A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning measures to increase transportation mode
Page 1, Line 102choice to reduce emissions.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov/.)
Transportation Legislation Review Committee. The bill requires the department of transportation (department), no later than October 31, 2025, to present a statewide mode choice assessment to the transportation legislation review committee, the transportation commission, and the Colorado energy office, which assessment must include recommendations for targets for 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045, and 2050 for the department, metropolitan planning organizations, and transit providers that provide public transit to a population of 100,000 individuals or more (subject transit provider) for the share of total trips within a specified geographic area completed using certain transportation methods (mode choice targets).
No later than June 1, 2026, using certain criteria, the department must adopt rules establishing mode choice targets. The department must reassess the mode choice targets before each statewide plan development cycle.
No later than October 31, 2026, and every 3 years thereafter, the department, in coordination with the metropolitan planning organizations, must present a report to the transportation legislation review committee that provides certain information about the mode choice targets and the entities' plans to implement the mode choice targets (mode choice implementation plans).
No later than December 31, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, the department, metropolitan planning organizations, subject transit providers, and local governments with a population of 25,000 individuals or more must each prepare a mode choice implementation plan, which must include certain information about the mode choice targets, a multimodal transportation gaps summary, and an analysis of certain projected greenhouse gas emissions.
The bill also allows:
- The nonattainment area air pollution mitigation enterprise to award grants for the development of mode choice implementation plans; and
- The multimodal transportation options fund to be used for the development of mode choice implementation plans.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 43-1-138 as follows:
Page 2, Line 343-1-138. Mode choice targets - mode choice implementation
Page 2, Line 4plans - grants - report - rules - definitions. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 2, Line 5(a) "Disproportionately impacted community" has the meaning set forth in section 24-4-109 (2)(b)(II).
Page 2, Line 6(b) "Mode choice target" means the share of total trips
Page 3, Line 1within a specified geographic area completed using biking,
Page 3, Line 2carpooling, public transit, single-occupancy vehicles, or walking.
Page 3, Line 3(c) "Subject local government" means a home rule or
Page 3, Line 4statutory city, county, or city and county within the
Page 3, Line 5jurisdiction of a metropolitan planning organization with a population of twenty-five thousand individuals or more.
Page 3, Line 6(d) "Subject transit provider" means a local or regional
Page 3, Line 7transportation district or regional transportation authority
Page 3, Line 8providing public transit to a population of one hundred thousand individuals or more.
Page 3, Line 9(2) (a) No later than October 31, 2025, the department
Page 3, Line 10shall present a statewide mode choice assessment that includes
Page 3, Line 11recommendations for mode choice targets for the department,
Page 3, Line 12metropolitan planning organizations, and subject transit
Page 3, Line 13providers for 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045, and 2050 to the
Page 3, Line 14transportation legislation review committee created in section
Page 3, Line 1543-2-145 (1)(a), the commission, and the Colorado energy office created in section 24-38.5-101 (1).
Page 3, Line 16(b) No later than June 1, 2026, the department shall adopt
Page 3, Line 17rules establishing mode choice targets for the department,
Page 3, Line 18metropolitan planning organizations, and subject transit
Page 3, Line 19providers for 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045, and 2050. In establishing the
Page 3, Line 20mode choice targets, the department shall consider the following criteria:
Page 3, Line 21(I) Current mode share;
Page 3, Line 22(II) Population and job density;
(III) Current and projected population and job growth;
Page 4, Line 1(IV) Transit propensity; and
Page 4, Line 2(V) Other relevant criteria determined by the department.
Page 4, Line 3(c) The department shall establish the mode choice targets to:
Page 4, Line 4(I) In conjunction with other strategies, address:
Page 4, Line 5(A) The gap in meeting the 2030 greenhouse gas emission
Page 4, Line 6reduction target for the transportation sector established by the air quality control commission by rule; and
Page 4, Line 7(B) The transportation sector's portion of the statewide
Page 4, Line 8greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for 2035, 2040, 2045, and 2050 described in section 25-7-102 (2)(g);
Page 4, Line 9(II) Reduce the transportation cost burden for
Page 4, Line 10income-qualified Coloradans by improving access to affordable
Page 4, Line 11transportation options, including in disproportionately impacted communities;
Page 4, Line 12(III) Improve mobility and access to jobs and services for
Page 4, Line 13Coloradans who are unable to drive or do not have access to a vehicle; and
Page 4, Line 14(IV) Improve safety for vulnerable road users.
Page 4, Line 15(d) The department shall reassess the mode choice
Page 4, Line 16targets before each statewide plan development cycle pursuant to section 43-1-1103.
