Senate Bill 25-161 Preamended

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:

• This Unofficial Version Includes Committee

• Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading

• 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 across the region.

• 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

• Page 5, Line 24car-dependent communities near transit stations and corridors

• Page 5, Line 25throughout the district's geographic service area.

• Page 6, Line 1(11)  The district shall establish goals for employee

• Page 6, Line 2retention. The district shall develop performance measures to evaluate its progress toward its employee retention goals.

• Page 6, Line 3(12)  The district shall adhere to the requirements of

• Page 6, Line 4"General Directive 24-1: Required Actions Regarding Assaults

• Page 6, Line 5on Transit Workers", issued on September 25, 2024, by the

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

• Page 6, Line 7SECTION 4.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 32-9-165, 32-9-166, 32-9-167, and 32-9-168 as follows:

• Page 6, Line 832-9-165.  Planning - ten-year plan - comprehensive

• Page 6, Line 9operational analysis - reporting - funding study - transit-oriented

• Page 6, Line 10community infrastructure. (1) Ten-year strategic plan. (a)  No later

• Page 6, Line 11than September 30, 2026, the district shall create a ten-year strategic plan. The plan must:

• Page 6, Line 12(I)  In collaboration with local governments and the

• Page 6, Line 13district subregional service councils, identify performance

• Page 6, Line 14measures and targets for service, ridership, enrollment in the

• Page 6, Line 15district's EcoPass program and income-based fare discount

• Page 6, Line 16program, and the percentages of residences and jobs within

• Page 6, Line 17one-quarter mile of a frequent transit route. The performance

• Page 6, Line 18measures and targets must align with state and regional goals for mode choice, land use, climate, equity, and safety;

• Page 6, Line 19(II)  Identify transportation facilities and services,

• Page 6, Line 20including the expansion or improvement of existing facilities and

• Page 6, Line 21services, required to meet service and ridership goals

• Page 6, Line 22throughout the district's geographic service area over the ten-year period;

• Page 7, Line 1(III)  Include a fiscally constrained plan outlining the

• Page 7, Line 2transit projects and services that are expected to be funded

• Page 7, Line 3with the current budget, which must be updated periodically if the funding picture changes substantially;

• Page 7, Line 4(IV)  Include a fiscally unconstrained option that

• Page 7, Line 5describes service and investments needed to meet the district's

• Page 7, Line 6identified performance measures and targets for service,

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

• Page 7, Line 8(V)  Identify expected environmental, social, and economic

• Page 7, Line 9impacts of the recommendations contained in the transportation plan.

• Page 7, Line 10(b)  For each service, facility, or capital project identified

• Page 7, Line 11in the ten-year plan, the plan must specify and regularly update as circumstances change:

• Page 7, Line 12(I)  The time frame during which the project is expected to be completed;

• Page 7, Line 13(II)  The total estimated amount of funding required to complete the project; and

• Page 7, Line 14(III)  Funding opportunities that account for the total

• Page 7, Line 15estimated amount of funding for the project, including the

• Page 7, Line 16amount of funding from each funding source that has been

• Page 7, Line 17allocated for the project or is anticipated to be allocated for the project.

• Page 7, Line 18(c)  The district shall update the ten-year strategic plan

• Page 7, Line 19in conjunction with each major update to the Denver regional council of governments regional transportation plan.

• Page 8, Line 1(d)  In creating the ten-year strategic plan, the district

• Page 8, Line 2shall coordinate with the department of transportation, the

• Page 8, Line 3Denver regional council of governments, and local governments within the district's service territory.

• Page 8, Line 4(e)  In conjunction with the creation of its ten-year

• Page 8, Line 5strategic plan, the district shall study and identify or contract

• Page 8, Line 6with a third party to study and identify opportunities to

• Page 8, Line 7increase the district's funding to achieve the goals, measures, and targets identified in the ten-year strategic plan.

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

• Page 8, Line 910, 2026, and no less frequently than every five years

• Page 8, Line 10thereafter, the district shall create a comprehensive operational analysis. The analysis must:

• Page 8, Line 11(a)  Assess existing services and travel patterns;

• Page 8, Line 12(b)  Evaluate the district's financial capacity and funding opportunities;

• Page 8, Line 13(c)  Identify specific transit routes or services for

• Page 8, Line 14implementation as identified in the fiscally constrained projects

• Page 8, Line 15list of the applicable ten-year plan required by subsection (1) of this section; and

• Page 8, Line 16(d)  Make recommendations on achieving the goals

• Page 8, Line 17identified in the applicable ten-year plan required by subsection (1) of this section.

