Senate Bill 25-161 Engrossed

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning transit reform, and, in connection therewith,

• Page 1, Line 102creating study, planning, and reporting requirements;

• Page 1, Line 103increasing coordination among transit agencies,

• Page 1, Line 104government, and planning organizations; authorizing

• Page 1, Line 105the regional transportation district to enter into

• Page 1, Line 106service partnership agreements; creating a regional

• Page 1, Line 107transportation district accountability committee;

• Page 1, Line 108requiring the regional transportation district to

• Page 1, Line 109emphasize ridership growth, worker retention, safety,

• Page 1, Line 110and statewide climate goals; and making an

• Page 1, Line 111appropriation.

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.)

The bill makes the following changes for the purpose of improving the performance of the regional transportation district (RTD):

• Authorizes RTD to enter into a service partnership agreement with a local government, institution of higher education, or other entity to expand services within RTD's service territory (section 2 of the bill);
• Requires RTD, in discharging its responsibilities, to (section 3):
• Align with statewide greenhouse gas reduction targets, "Transportation Vision 2035" goals, and mode choice targets as will be developed according to Senate Bill 25-030, if enacted;
• Create worker retention goals;
• Adhere to the requirements of "General Directive 24-1: Required Actions Regarding Assaults on Transit Workers", issued on September 25, 2024, by the federal transit administration of the United States department of transportation; and
• Develop performance measures to evaluate its progress in aligning with state climate goals and achieving its worker retention goals;
• Requires RTD to create a 10-year strategic plan no later than April 10, 2026, and a comprehensive operational analysis no less frequently than every 5 years beginning in 2026, and to report quarterly to the RTD board of directors regarding the plan and analysis (section 4);
• Requires RTD, in conjunction with the creation of its 10-year strategic plan, to study or contract with a third party to study and identify opportunities to increase funding to achieve the goals, measures, and targets identified in the 10-year strategic plan (section 4);
• Requires RTD to create, maintain, and publish on its website information and dashboards related to capital projects, ridership and service information, planned service changes, workforce statistics, and transit safety (section 4);
• Requires RTD to update its service policies and standards, its equitable transit-oriented development policy, and its service buy-up policy, to create specific communication protocols, and to implement parking and transportation demand management strategies and policies (section 4);
• Requires RTD to periodically notify the Denver regional council of governments (DRCOG) and the department of local affairs of any known infrastructure gaps that exist within specific areas of a transit-oriented community within RTD's service territory (section 4);
• Requires RTD to modernize and advertise its EcoPass and low-income fare discount programs (section 4);
• Adds 2 nonvoting ex officio members to the RTD board of directors (RTD board), to be appointed by the executive director of the department of transportation and by DRCOG (sections 6 and 8); and
• Prohibits write-in candidates for the RTD board (section 7).
• Requiring the transportation commission to develop and publish best practices and technical assistance materials concerning the creation of regional transportation authorities to increase funding for transit and to provide additional transit services within the state (section 5); and
• Creating an RTD accountability committee within the Colorado energy office that consists of 13 appointed members. On or before January 30, 2026, the commission is required to provide recommendations to the transportation committees of the general assembly concerning the governance structure and compensation of the RTD board and executive leadership, the representation of local governments and state agencies within RTD, and RTD's workforce retention (section 9).

The bill also requires other entities to analyze opportunities for the improvement of transit services by:

• Page 3, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

• Page 3, Line 2SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 32-9-102, add (2) as follows:

• Page 3, Line 332-9-102.  Legislative declaration. (2)  The general assembly further finds and declares that:

• Page 3, Line 4(a)  Transportation is critical to daily life and commerce,

• Page 3, Line 5yet our methods contribute to several challenges facing the

• Page 3, Line 6region, including air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, affordability, public health, safety, accessibility, and equity;

• Page 4, Line 1(b)  Expanding mass transportation presents a vital

• Page 4, Line 2opportunity to reduce household transportation costs,

• Page 4, Line 3decrease pollution, reduce congestion, minimize fatalities and

• Page 4, Line 4serious injuries while improving access to key destinations,

• Page 4, Line 5particularly for transit-reliant populations, and stimulate regional economic development; and

• Page 4, Line 6(c)  Therefore, the regional transportation district shall

• Page 4, Line 7prioritize providing fast, frequent, reliable, and safe service to maximize ridership levels.

• Page 4, Line 8SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 32-9-119, amend (1) introductory portion and (1)(y); and add (1)(z) as follows:

• Page 4, Line 932-9-119.  Additional powers of district. (1)  In addition to any

• Page 4, Line 10other powers granted to the district in this article article 9, the district has the following powers:

• Page 4, Line 11(y)  To exercise all or any part or combination of the powers granted in this article article 9; and

• Page 4, Line 12(z)  To enter into a service partnership agreement with a

• Page 4, Line 13local government, institution of higher education, business or

• Page 4, Line 14housing entity, or special district to expand services within the

• Page 4, Line 15district's service territory, or beyond the boundaries of the district as authorized by law, by:

• Page 4, Line 16(I)  Sharing resources and the means of providing transportation system projects or services; or

• Page 4, Line 17(II)  Cooperating on the research, development, or implementation of transportation system projects or services.