Page 4, Line 17(e) The department may consider including additional
Page 4, Line 18targets to increase mode choice through land use strategies
Page 4, Line 19that place housing closer to jobs, public transit, services, and other destinations.
Page 5, Line 1(f) Local governments and local or regional
Page 5, Line 2transportation districts and regional transportation
Page 5, Line 3authorities that are not subject transit providers may
Page 5, Line 4coordinate with the department to establish mode choice targets for the applicable entity's area.
Page 5, Line 5(g) No later than October 31, 2026, and every three years
Page 5, Line 6thereafter, the department, in coordination with the
Page 5, Line 7metropolitan planning organizations, shall present a report to the transportation legislation review committee that provides:
Page 5, Line 8(I) The mode choice targets for the department,
Page 5, Line 9metropolitan planning organizations, subject transit providers,
Page 5, Line 10and other entities that have established mode choice targets pursuant to subsection (2)(f) of this section;
Page 5, Line 11(II) A summary of the modeling used to develop the mode choice targets;
Page 5, Line 12(III) An analysis of the progress toward meeting the mode choice targets; and
Page 5, Line 13(IV) A summary of the mode choice implementation plans
Page 5, Line 14that have been prepared pursuant to subsection (3)(a) of this section.
Page 5, Line 15(h) The department, metropolitan planning organizations,
Page 5, Line 16subject transit providers, and other entities that have
Page 5, Line 17established mode choice targets pursuant to subsection (2)(f) of
Page 5, Line 18this section shall use the applicable entity's mode choice
Page 5, Line 19targets to inform state and regional transportation plans,
Page 5, Line 20transportation improvement programs, and transit service plans.
Page 6, Line 1(3) (a) No later than December 31, 2026, and every five
Page 6, Line 2years thereafter, the department and each metropolitan
Page 6, Line 3planning organization, subject transit provider, and subject
Page 6, Line 4local government shall prepare a mode choice implementation plan, which must include, at a minimum:
Page 6, Line 5(I) If applicable, the applicable entity's mode choice
Page 6, Line 6targets established by the department pursuant to subsection
Page 6, Line 7(2)(b) of this section and a description of the applicable entity's
Page 6, Line 8current and future policies and programs designed to meet the
Page 6, Line 9mode choice targets, including implementation timelines for the policies and programs;
Page 6, Line 10(II) A multimodal transportation gaps summary that
Page 6, Line 11describes the applicable entity's current multimodal
Page 6, Line 12transportation network; the gaps in pedestrian, bicycle, and
Page 6, Line 13transit networks; and a list of proposed projects to fill the gaps, including estimated costs of the proposed projects;
Page 6, Line 14(III) Using the department's policy directive concerning
Page 6, Line 15greenhouse gas mitigation measures, effective May 19, 2022, an
Page 6, Line 16analysis of projected greenhouse gas emission reductions
Page 6, Line 17resulting from the proposed projects described in subsection
Page 6, Line 18(3)(a)(II) of this section and, if applicable, from the policies and programs described in subsection (3)(a)(I) of this section; and
Page 6, Line 19(IV) Other requirements determined by the department by rule.
Page 6, Line 20(b) The department shall post the mode choice
Page 6, Line 21implementation plans on the department's website.
Page 7, Line 1(c) The nonattainment area air pollution mitigation
Page 7, Line 2enterprise created in section 43-4-1303 (1) may award grants
Page 7, Line 3pursuant to section 43-4-1303 (9) to metropolitan planning
Page 7, Line 4organizations, subject transit providers, and subject local
Page 7, Line 5governments that qualify as an eligible entity pursuant to
Page 7, Line 6section 43-4-1302 (9) for the development of mode choice implementation plans.
Page 7, Line 7SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 43-4-1102, amend (5) as follows:
Page 7, Line 843-4-1102. Definitions. As used in this part 11, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 7, Line 9(5) "Multimodal projects" means capital or operating costs for
Page 7, Line 10fixed route and on-demand transit, transportation demand management
Page 7, Line 11programs, the preparation of mode choice implementation plans
Page 7, Line 12pursuant to section 43-1-138 (3)(a), multimodal mobility projects
Page 7, Line 13enabled by new technology, multimodal transportation studies, modeling
Page 7, Line 14tools, greenhouse gas mitigation projects, and bicycle or pedestrian projects.
Page 7, Line 15SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 7, Line 16takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 7, Line 17ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 7, Line 18that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 7, Line 19of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 7, Line 20act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 7, Line 21effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 7, Line 22November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
Page 7, Line 23official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.