• Page 8, Line 18(3) Reports. (a) (I)  During each legislative interim, the

• Page 8, Line 19district shall present a report on its progress in delivering the

• Page 8, Line 20projects identified in the ten-year strategic plan described in

• Page 9, Line 1subsection (1) of this section and the comprehensive operational

• Page 9, Line 2analysis described in subsection (2) of this section to the

• Page 9, Line 3transportation legislation review committee created in section

• Page 9, Line 443-2-145 (1)(a). As part of the report, the district shall provide

• Page 9, Line 5guidance to the committee as to how to access and understand

• Page 9, Line 6the plan and analysis, and the committee may, if it determines

• Page 9, Line 7that the plan or analysis does not include all the information

• Page 9, Line 8required by subsection (1) or (2) of this section, instruct the

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

• Page 9, Line 10(II)  Notwithstanding the requirement in section 24-1-136

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

• Page 9, Line 12(b)  The district shall report quarterly to its board of

• Page 9, Line 13directors on its progress in developing and delivering the

• Page 9, Line 14ten-year strategic plan described in subsection (1) of this

• Page 9, Line 15section and the comprehensive operational analysis described in subsection (2) of this section.

• Page 9, Line 16(4)  Transit-oriented community infrastructure.The district

• Page 9, Line 17shall periodically notify the Denver regional council of

• Page 9, Line 18governments and the department of local affairs of any known

• Page 9, Line 19infrastructure gaps that exist within a transit center, as

• Page 9, Line 20defined in section 29-35-202 (9), within the district's service territory.

• Page 9, Line 2132-9-166.  Information dashboards. (1)  The district shall create, maintain, and publish on its public website:

• Page 9, Line 22(a)  A public accountability dashboard that shows:

• (I)  By transit route:

• Page 10, Line 1(A)  Data on ridership, including total ridership and weekend and weekday ridership;

• Page 10, Line 2(B)  On-time performance, including a clear definition of what constitutes on-time performance;

• Page 10, Line 3(C)  Farebox recovery ratio;

• (D)  Boardings per hour; and

• Page 10, Line 4(E)  Reliability of service; and

• Page 10, Line 5(II)  Progress toward meeting performance targets relating to ridership growth and service provision;

• Page 10, Line 6(b)  A public accountability dashboard that shows the

• Page 10, Line 7district's workforce statistics regarding employee retention, recruitment, and vacancies;

• Page 10, Line 8(c)  A public accountability dashboard on transit safety, including data on passenger safety and driver safety;

• Page 10, Line 9(d)  A public accountability dashboard that provides, at

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

• Page 10, Line 11regarding each of the district's in-progress capital projects that

• Page 10, Line 12exceeds ten million dollars; the funding status of each project,

• Page 10, Line 13including the project's total funding and expenditures to date;

• Page 10, Line 14and the district's progress toward the completion of each project;

• Page 10, Line 15(e)  A summary page for planned service changes that

• Page 10, Line 16includes detailed timing changes; the reasons for any planned

• Page 10, Line 17changes; and the impacts of the planned changes, including effects on local transfers; and

• Page 10, Line 18(f)  The district's progress toward meeting the

• Page 11, Line 1performance measures and targets identified in its ten-year

• Page 11, Line 2strategic plan pursuant to section 32-5-165 (1). The district shall update this progress on a quarterly basis.

• Page 11, Line 3(2)  The district shall first create and publish the

• Page 11, Line 4information required by subsection (1) of this section no later than December 1, 2025.

• Page 11, Line 5(3)  The district shall review and update the dashboards at least quarterly.