• Page 4, Line 18SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 32-9-119.7, repeal (1); and add (10) , (11), and (12) as follows:

• Page 5, Line 132-9-119.7.  Cost efficiency of transit services - climate goals -

• Page 5, Line 2employee retention goals - reporting - plans. (1)  The general assembly

• Page 5, Line 3hereby finds and declares that surface transportation in the Denver

• Page 5, Line 4metropolitan area is a major problem confronting not only the citizens of

• Page 5, Line 5the metropolitan area but also the citizens of the entire state of Colorado.

• Page 5, Line 6The general assembly further finds that, although mass transportation is

• Page 5, Line 7one component of an effective surface transportation system, the

• Page 5, Line 8allocation of resources to mass transportation must be made in light of all

• Page 5, Line 9surface transportation needs. The general assembly further finds that the

• Page 5, Line 10district should be organized efficiently, economically, and on a

• Page 5, Line 11demand-responsive basis and that the district should consider least-cost alternatives in discharging its responsibilities.

• Page 5, Line 12(10)  In discharging its responsibilities, the district shall

• Page 5, Line 13align with the greenhouse gas reduction targets set forth in

• Page 5, Line 14section 25-7-102 (2)(g); the goals set forth in the governor's

• Page 5, Line 15"Transportation Vision 2035", which includes an eighty-three

• Page 5, Line 16percent increase in transit service by 2035; and the mode choice

• Page 5, Line 17targets developed pursuant to section 43-1-138, as added by

• Page 5, Line 18Senate Bill 25-030, enacted in 2025. The district shall develop

• Page 5, Line 19performance measures to evaluate its progress in aligning with

• Page 5, Line 20these state climate goals. In assessing climate impact, the

• Page 5, Line 21district shall consider the extent to which its services reduce

• Page 5, Line 22vehicle miles traveled by increasing transit ridership and

• Page 5, Line 23encouraging the development of dense, walkable, and less car-dependent communities near transit stations and corridors.

• Page 5, Line 24(11)  The district shall establish goals for employee

• Page 6, Line 1retention. The district shall develop performance measures to evaluate its progress toward its employee retention goals.

• Page 6, Line 2(12)  The district shall adhere to the requirements of

• Page 6, Line 3"General Directive 24-1: Required Actions Regarding Assaults

• Page 6, Line 4on Transit Workers", issued on September 25, 2024, by the

• Page 6, Line 5federal transit administration of the United States department of transportation.

• Page 6, Line 6SECTION 4.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 32-9-165, 32-9-166, 32-9-167, and 32-9-168 as follows:

• Page 6, Line 732-9-165.  Planning - ten-year plan - comprehensive

• Page 6, Line 8operational analysis - reporting - funding study - transit-oriented

• Page 6, Line 9community infrastructure. (1) Ten-year strategic plan. (a)  No later

• Page 6, Line 10than September 30, 2026, the district shall create a ten-year strategic plan. The plan must:

• Page 6, Line 11(I)  In collaboration with local governments and the

• Page 6, Line 12district subregional service councils, identify performance

• Page 6, Line 13measures and targets for service, ridership, enrollment in the

• Page 6, Line 14district's EcoPass program and income-based fare discount

• Page 6, Line 15program, and the percentages of residences and jobs within

• Page 6, Line 16one-quarter mile of a frequent transit route. The performance

• Page 6, Line 17measures and targets must align with state and regional goals for mode choice, land use, climate, equity, and safety;

• Page 6, Line 18(II)  Identify transportation facilities and services,

• Page 6, Line 19including the expansion or improvement of existing facilities and

• Page 6, Line 20services, required to meet service and ridership goals in the district's service territory over the ten-year period;

• Page 6, Line 21(III)  Include a fiscally constrained plan outlining the

• Page 7, Line 1transit projects and services that are expected to be funded

• Page 7, Line 2with the current budget, which must be updated periodically if the funding picture changes substantially;

• Page 7, Line 3(IV)  Include a fiscally unconstrained option that

• Page 7, Line 4describes service and investments needed to meet the district's

• Page 7, Line 5identified performance measures and targets for service,

• Page 7, Line 6ridership, and the percentages of residences and jobs within one-quarter mile of a frequent transit route; and

• Page 7, Line 7(V)  Identify expected environmental, social, and economic

• Page 7, Line 8impacts of the recommendations contained in the transportation plan.

