I_TLRC_2016A 08/31/2016 10:18:00 AM Committee Summary

10:18 AM -- Presentation from CDOT on RoadX Implementation



Senator Randy Baumgardner, chair, called the committee to order. Amy Ford, Director of Communications for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT); Ryan Rice, Director of Division of Transportation Systems Management and Operations, CDOT; and Peter Kozinski, Director of the RoadX Program, CDOT, presented CDOT's plan to use innovative technologies to improve the statewide transportation system. Ms. Ford began the presentation by providing an overview of CDOT and the RoadX program (Attachment A). Mr. Rice discussed connected vehicles and automated vehicles, and why CDOT is focusing on technology. Mr. Kozinski discussed specifics of the RoadX mission and the public input CDOT has received. The RoadX mission includes five areas: commuting, sustainability, transport, safety, and connection. He discussed Smart 25, the department's software and traffic sensor upgrade. He responded to questions from Rep. Mitsch Bush about the Australia experiment with a similar program and its impact. He responded to a question from Rep. Winter about the highway selection criteria for rolling out this program between Ridgegate and University on I-25, which included good fiber optic connectivity and lack of future construction on that stretch. Representative Esgar asked a question about the poll CDOT conducted. It was a statewide poll, and the presenters will provide details to TLRC members. He continued on with the discussion of the smart truck parking program which reports available parking to truckers with the goal of saving fuel, and mitigating road wear and pollution; and the smart pavement striping improvements, like LED lights in hard-to-see areas.



Attachment A - CDOT RoadX.pdf



10:40 AM



The presenters responded to questions about RoadX implementation in rural areas. Mr. Kozinski discussed the Smart 70 program, which is a partnership with an international mapping firm, HERE, to provide drivers with real-time data while traveling. The presenters responded to questions about the details of the program. Representative Carver requested information about datasets, driving patterns, speeds specific to the cars individually; what is aggregated; and anything that identifies specific cars by vehicle identification number (VIN); and also who would have access to that data and under what circumstances. The presenters provided a brief overview of the data that will be collected and its use. Representative Mitsch Bush asked the presenters to clarify accident data information. Senator Scott asked if any part of the RoadX program was designed to look at sub-surface technology, as in how the roads were built. Mr. Kozinski discussed the monitoring technology available. He also clarified that the budget allocation is urban and rural.



10:58 AM -- Transportation Bonding



Sandra Solin, Capitol Solutions, began her presentation on transportation bonding (Attachment B). Ms. Solin discussed the opportunity of low-interest rates. She gave an overview of the Fix Colorado Roads Coalition that supports transportation bonding. She discussed the state's $8 billion in transportation needs, as identified by CDOT. She provided an overview of Senate Bill 09-228 and its halting of General Fund transfers to transportation. She provided an overview of how other states have used bonding to fund transportation projects, and how Colorado has used bonding in the past. She highlighted current rates for municipal securities, and the importance of acting on low rates. She showed several examples of the payback of low rates. She gave an overview of last year's transportation bonding bill. Representative Coram asked for details about how this proposal would benefit the western slope communities. Representative Mitsch Bush asked for details about repayment of the bonds, and details about the survey findings presented. Representative Moreno asked how the coalition or CDOT are tracking driving levels in the state and how it impacts federal gas tax dollars. Senator Todd discussed the pros and cons of bonding, and Ms. Solin responded to her questions about transportation dollars and alternatives to bonding.



Attachment B - Sandra Solin - Trans Bonds.pdf



11:29 AM -- Update from the Southwest Chief Rail Line Commission



Sal Pace, Pueblo County Commissioner and chair of the Southwest Chief Rail Line Economic Development, Rural Tourism, and Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance Commission, provided an update on the Southwest Chief Rail Line (Attachment C). He introduced his co-presenters: Jim Souby, representing the Colorado Rail Passenger Association, Pete Rickerhauser, formerly with BNSF and now a rail consultant, and Mark Imhoff, Director of Transit and Rail, CDOT. Mr. Pace provided an overview of the Southwest Chief rail line, including its purpose and concerns for the railroad, as well as successes and next steps. Representative Moreno asked about New Mexico's commitment to the rail line.



Attachment C - Southwest Chief.pdf





11:45 AM -- Transportation Commission Overview



Herman Stockinger, Office of Policy and Intergovernmental Relations Director, CDOT, offered to forego his overview of the Transportation Commission to answer questions instead. The committee was provided a copy of the presentation (Attachment D). Senator Todd asked Mr. Stockinger to discuss transportation bonding. He stated that CDOT's concern with transportation bonding is the funding source for the repayment of the bond and he discussed specifics of CDOT's budget. Mr. Stockinger responded to a question from Senator Baumgardner about project prioritization of road maintenance. Discussion ensued about CDOT's Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance and Partnership (RAMP) program and their asset management program, and the general transportation budget. Representative Mitsch Bush asked a question about how Utah funds transportation projects, to which he responded that Utah raised its gas and sales taxes recently. Representative Coram asked a question about construction inflation. Senator Baumgardner asked a question about projects waiting to be funded.