• Page 11, Line 632-9-167.  Required policy updates - service policies and

• Page 11, Line 7standards - equitable transit-oriented development policy - service

• Page 11, Line 8buy-up policy - communication protocols - parking policies and

• Page 11, Line 9strategies. (1)  On or before December 31, 2025, and every two

• Page 11, Line 10years thereafter, the district shall update its service policies and standards to:

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

• Page 11, Line 12density, income, diversity, motor vehicle ownership, and other characteristics that influence transit ridership;

• Page 11, Line 13(b)  Establish a clear and transparent process for service

• Page 11, Line 14changes, under which proposed changes include publicly

• Page 11, Line 15accessible information outlining the reasons for the changes

• Page 11, Line 16and how they align with identified performance measures and the comprehensive operational analysis;

• Page 11, Line 17(c)  Work with entities hosting special events to facilitate

• Page 11, Line 18increased ridership to and from the events, so long as the

• Page 11, Line 19facilitation of increased ridership is additive to existing service; and

• Page 11, Line 20(d)  Evaluate and set clear and objective standards for

• Page 12, Line 1the productivity of existing routes and services, including

• Page 12, Line 2providing for service adjustments on those routes if they do not meet the identified standards.

• Page 12, Line 3(2)  On or before April 10, 2026, the district shall update its equitable transit-oriented development policy to:

• Page 12, Line 4(a)  Align with applicable transit-oriented policies and

• Page 12, Line 5housing opportunity goals as described in part 2 of article 35 of title 29;

• Page 12, Line 6(b)  Align with applicable local government parking requirements as described in part 3 of article 35 of title 29; and

• Page 12, Line 7(c)  Enable the development of affordable housing and

• Page 12, Line 8dense, walkable, mixed-used communities near transit stations and routes.

• Page 12, Line 9(3) (a)  On or before December 31, 2025, the district shall

• Page 12, Line 10update its service buy-up policy in consultation with

• Page 12, Line 11stakeholders, including local governments, to outline a process

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

• Page 12, Line 13(b)  The district shall evaluate these additional service

• Page 12, Line 14proposals and, where feasible, create plans to accommodate the proposals.

• Page 12, Line 15(4)  On or before December 31, 2025, the district shall

• Page 12, Line 16create and periodically update, as necessary, a policy outlining communication protocols for:

• Page 12, Line 17(a)  Planned and unplanned service disruptions;

• (b)  Service substitutions; and

• Page 12, Line 18(c)  Contingency plans for service disruptions and substitutions.

• Page 13, Line 1(5)  The district shall work with local governments within

• Page 13, Line 2its service territory to implement parking and transportation

• Page 13, Line 3demand management strategies and policies to optimize the use

• Page 13, Line 4of new and existing parking supply, as identified in the best

• Page 13, Line 5practices and technical assistance materials developed pursuant to section 29-35-305.

• Page 13, Line 632-9-168.  EcoPass program - bulk purchasers - apartment

• Page 13, Line 7building survey - report - definitions. (1)  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 13, Line 8(a)  "Bulk purchaser" means an entity that has a legal

• Page 13, Line 9relationship with and that provides goods or services to a group

• Page 13, Line 10of employees, residents, or members. "Bulk purchaser" includes,

• Page 13, Line 11without limitation, an employer, a building owner or manager,

• Page 13, Line 12a local government, a business improvement district, a business

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

• Page 13, Line 14association, a nonprofit organization, or any combination of such entities.

• Page 13, Line 15(b)  "Covered development" means a developmentthat

• Page 13, Line 16contains or is intended to contain fifty units or more, that is in

• Page 13, Line 17an area covered by the requirements of part 3 of article 35 of

• Page 13, Line 18title 29, and that has received land use approval for a

• Page 13, Line 19multifamily residential development; adaptive re-use for

• Page 13, Line 20residential purposes; or adaptive re-use mixed-use purposes that include at least fifty percent of use for residential purposes.

• Page 13, Line 21(c)  "EcoPass program" means a program operated by the

• Page 13, Line 22district that provides annual prepaid transit passes for

• Page 14, Line 1unlimited usage of the district's transit services. "EcoPass

• Page 14, Line 2program" includes the EcoPass and Neighborhood EcoPass programs, or their successor programs.

• Page 14, Line 3(2) (a)  The district shall administer an outreach program

• Page 14, Line 4to promote the EcoPass program to bulk purchasers. In

• Page 14, Line 5conducting outreach, the district shall present the following information to the bulk purchaser:

• Page 14, Line 6(I)  Succinct information on current and planned transit

• Page 14, Line 7service within the area relevant to the bulk purchaser,

• Page 14, Line 8including information on the proximity, frequency, and popularity of applicable transit routes; and

• Page 14, Line 9(II)  The estimated per-user cost expressed in per-year and

• Page 14, Line 10per-month terms. If the bulk purchaser is an employer, the

• Page 14, Line 11per-user cost must include the amount of the alternative

• Page 14, Line 12transportation options tax credit allowed pursuant to section 39-22-509.