• Page 7, Line 9(b)  For each service, facility, or capital project identified

• Page 7, Line 10in the ten-year plan, the plan must specify and regularly update as circumstances change:

• Page 7, Line 11(I)  The time frame during which the project is expected to be completed;

• Page 7, Line 12(II)  The total estimated amount of funding required to complete the project; and

• Page 7, Line 13(III)  Funding opportunities that account for the total

• Page 7, Line 14estimated amount of funding for the project, including the

• Page 7, Line 15amount of funding from each funding source that has been

• Page 7, Line 16allocated for the project or is anticipated to be allocated for the project.

• Page 7, Line 17(c)  The district shall update the ten-year strategic plan

• Page 7, Line 18in conjunction with each major update to the Denver regional council of governments regional transportation plan.

• Page 7, Line 19(d)  In creating the ten-year strategic plan, the district

• Page 8, Line 1shall coordinate with the department of transportation, the

• Page 8, Line 2Denver regional council of governments, and local governments within the district's service territory.

• Page 8, Line 3(e)  In conjunction with the creation of its ten-year

• Page 8, Line 4strategic plan, the district shall study and identify or contract

• Page 8, Line 5with a third party to study and identify opportunities to

• Page 8, Line 6increase the district's funding to achieve the goals, measures, and targets identified in the ten-year strategic plan.

• Page 8, Line 7(2)  Comprehensive operational analysis.No later than April

• Page 8, Line 810, 2026, and no less frequently than every five years

• Page 8, Line 9thereafter, the district shall create a comprehensive operational analysis. The analysis must:

• Page 8, Line 10(a)  Assess existing services and travel patterns;

• Page 8, Line 11(b)  Evaluate the district's financial capacity and funding opportunities;

• Page 8, Line 12(c)  Identify specific transit routes or services for

• Page 8, Line 13implementation as identified in the fiscally constrained projects

• Page 8, Line 14list of the applicable ten-year plan required by subsection (1) of this section; and

• Page 8, Line 15(d)  Make recommendations on achieving the goals

• Page 8, Line 16identified in the applicable ten-year plan required by subsection (1) of this section.

• Page 8, Line 17(3) Reports. (a) (I)  During each legislative interim, the

• Page 8, Line 18district shall present a report on its progress in delivering the

• Page 8, Line 19projects identified in the ten-year strategic plan described in

• Page 8, Line 20subsection (1) of this section and the comprehensive operational

• Page 8, Line 21analysis described in subsection (2) of this section to the

• Page 9, Line 1transportation legislation review committee created in section

• Page 9, Line 243-2-145 (1)(a). As part of the report, the district shall provide

• Page 9, Line 3guidance to the committee as to how to access and understand

• Page 9, Line 4the plan and analysis, and the committee may, if it determines

• Page 9, Line 5that the plan or analysis does not include all the information

• Page 9, Line 6required by subsection (1) or (2) of this section, instruct the

• Page 9, Line 7district to ensure that any missing information is promptly added.

• Page 9, Line 8(II)  Notwithstanding the requirement in section 24-1-136

• Page 9, Line 9(11)(a)(I), the requirement to submit the report required in this subsection (3) continues indefinitely.

• Page 9, Line 10(b)  The district shall report quarterly to its board of

• Page 9, Line 11directors on its progress in developing and delivering the

• Page 9, Line 12ten-year strategic plan described in subsection (1) of this

• Page 9, Line 13section and the comprehensive operational analysis described in subsection (2) of this section.

• Page 9, Line 14(4)  Transit-oriented community infrastructure.The district

• Page 9, Line 15shall periodically notify the Denver regional council of

• Page 9, Line 16governments and the department of local affairs of any known

• Page 9, Line 17infrastructure gaps that exist within a transit center, as

• Page 9, Line 18defined in section 29-35-202 (9), within the district's service territory.

• Page 9, Line 1932-9-166.  Information dashboards. (1)  The district shall create, maintain, and publish on its public website:

• Page 9, Line 20(a)  A public accountability dashboard that shows:

• (I)  By transit route:

• Page 9, Line 21(A)  Data on ridership, including total ridership and weekend and weekday ridership;

• Page 10, Line 1(B)  On-time performance, including a clear definition of what constitutes on-time performance;

• Page 10, Line 2(C)  Farebox recovery ratio;

• (D)  Boardings per hour; and

• Page 10, Line 3(E)  Reliability of service; and

• Page 10, Line 4(II)  Progress toward meeting performance targets relating to ridership growth and service provision;

• Page 10, Line 5(b)  A public accountability dashboard that shows the

• Page 10, Line 6district's workforce statistics regarding employee retention, recruitment, and vacancies;

• Page 10, Line 7(c)  A public accountability dashboard on transit safety, including data on passenger safety and driver safety;

• Page 10, Line 8(d)  A public accountability dashboard that provides, at

• Page 10, Line 9a minimum, accessible and transparent summary information

• Page 10, Line 10regarding each of the district's in-progress capital projects that