Attachment D - Transportation Commission CDOT.pdf





01:16 PM -- Presentation of the Transportation Commission District Research Study



Bo Pogue and Louis Pino, Legislative Council Staff, began their presentation of the Transportation Commission District Research Study, which studied changes to the state's Transportation Commission districts since 1991 pursuant to House Bill 16-1031 (Attachment E). Mr. Pogue discussed the purpose of the study. He provided an overview of Transportation Commission duties and discussed boundary changes since its inception in 1913. Mr. Pino provided an overview of statewide changes to population and annual vehicle miles traveled, clarifying that the report focuses solely on roads in the state highway system, which include interstates, U.S. highways, toll roads, and the numbered state highways. The presenters discussed each commission district in detail.



Attachment E - HB 16-1031 Study.pdf



1:36 PM



Detailed presentations of each commission district continued. The presenters responded to clarifying questions from the committee. Mr. Pino discussed significant boundary changes to Transportation Planning Regions, regional transportation authorities and the Regional Transportation District, counties, and municipalities. Representative Tyler expressed his hope this would be shared with new legislators. Representative Carver stated an interest in learning more about the devolution of state highways to local control and how this impacts rural roads. Representative Mitsch Bush added that she would like more information about how road devolution impacts mountain passes. Mr. Pino showed a preview of an online mapping tool that includes all the data to be posted on the website when complete.



02:00 PM



Herman Stockinger and Andy Karsian, CDOT, came back to the table to respond to a question from Senator Baumgardner on project prioritization between bike paths and bridges; specifically, the Genesee Bike Path and a bridge at Johnson Village on US-24. Representative Mitsch Bush asked the CDOT representatives to discuss disparities between population and annual vehicle miles traveled as demonstrated in the HB 16-1031 report. Mr. Stockinger offered to provide more information at a future date. Senator Baumgardner returned to a question about the US-24 bridge. Representative Esgar asked for an update on the Ilex Project on I-25 in Pueblo. Mr. Stockinger offered to provide her an answer by end of day.







03:28 PM -- Discussion of and Requests for TLRC Interim Bills



Jason Gelender and Jery Payne, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, provided an overview of the interim committee bill process. Senator Baumgardner requested that a bill be drafted to authorize the state to bond for transportation dollars.

02:26 PM



Representative Becker discussed a bill to create a revised definition of a commercial vehicle and distributed a handout (Attachment F).



Attachment F - Revise MV Definition - CMCA.pdf

02:29 PM



Representative Becker requested a bill to revise Colorado vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection law requirements for registration of motor vehicles and distributed a handout (Attachment G).



Attachment G - VIN Inspections - CMCA.pdf

02:31 PM



Representative Coram requested that Grier Bailey, Executive Director of the Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association, come to the table to discuss a bill request related to underground petroleum storage tank fees. Mr. Bailey discussed the proposed legislation and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment H). Representative Coram requested a bill to remove a second fee for underground storage tank inspection.



Attachment H - CWPMA.pdf

02:44 PM



Representative Carver requested a bill to require the TLRC to hold public hearings related to the HB16-1031 Transportation Commission District Research Study and distributed a handout of her proposed legislation (Attachment I). Representative Esgar asked a question about the bill draft handed out, which Mr. Gelender and Representative Carver clarified. Representative Tyler stated his concern that public field hearings have a low turnout and said that it might be useful to have provisions for outreach in the bill. Committee discussion ensued on solutions to the public outreach issue.



Attachment I - Trans Comm Study.pdf

02:53 PM



Representative Tyler requested Dave Hall, Colorado State Patrol, to come to the table to discuss a bill related to safety regulations for three-wheeled vehicles. Sgt. Hall discussed prior legislation related to autocycles, how autocycle design has changed, and child safety concerns related to a lack of hard-top enclosure in these new designs. He stated that the bill would be a temporary fix until federal regulations are put in place. Sgt. Hall discussed two places in statutes that could be amended to create this fix, and reminded the committee that it will have to have a future discussion about vehicles that do not fit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Representative Tyler recommended that a sunset date or a repeal date when the NHTSA standard was set be included in the bill.



03:00 PM -- Dennis Haberstumpf, ABATE of Colorado, came to the table to describe autocycles to the committee.

03:05 PM



The committee adjourned.