• Page 14, Line 13(b)  The outreach program must include periodic proactive

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

• Page 14, Line 15the district shall prioritize bulk purchasers in and near transit

• Page 14, Line 16centers, as defined in section 29-35-202 (9), neighborhood

• Page 14, Line 17centers, as defined in section 29-35-202 (5), and applicable transit service areas, as defined in section 29-35-302 (3).

• Page 14, Line 18(c)  The district shall conduct the outreach program in

• Page 14, Line 19coordination with the Denver regional council of governments

• Page 14, Line 20and with transportation management associations that partner

• Page 14, Line 21with the Denver regional council of government's "Way to Go"

• Page 14, Line 22program.

• Page 15, Line 1(d)  The district shall provide transparent and accessible

• Page 15, Line 2pricing information for the EcoPass program on its public-facing

• Page 15, Line 3website, which must include any geographic price differentiation.

• Page 15, Line 4(3) (a)  The district shall, to the greatest extent feasible,

• Page 15, Line 5minimize the administrative workload for bulk purchasers and

• Page 15, Line 6the recipients of bulk-purchased EcoPasses, including the bulk purchaser's employees, residents, or members.

• Page 15, Line 7(b)  The district shall, to the greatest extent feasible,

• Page 15, Line 8enroll all recipients of bulk-purchased EcoPasses at one time,

• Page 15, Line 9rather than enrolling a bulk purchaser's employees, residents, or members on an individual basis.

• Page 15, Line 10(c)  The district shall, to the greatest extent feasible,

• Page 15, Line 11allow a group of related bulk purchasers that seeks to provide

• Page 15, Line 12bulk-purchased EcoPasses to employees, residents, or members

• Page 15, Line 13of each related bulk purchaser to apply with one application for enrollment in the EcoPass Program

• Page 15, Line 14(d)  The district shall compensate a bulk purchaser of a

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

• Page 15, Line 16reasonable amount and through a method determined by the district.

• Page 15, Line 17(e)  The district shall, to the greatest extent feasible,

• Page 15, Line 18minimize the administrative workload for bulk purchasers and

• Page 15, Line 19the recipients of bulk-purchased EcoPasses, as well as take steps

• Page 15, Line 20to improve utilization by EcoPass holders, by including guaranteed ride home services along with each bulk EcoPass.

• Page 15, Line 21(4) (a)  No later than June 30, 2026, or one year after the

• Page 16, Line 1date that the first resident moves into a covered development,

• Page 16, Line 2whichever is later, the covered development shall survey its

• Page 16, Line 3residents about the residents' interest in having the covered

• Page 16, Line 4development provide bulk-purchased EcoPasses to its residents.

• Page 16, Line 5The survey must include the per-user cost of the bulk-purchased EcoPasses, as provided by the district.

• Page 16, Line 6(b)  If a majority of respondents respond to the survey

• Page 16, Line 7that they would like the covered development to provide

• Page 16, Line 8bulk-purchased EcoPasses, the covered development shall

• Page 16, Line 9enroll in the EcoPass program for its residents. The owner or

• Page 16, Line 10manager of the covered development is the centralized payer of

• Page 16, Line 11the costs and fees associated with the EcoPass program, which it may recoup from its residents.

• Page 16, Line 12(c)  On or before January 1, 2026, the district shall create

• Page 16, Line 13and publish an online survey tool that covered developments may use to conduct the survey required by this subsection (4).

• Page 16, Line 14(5) (a)  On or before January 31, 2026, and on or before

• Page 16, Line 15each January 31 thereafter, the district shall report on the

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

• Page 16, Line 17representatives transportation, housing, and local government

• Page 16, Line 18committee and the senate transportation and energy committee,

• Page 16, Line 19or their successor committees. The report must include information concerning:

• Page 16, Line 20(I)  The district's outreach efforts, as described in

• Page 16, Line 21subsection (2) of this section, including quantitative details on the district's proactive outreach;

• Page 16, Line 22(II)  The district's administrative efforts, as described in subsection (3) of this section; and

• Page 17, Line 1(III)  The survey required for covered developments, as

• Page 17, Line 2described in subsection (4) of this section, including the number and results of the surveys conducted.