• Page 10, Line 11exceeds ten million dollars; the funding status of each project,

• Page 10, Line 12including the project's total funding and expenditures to date;

• Page 10, Line 13and the district's progress toward the completion of each project;

• Page 10, Line 14(e)  A summary page for planned service changes that

• Page 10, Line 15includes detailed timing changes; the reasons for any planned

• Page 10, Line 16changes; and the impacts of the planned changes, including effects on local transfers; and

• Page 10, Line 17(f)  The district's progress toward meeting the

• Page 10, Line 18performance measures and targets identified in its ten-year

• Page 10, Line 19strategic plan pursuant to section 32-5-165 (1). The district shall update this progress on a quarterly basis.

• Page 11, Line 1(2)  The district shall first create and publish the

• Page 11, Line 2information required by subsection (1) of this section no later than December 1, 2025.

• Page 11, Line 3(3)  The district shall review and update the dashboards at least quarterly.

• Page 11, Line 432-9-167.  Required policy updates - service policies and

• Page 11, Line 5standards - equitable transit-oriented development policy - service

• Page 11, Line 6buy-up policy - communication protocols - parking policies and

• Page 11, Line 7strategies. (1)  On or before December 31, 2025, and every two

• Page 11, Line 8years thereafter, the district shall update its service policies and standards to:

• Page 11, Line 9(a)  Define and map transit propensity based on population

• Page 11, Line 10density, income, diversity, motor vehicle ownership, and other characteristics that influence transit ridership;

• Page 11, Line 11(b)  Establish a clear and transparent process for service

• Page 11, Line 12changes, under which proposed changes include publicly

• Page 11, Line 13accessible information outlining the reasons for the changes

• Page 11, Line 14and how they align with identified performance measures and the comprehensive operational analysis;

• Page 11, Line 15(c)  Work with entities hosting special events to facilitate

• Page 11, Line 16increased ridership to and from the events, so long as the

• Page 11, Line 17facilitation of increased ridership is additive to existing service; and

• Page 11, Line 18(d)  Evaluate and set clear and objective standards for

• Page 11, Line 19the productivity of existing routes and services, including

• Page 11, Line 20providing for service adjustments on those routes if they do not meet the identified standards.

• Page 12, Line 1(2)  On or before April 10, 2026, the district shall update its equitable transit-oriented development policy to:

• Page 12, Line 2(a)  Align with applicable transit-oriented policies and

• Page 12, Line 3housing opportunity goals as described in part 2 of article 35 of title 29;

• Page 12, Line 4(b)  Align with applicable local government parking requirements as described in part 3 of article 35 of title 29; and

• Page 12, Line 5(c)  Enable the development of affordable housing and

• Page 12, Line 6dense, walkable, mixed-used communities near transit stations and routes.

• Page 12, Line 7(3) (a)  On or before December 31, 2025, the district shall

• Page 12, Line 8update its service buy-up policy in consultation with

• Page 12, Line 9stakeholders, including local governments, to outline a process

• Page 12, Line 10for local governments and business partners to propose to purchase additional services from the district.

• Page 12, Line 11(b)  The district shall evaluate these additional service

• Page 12, Line 12proposals and, where feasible, create plans to accommodate the proposals.

• Page 12, Line 13(4)  On or before December 31, 2025, the district shall

• Page 12, Line 14create and periodically update, as necessary, a policy outlining communication protocols for:

• Page 12, Line 15(a)  Planned and unplanned service disruptions;

• (b)  Service substitutions; and

• Page 12, Line 16(c)  Contingency plans for service disruptions and substitutions.

• Page 12, Line 17(5)  The district shall work with local governments within

• Page 13, Line 1its service territory to implement parking and transportation

• Page 13, Line 2demand management strategies and policies to optimize the use

• Page 13, Line 3of new and existing parking supply, as identified in the best

• Page 13, Line 4practices and technical assistance materials developed pursuant to section 29-35-305.

• Page 13, Line 532-9-168.  EcoPass program - bulk purchasers - apartment

• Page 13, Line 6building survey - report - definitions. (1)  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 13, Line 7(a)  "Bulk purchaser" means an entity that has a legal

• Page 13, Line 8relationship with and that provides goods or services to a group

• Page 13, Line 9of employees, residents, or members. "Bulk purchaser" includes,

• Page 13, Line 10without limitation, an employer, a building owner or manager,

• Page 13, Line 11a local government, a business improvement district, a business

• Page 13, Line 12or trade association, a homeowners' association, a neighborhood

• Page 13, Line 13association, a nonprofit organization, or any combination of such entities.

