highway Users Tax Fund and the Capital Construction Fund, how the transfers are determined, and the schedule of transfers. He discussed what the two SB 09-228 triggers mean today. Senator Steadman responded to questions about the table on page 4 of Attachment B. Representative Rankin spoke about three approaches discussed by the JBC that might be used to address the problem of uncertainty for transportation and capital funding.



15JtTrans0128AttachB.pdf15JtTrans0128AttachB.pdf



10:24 AM



The committee discussed the three options listed in the memorandum. Senator Steadman commented about historical precedent for changing current law to require statutory transfers for a specific number of years and a specific dollar amount, which is option three. He also spoke about the problems inherent in the system created by SB 09-228. Members of the JBC discussed their opinions about the various options in the memorandum.





10:36 AM -- Legislative Council Staff Fiscal Notes presentation



Erin Reynolds, representing Legislative Council Fiscal Notes Staff provided information about the fiscal notes process.





10:40 AM -- Update from Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws



Tom Morris, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, provided information about the Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws (Attachment C). He explained where to find information about the work of the commission. Commissioner Ann McGihon joined him at the table to take the committee through the process of developing uniform laws.



15JtTrans0128AttachC.pdf15JtTrans0128AttachC.pdf



10:50 AM



Commissioner Pat Steadman spoke about the commission's legislative agenda for 2016. He stressed the importance of uniform laws and commented about the vetting that goes into developing such laws.























10:58 AM



Mr. Morris spoke about the commission's study committees on the regulation of drones and autonomous vehicles. He commented at length about his experience with the commission.





11:00 AM -- Presentation from the High Performance Transportation Enterprise



David Spector, director of the High-Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE), introduced the staff of the HPTE. He provided the committee with a PowerPoint presentation (Attachment D). He walked the committee through the slides, discussing the HPTE's relationship with CDOT. He spoke about the mission and the process of the HPTE, public-private partnerships, and safeguards to the public.



15JtTrans0128AttachD.pdf15JtTrans0128AttachD.pdf



11:07 AM



Mr. Spector talked about the analysis the HPTE provides to CDOT in terms of considering risks and suggesting innovations. He discussed the HPTE's commitment to public engagement and transparency and provided an update of two public-private partnership projects involving US 36 and I-70 east. He responded to questions from the committee about the private partners involved in the I-70 east project.





11:16 AM



Mr. Spector continued his presentation with updates of the C-470, north I-25, and I-70 west mountain corridors. He responded to questions from the committee about the use of an express lane on I-70 west during certain peak periods of congestion.





11:25 AM



The committee adjourned.