• Page 17, Line 3(b)  Notwithstanding the requirement in section 24-1-136

• Page 17, Line 4(11)(a)(I), the requirement to submit the report required in this subsection (5)(a) continues indefinitely.

• Page 17, Line 6SECTION 5.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 43-1-106, amend (15) introductory portion; and add (15)(f) as follows:

• Page 17, Line 743-1-106.  Transportation commission - efficiency and

• Page 17, Line 8accountability committee - powers and duties - report - rules -

• Page 17, Line 9definitions. (15)  In addition to any other duties required by law, the commission shall have has the following charges:

• Page 17, Line 10(f)  On or before March 31, 2026, to develop and publish

• Page 17, Line 11best practices and technical assistance materials concerning

• Page 17, Line 12the creation of regional transportation authorities pursuant

• Page 17, Line 13to the "Regional Transportation Authority Law", part 6 of

• Page 17, Line 14article 4 of this title 43, to increase funding for transit and to provide additional transit services within the state.

• Page 17, Line 15SECTION 6.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 32-9-109.5, amend(4) as follows:

• Page 17, Line 1632-9-109.5.  Board of directors - membership - powers. (4)  All

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

• Page 17, Line 18be exercised and performed by the board; except that the exercise of any

• Page 17, Line 19executive, administrative, or ministerial powers may be delegated by the

• Page 17, Line 20board to officers and employees of the district. These powers, duties,

• Page 18, Line 1functions, rights, and privileges include, in addition to any other powers and duties specified in this article 9:

• Page 18, Line 2(a)  Setting policy objectives to be implemented by employees of the district;

• Page 18, Line 3(b)  Hiring and managing the district's general manager and chief executive officer;

• Page 18, Line 4(c)  Overseeing the district's general counsel;

• Page 18, Line 5(d)  Developing, adopting, and overseeing the district's

• Page 18, Line 6budget, including an annual capital budget with project costs and financing mechanisms;

• Page 18, Line 7(e)  Developing and approving the district's ten-year strategic plan and comprehensive operational analysis;

• Page 18, Line 8(f)  Engaging with constituents, local governments, the

• Page 18, Line 9department of transportation, the Denver regional council of

• Page 18, Line 10governments, transit agencies, and community partners to

• Page 18, Line 11obtain input and feedback on the district's decisions and operations;

• Page 18, Line 12(g)  Pursuing opportunities to grow transit ridership and make transit services competitive with driving;

• Page 18, Line 13(h)  Developing and promoting strategies and legislation

• Page 18, Line 14to ensure that the district has the resources it needs to implement its strategic ten-year plan;

• Page 18, Line 15(i)  Meeting quarterly with the department of

• Page 18, Line 16transportation and with the Denver regional council of

• Page 18, Line 17governments and meeting biannually with any labor

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

• Page 18, Line 19all district employees;

• Page 19, Line 1(j)  Performing an annual review of the district's chief financial officer, in the district's discretion; and

• Page 19, Line 2(k)  Conducting an annual financial audit of the district.

• Page 19, Line 3SECTION 7.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 32-9-111, add (5)(g) as follows:

• Page 19, Line 432-9-111.  Election of directors - dates - terms. (5) (g) (I)  A

• Page 19, Line 5candidate for elected director is not eligible for election as a write-in candidate.

• Page 19, Line 6(II) (A)  If, for any district election, there is not a

• Page 19, Line 7candidate for director who is nominated for election pursuant

• Page 19, Line 8to this section, a director is appointed in lieu of the director

• Page 19, Line 9being elected by the eligible electors of the district. In such

• Page 19, Line 10case, a director is appointed by the board of county

• Page 19, Line 11commissioners of the county in which the director district is

• Page 19, Line 12located or, in the case of a director district in a city and

• Page 19, Line 13county, the director is appointed by the mayor of the city and

• Page 19, Line 14county with the approval of the city council. In the case of a

• Page 19, Line 15director district that contains territory in two or more

• Page 19, Line 16counties, or in a city and county and in one or more counties, a

• Page 19, Line 17director is appointed by the board of county commissioners of

• Page 19, Line 18the county in which the largest number of eligible electors of

• Page 19, Line 19the director district reside; except that, if the largest number

• Page 19, Line 20of eligible electors of the director district reside in the city and

• Page 19, Line 21county, the director is appointed by the mayor of the city and county with the approval of the city council.