• Page 13, Line 14(b)  "Covered development" means a developmentthat

• Page 13, Line 15contains or is intended to contain fifty units or more, that is in

• Page 13, Line 16an area covered by the requirements of part 3 of article 35 of

• Page 13, Line 17title 29, and that has received land use approval for a

• Page 13, Line 18multifamily residential development; adaptive re-use for

• Page 13, Line 19residential purposes; or adaptive re-use mixed-use purposes that include at least fifty percent of use for residential purposes.

• Page 13, Line 20(c)  "EcoPass program" means a program operated by the

• Page 13, Line 21district that provides annual prepaid transit passes for

• Page 13, Line 22unlimited usage of the district's transit services. "EcoPass

• Page 13, Line 23program" includes the EcoPass and Neighborhood EcoPass programs, or their successor programs.

• Page 14, Line 1(2) (a)  The district shall administer an outreach program

• Page 14, Line 2to promote the EcoPass program to bulk purchasers. In

• Page 14, Line 3conducting outreach, the district shall present the following information to the bulk purchaser:

• Page 14, Line 4(I)  Succinct information on current and planned transit

• Page 14, Line 5service within the area relevant to the bulk purchaser,

• Page 14, Line 6including information on the proximity, frequency, and popularity of applicable transit routes; and

• Page 14, Line 7(II)  The estimated per-user cost expressed in per-year and

• Page 14, Line 8per-month terms. If the bulk purchaser is an employer, the

• Page 14, Line 9per-user cost must include the amount of the alternative

• Page 14, Line 10transportation options tax credit allowed pursuant to section 39-22-509.

• Page 14, Line 11(b)  The outreach program must include periodic proactive

• Page 14, Line 12outreach to bulk purchasers. In conducting proactive outreach,

• Page 14, Line 13the district shall prioritize bulk purchasers in and near transit

• Page 14, Line 14centers, as defined in section 29-35-202 (9), neighborhood

• Page 14, Line 15centers, as defined in section 29-35-202 (5), and applicable transit service areas, as defined in section 29-35-302 (3).

• Page 14, Line 16(c)  The district shall conduct the outreach program in

• Page 14, Line 17coordination with the Denver regional council of governments

• Page 14, Line 18and with transportation management associations that partner

• Page 14, Line 19with the Denver regional council of government's "Way to Go" program.

• Page 14, Line 20(d)  The district shall provide transparent and accessible

• Page 14, Line 21pricing information for the EcoPass program on its public-facing

• Page 15, Line 1website, which must include any geographic price differentiation.

• Page 15, Line 2(3) (a)  The district shall, to the greatest extent feasible,

• Page 15, Line 3minimize the administrative workload for bulk purchasers and

• Page 15, Line 4the recipients of bulk-purchased EcoPasses, including the bulk purchaser's employees, residents, or members.

• Page 15, Line 5(b)  The district shall, to the greatest extent feasible,

• Page 15, Line 6enroll all recipients of bulk-purchased EcoPasses at one time,

• Page 15, Line 7rather than enrolling a bulk purchaser's employees, residents, or members on an individual basis.

• Page 15, Line 8(c)  The district shall, to the greatest extent feasible,

• Page 15, Line 9allow a group of related bulk purchasers that seeks to provide

• Page 15, Line 10bulk-purchased EcoPasses to employees, residents, or members

• Page 15, Line 11of each related bulk purchaser to apply with one application for enrollment in the EcoPass Program

• Page 15, Line 12(d)  The district shall compensate a bulk purchaser of a

• Page 15, Line 13neighborhood EcoPass to defray administrative costs at a

• Page 15, Line 14reasonable amount and through a method determined by the district.

• Page 15, Line 15(4) (a)  No later than June 30, 2026, or one year after the

• Page 15, Line 16date that the first resident moves into a covered development,

• Page 15, Line 17whichever is later, the covered development shall survey its

• Page 15, Line 18residents about the residents' interest in having the covered

• Page 15, Line 19development provide bulk-purchased EcoPasses to its residents.

• Page 15, Line 20The survey must include the per-user cost of the bulk-purchased EcoPasses, as provided by the district.

• Page 15, Line 21(b)  If a majority of respondents respond to the survey

• Page 16, Line 1that they would like the covered development to provide

• Page 16, Line 2bulk-purchased EcoPasses, the covered development shall

• Page 16, Line 3enroll in the EcoPass program for its residents. The owner or

• Page 16, Line 4manager of the covered development is the centralized payer of

• Page 16, Line 5the costs and fees associated with the EcoPass program, which it may recoup from its residents.

• Page 16, Line 6(c)  On or before January 1, 2026, the district shall create

• Page 16, Line 7and publish an online survey tool that covered developments may use to conduct the survey required by this subsection (4).