• Page 19, Line 22(B)  A director appointed pursuant to this subsection

• Page 20, Line 1(5)(g)(II) serves until the next regular November election, at

• Page 20, Line 2which the director position is filled by election pursuant to this section.

• Page 20, Line 4SECTION 8.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-38.5-123 as follows:

• Page 20, Line 524-38.5-123.  Regional transportation district accountability

• Page 20, Line 6committee - creation - membership - report - definitions - repeal.

• Page 20, Line 7(1)  Definitions.As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 20, Line 8(a)  "Colorado energy office" or "office" means the Colorado energy office created in section 24-38.5-101.

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

• Page 20, Line 10(c)  "RTD accountability committee" or "committee" means

• Page 20, Line 11the regional transportation district accountability committee created in subsection (2) of this section.

• Page 20, Line 12(2) Membership. (a)  There is created in the Colorado

• Page 20, Line 13energy office the regional transportation district

• Page 20, Line 14accountability committee. The purpose of the committee is to

• Page 20, Line 15evaluate and make recommendations concerning the district as described in subsection (3) of this section.

• Page 20, Line 16(b)  The committee consists of fourteen voting members and one ex officio nonvoting member as follows:

• Page 20, Line 17(I)  Six voting members appointed by the governor,

• Page 20, Line 18including one member who is a former member of the board of

• Page 20, Line 19directors of the district, one member who is a current member of

• Page 21, Line 1the board of directors of the district, and four members who collectively have expertise in the following areas:

• Page 21, Line 2(A)  Local government within the district's service area;

• (B)  Financial planning and management;

• Page 21, Line 3(C)  Multimodal transportation; and

• (D)  Environmental organization;

• Page 21, Line 4(II)  Three voting members appointed by the president of

• Page 21, Line 5the senate, including one member who is twenty-two years of

• Page 21, Line 6age or younger and who uses district services, and two members who collectively have expertise in the following areas:

• Page 21, Line 7(A)  Workforce development; and

• (B)  Transportation equity;

• Page 21, Line 8(III)  One voting member who has expertise in economic development, appointed by the minority leader of the senate;

• Page 21, Line 9(IV)  Three voting members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, including:

• Page 21, Line 10(A)  One member who represents transit riders with disabilities;

• Page 21, Line 11(B)  One member who represents the labor organization

• Page 21, Line 12that represents a plurality of transit workers of the district; and

• Page 21, Line 13(C)  One member who has expertise in urban planning;

• Page 21, Line 14(V)  One voting member who has expertise in safety for the

• Page 21, Line 15public and transit workers, appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; and

• Page 21, Line 16(VI)  One ex officio nonvoting member who is a current

• Page 21, Line 17member of the board of directors of the district, appointed by the board of directors of the district.

• Page 22, Line 1(c)  The committee shall select one of its members to serve as chair of the committee.

• Page 22, Line 2(d) (I)  The appointing authorities shall make the

• Page 22, Line 3appointments described in subsection (2) of this section no later than August 1, 2025.

• Page 22, Line 4(II)  Each member of the committee serves at the pleasure

• Page 22, Line 5of the appointing authority. The term of appointment is for the duration of the committee's existence.

• Page 22, Line 6(III)  If a vacancy occurs on the committee for any reason,

• Page 22, Line 7the original appointing authority shall appoint an individual to

• Page 22, Line 8fill the vacancy as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs.

• Page 22, Line 9In making the vacancy appointment, the appointing authority

• Page 22, Line 10shall ensure that the committee maintains the expertise required by subsection (2)(b)(II) of this section.

• Page 22, Line 11(e)  Each member of the committee serves without compensation.

• Page 22, Line 12(f)  Members of the committee may participate remotely in committee meetings and other activities.

• Page 22, Line 13(g)  The office shall be available to assist the committee in carrying out its duties.

• Page 22, Line 14(3) Evaluation and recommendations. (a)  The purpose of the committee is to evaluate and make recommendations on:

• Page 22, Line 15(I)  The governance structure of the board of directors and executive leadership of the district;

• Page 22, Line 16(II)  Compensation for the board of directors and

• Page 22, Line 17executive leadership of the district;

• Page 23, Line 1(III)  The representation of local governments and state agencies within the district; and

• Page 23, Line 2(IV)  The district's workforce retention.