• Page 16, Line 8(5) (a)  On or before January 31, 2026, and on or before

• Page 16, Line 9each January 31 thereafter, the district shall report on the

• Page 16, Line 10EcoPass program to a joint session of the house of

• Page 16, Line 11representatives transportation, housing, and local government

• Page 16, Line 12committee and the senate transportation and energy committee,

• Page 16, Line 13or their successor committees. The report must include information concerning:

• Page 16, Line 14(I)  The district's outreach efforts, as described in

• Page 16, Line 15subsection (2) of this section, including quantitative details on the district's proactive outreach;

• Page 16, Line 16(II)  The district's administrative efforts, as described in subsection (3) of this section; and

• Page 16, Line 17(III)  The survey required for covered developments, as

• Page 16, Line 18described in subsection (4) of this section, including the number and results of the surveys conducted.

• Page 16, Line 19(b)  Notwithstanding the requirement in section 24-1-136

• Page 16, Line 20(11)(a)(I), the requirement to submit the report required in this

• Page 16, Line 21subsection (5)(a) continues indefinitely.

• Page 17, Line 1SECTION 5.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 43-1-106, amend (15) introductory portion; and add (15)(f) as follows:

• Page 17, Line 243-1-106.  Transportation commission - efficiency and

• Page 17, Line 3accountability committee - powers and duties - report - rules -

• Page 17, Line 4definitions. (15)  In addition to any other duties required by law, the commission shall have has the following charges:

• Page 17, Line 5(f)  On or before March 31, 2026, to develop and publish

• Page 17, Line 6best practices and technical assistance materials concerning

• Page 17, Line 7the creation of regional transportation authorities pursuant

• Page 17, Line 8to the "Regional Transportation Authority Law", part 6 of

• Page 17, Line 9article 4 of this title 43, to increase funding for transit and to provide additional transit services within the state.

• Page 17, Line 10SECTION 6.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 32-9-109.5, amend(4) as follows:

• Page 17, Line 1132-9-109.5.  Board of directors - membership - powers. (4)  All

• Page 17, Line 12powers, duties, functions, rights, and privileges vested in the district shall

• Page 17, Line 13be exercised and performed by the board; except that the exercise of any

• Page 17, Line 14executive, administrative, or ministerial powers may be delegated by the

• Page 17, Line 15board to officers and employees of the district. These powers, duties,

• Page 17, Line 16functions, rights, and privileges include, in addition to any other powers and duties specified in this article 9:

• Page 17, Line 17(a)  Setting policy objectives to be implemented by employees of the district;

• Page 17, Line 18(b)  Hiring and managing the district's general manager and chief executive officer;

• Page 17, Line 19(c)  Overseeing the district's general counsel;

• Page 18, Line 1(d)  Developing, adopting, and overseeing the district's

• Page 18, Line 2budget, including an annual capital budget with project costs and financing mechanisms;

• Page 18, Line 3(e)  Developing and approving the district's ten-year strategic plan and comprehensive operational analysis;

• Page 18, Line 4(f)  Engaging with constituents, local governments, the

• Page 18, Line 5department of transportation, the Denver regional council of

• Page 18, Line 6governments, transit agencies, and community partners to

• Page 18, Line 7obtain input and feedback on the district's decisions and operations;

• Page 18, Line 8(g)  Pursuing opportunities to grow transit ridership and make transit services competitive with driving;

• Page 18, Line 9(h)  Developing and promoting strategies and legislation

• Page 18, Line 10to ensure that the district has the resources it needs to implement its strategic ten-year plan;

• Page 18, Line 11(i)  Meeting quarterly with the department of

• Page 18, Line 12transportation and with the Denver regional council of

• Page 18, Line 13governments and meeting biannually with any labor

• Page 18, Line 14organization, as defined in 24-34-401 (6), that represents some or all district employees;

• Page 18, Line 15(j)  Performing an annual review of the district's chief financial officer, in the district's discretion; and

• Page 18, Line 16(k)  Conducting an annual financial audit of the district.

• Page 18, Line 17SECTION 7.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 32-9-111, add (5)(g) as follows:

• Page 18, Line 1832-9-111.  Election of directors - dates - terms. (5) (g) (I)  A

• Page 19, Line 1candidate for elected director is not eligible for election as a write-in candidate.

• Page 19, Line 2(II) (A)  If, for any district election, there is not a

• Page 19, Line 3candidate for director who is nominated for election pursuant

• Page 19, Line 4to this section, a director is appointed in lieu of the director

• Page 19, Line 5being elected by the eligible electors of the district. In such

• Page 19, Line 6case, a director is appointed by the board of county

• Page 19, Line 7commissioners of the county in which the director district is

• Page 19, Line 8located or, in the case of a director district in the city and

• Page 19, Line 9county of Denver, the director is appointed by the mayor of the

• Page 19, Line 10city and county of Denver with the approval of the city council.

• Page 19, Line 11In the case of a director district that contains territory in two

• Page 19, Line 12or more counties, or in the city and county of Denver and in one

• Page 19, Line 13or more counties, a director is appointed by the board of county

• Page 19, Line 14commissioners of the county in which the largest number of

• Page 19, Line 15eligible electors of the director district reside; except that, if

• Page 19, Line 16the largest number of eligible electors of the director district

• Page 19, Line 17reside in the city and county of Denver, the director is appointed

• Page 19, Line 18by the mayor of the city and county of Denver with the approval of the city council.

• Page 19, Line 19(B)  A director appointed pursuant to this subsection

• Page 19, Line 20(5)(g)(II) serves until the next regular November election, at

• Page 19, Line 21which the director position is filled by election pursuant to this section.

• Page 19, Line 23SECTION 8.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-38.5-123 as

• Page 19, Line 24follows:

• Page 20, Line 124-38.5-123.  Regional transportation district accountability

• Page 20, Line 2committee - creation - membership - report - definitions - repeal.

• Page 20, Line 3(1)  Definitions.As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 20, Line 4(a)  "Colorado energy office" or "office" means the Colorado energy office created in section 24-38.5-101.

• Page 20, Line 5(b)  "District" means the regional transportation district created in article 9 of title 32.

• Page 20, Line 6(c)  "RTD accountability committee" or "committee" means

• Page 20, Line 7the regional transportation district accountability committee created in subsection (2) of this section.

• Page 20, Line 8(2) Membership. (a)  There is created in the Colorado

• Page 20, Line 9energy office the regional transportation district

• Page 20, Line 10accountability committee. The purpose of the committee is to

• Page 20, Line 11evaluate and make recommendations concerning the district as described in subsection (3) of this section.

• Page 20, Line 12(b)  The committee consists of fourteen voting members and one ex officio nonvoting member as follows:

• Page 20, Line 13(I)  Six voting members appointed by the governor,

• Page 20, Line 14including one member who is a former member of the board of

• Page 20, Line 15directors of the district, one member who is a current member of

• Page 20, Line 16the board of directors of the district, and four members who collectively have expertise in the following areas:

• Page 20, Line 17(A)  Local government within the district's service area;

• (B)  Financial planning and management;

• Page 20, Line 18(C)  Multimodal transportation; and

• Page 20, Line 19(D)  Environmental organization;

• Page 21, Line 1(II)  Three voting members appointed by the president of

• Page 21, Line 2the senate, including one member who is twenty-two years of

• Page 21, Line 3age or younger and who uses district services, and two members who collectively have expertise in the following areas:

• Page 21, Line 4(A)  Workforce development; and

• (B)  Transportation equity;

• Page 21, Line 5(III)  One voting member who has expertise in economic development, appointed by the minority leader of the senate;

• Page 21, Line 6(IV)  Three voting members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, including:

• Page 21, Line 7(A)  One member who represents transit riders with disabilities;

• Page 21, Line 8(B)  One member who represents the labor organization

• Page 21, Line 9that represents a plurality of transit workers of the district; and

• Page 21, Line 10(C)  One member who has expertise in urban planning;

• Page 21, Line 11(V)  One voting member who has expertise in safety for the

• Page 21, Line 12public and transit workers, appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; and

• Page 21, Line 13(VI)  One ex officio nonvoting member who is a current

• Page 21, Line 14member of the board of directors of the district, appointed by the board of directors of the district.

• Page 21, Line 15(c)  The committee shall select one of its members to serve as chair of the committee.

• Page 21, Line 16(d) (I)  The appointing authorities shall make the

• Page 21, Line 17appointments described in subsection (2) of this section no later

• Page 21, Line 18than August 1, 2025.

• Page 22, Line 1(II)  Each member of the committee serves at the pleasure

• Page 22, Line 2of the appointing authority. The term of appointment is for the duration of the committee's existence.

• Page 22, Line 3(III)  If a vacancy occurs on the committee for any reason,

• Page 22, Line 4the original appointing authority shall appoint an individual to

• Page 22, Line 5fill the vacancy as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs.

• Page 22, Line 6In making the vacancy appointment, the appointing authority

• Page 22, Line 7shall ensure that the committee maintains the expertise required by subsection (2)(b)(II) of this section.

• Page 22, Line 8(e)  Each member of the committee serves without compensation.

• Page 22, Line 9(f)  Members of the committee may participate remotely in committee meetings and other activities.

• Page 22, Line 10(g)  The office shall be available to assist the committee in carrying out its duties.

• Page 22, Line 11(3) Evaluation and recommendations. (a)  The purpose of the committee is to evaluate and make recommendations on:

• Page 22, Line 12(I)  The governance structure of the board of directors and executive leadership of the district;

• Page 22, Line 13(II)  Compensation for the board of directors and executive leadership of the district;

• Page 22, Line 14(III)  The representation of local governments and state agencies within the district; and

• Page 22, Line 15(IV)  The district's workforce retention.

• Page 22, Line 16(b)  The committee's work is intended to build on the work

• Page 22, Line 17of the previous RTD accountability committee created in 2020.

• Page 22, Line 18The committee should begin its evaluation pursuant to this

• Page 23, Line 1subsection (3) with an assessment of the status of each

• Page 23, Line 2recommendation included in the previous RTD accountability

• Page 23, Line 3committee's July 2021 final report, including assessment of

• Page 23, Line 4existing district subregional service councils and identification

• Page 23, Line 5of opportunities to improve the scope and effectiveness of the service councils.

• Page 23, Line 6(c)  On or before January 30, 2026, the committee shall

• Page 23, Line 7submit a report to the governor, the house of representatives

• Page 23, Line 8transportation, housing, and local government committee, and

• Page 23, Line 9the senate transportation and energy committee, or their

• Page 23, Line 10successor committees, that includes a summary of the work

• Page 23, Line 11accomplished by the RTD accountability committee, the findings

• Page 23, Line 12of its evaluation, and any recommendations to the general assembly concerning matters evaluated by the committee.

• Page 23, Line 13(4)  Repeal.This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.

• Page 23, Line 14SECTION 9.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 43-4-1204, amend

• Page 23, Line 15(3)(c)(I), (3)(d) introductory portion, (3)(d)(II)(A), (3)(d)(II)(B), and (3)(d)(II)(C); and add (3)(e) as follows:

• Page 23, Line 1643-4-1204.  Production fee for clean transit imposed by the

• Page 23, Line 17enterprise - local transit operations program - local transit grant

• Page 23, Line 18program - rail funding program - cash funds - report. (3) (c)  Pursuant

• Page 23, Line 19to the purposes of the local transit operations program, the enterprise shall

• Page 23, Line 20allocate money from the local transit operations cash fund to eligible

• Page 23, Line 21entities using a formula developed by the board, which shall be based on

• Page 23, Line 22population, population density, local zoning, transit ridership, vehicle

• Page 23, Line 23revenue miles, share of disproportionately impacted community

• Page 23, Line 24population, and other transit-related criteria. An eligible entity that is awarded money from the local transit operations cash fund shall:

• Page 24, Line 1(I)  Prior to receiving any money, submit the eligible entity's most

• Page 24, Line 2recent service improvement plan or system optimization plan

• Page 24, Line 3comprehensive operational analysis to the board and describe how

• Page 24, Line 4the money would be used to expand transit service, increase transit

• Page 24, Line 5frequency, improve system-wide transit connectivity, and meet the other purposes described in subsection (3)(b) of this section;

• Page 24, Line 6(d)  An eligible entity, except for a nonprofit organization,

• Page 24, Line 7awarded money pursuant to subsection (3)(c) of this section that provides

• Page 24, Line 8service to areas with a population of one million individuals or more shall:

• Page 24, Line 9(II)  Create, maintain, and regularly update the following on the eligible entity's website:

• Page 24, Line 10(A)  An annual update regarding the eligible entity's financial plan

• Page 24, Line 11that includes a detailed report of all the eligible entity's capital projects that are in progress and that exceed ten million dollars;

• Page 24, Line 12(B)  A quarterly update regarding all of the eligible entity's capital

• Page 24, Line 13projects that are in progress and that exceed ten million dollars,

• Page 24, Line 14including a project schedule and project expenditure information for each project;

• Page 24, Line 15(C)  A public accountability dashboard that provides, at a

• Page 24, Line 16minimum, accessible and transparent summary information regarding

• Page 24, Line 17each of the eligible entity's capital projects that is in progress and that

• Page 24, Line 18exceeds ten million dollars; the funding status of each project,

• Page 24, Line 19including the project's total funding and expenditures to date; and the eligible entity's progress toward the completion of each project;

• Page 24, Line 20(e)  For money awarded pursuant to subsection (3)(c) of

• Page 25, Line 1this section that is awarded no later than the state fiscal year

• Page 25, Line 2beginning on July 1, 2025, an eligible entity may be exempt from

• Page 25, Line 3the reporting requirements of subsections (3)(c)(I) and (3)(d) of

• Page 25, Line 4this section, in the enterprise's discretion, if the eligible entity

• Page 25, Line 5submits to the enterprise by July 1, 2025, a plan outlining how it will meet the reporting requirements.

• Page 25, Line 6SECTION 10.  Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,

• Page 25, Line 7$146,720 is appropriated to the office of the governor for use by the

• Page 25, Line 8Colorado energy office. This appropriation is from the general fund and

• Page 25, Line 9is based on an assumption that the office will require an additional 0.1

• Page 25, Line 10FTE. To implement this act, the office may use this appropriation for program administration.

• Page 25, Line 11SECTION 11.  Safety clause. The general assembly finds,

• Page 25, Line 12determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate

• Page 25, Line 13preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for

• Page 25, Line 14the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.