• Page 23, Line 3(b)  The committee's work is intended to build on the work

• Page 23, Line 4of the previous RTD accountability committee created in 2020.

• Page 23, Line 5The committee should begin its evaluation pursuant to this

• Page 23, Line 6subsection (3) with an assessment of the status of each

• Page 23, Line 7recommendation included in the previous RTD accountability

• Page 23, Line 8committee's July 2021 final report, including assessment of

• Page 23, Line 9existing district subregional service councils and identification

• Page 23, Line 10of opportunities to improve the scope and effectiveness of the service councils.

• Page 23, Line 11(c)  On or before January 30, 2026, the committee shall

• Page 23, Line 12submit a report to the governor, the house of representatives

• Page 23, Line 13transportation, housing, and local government committee, and

• Page 23, Line 14the senate transportation and energy committee, or their

• Page 23, Line 15successor committees, that includes a summary of the work

• Page 23, Line 16accomplished by the RTD accountability committee, the findings

• Page 23, Line 17of its evaluation, and any recommendations to the general assembly concerning matters evaluated by the committee.

• Page 23, Line 18(4)  Repeal.This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.

• Page 23, Line 19SECTION 9.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 43-4-1204, amend

• Page 23, Line 20(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 2143-4-1204.  Production fee for clean transit imposed by the

• Page 23, Line 22enterprise - local transit operations program - local transit grant

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

• Page 24, Line 1to the purposes of the local transit operations program, the enterprise shall

• Page 24, Line 2allocate money from the local transit operations cash fund to eligible

• Page 24, Line 3entities using a formula developed by the board, which shall be based on

• Page 24, Line 4population, population density, local zoning, transit ridership, vehicle

• Page 24, Line 5revenue miles, share of disproportionately impacted community

• Page 24, Line 6population, and other transit-related criteria. An eligible entity that is awarded money from the local transit operations cash fund shall:

• Page 24, Line 7(I)  Prior to receiving any money, submit the eligible entity's most

• Page 24, Line 8recent service improvement plan or system optimization plan

• Page 24, Line 9comprehensive operational analysis to the board and describe how

• Page 24, Line 10the money would be used to expand transit service, increase transit

• Page 24, Line 11frequency, improve system-wide transit connectivity, and meet the other purposes described in subsection (3)(b) of this section;

• Page 24, Line 12(d)  An eligible entity, except for a nonprofit organization,

• Page 24, Line 13awarded money pursuant to subsection (3)(c) of this section that provides

• Page 24, Line 14service to areas with a population of one million individuals or more shall:

• Page 24, Line 15(II)  Create, maintain, and regularly update the following on the eligible entity's website:

• Page 24, Line 16(A)  An annual update regarding the eligible entity's financial plan

• Page 24, Line 17that 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 18(B)  A quarterly update regarding all of the eligible entity's capital

• Page 24, Line 19projects that are in progress and that exceed ten million dollars,

• Page 24, Line 20including a project schedule and project expenditure information for each project;

• Page 24, Line 21(C)  A public accountability dashboard that provides, at a

• Page 25, Line 1minimum, accessible and transparent summary information regarding

• Page 25, Line 2each of the eligible entity's capital projects that is in progress and that

• Page 25, Line 3exceeds ten million dollars; the funding status of each project,

• Page 25, Line 4including the project's total funding and expenditures to date; and the eligible entity's progress toward the completion of each project;

• Page 25, Line 5(e)  For money awarded pursuant to subsection (3)(c) of

• Page 25, Line 6this section that is awarded no later than the state fiscal year

• Page 25, Line 7beginning on July 1, 2025, an eligible entity may be exempt from

• Page 25, Line 8the reporting requirements of subsections (3)(c)(I) and (3)(d) of

• Page 25, Line 9this section, in the enterprise's discretion, if the eligible entity

• Page 25, Line 10submits to the enterprise by July 1, 2025, a plan outlining how it will meet the reporting requirements.

• Page 25, Line 11SECTION 10.  Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,

• Page 25, Line 12$146,720 is appropriated to the office of the governor for use by the

• Page 25, Line 13Colorado energy office. This appropriation is from the general fund and

• Page 25, Line 14is based on an assumption that the office will require an additional 0.1

• Page 25, Line 15FTE. To implement this act, the office may use this appropriation for program administration.

• Page 25, Line 16SECTION 11.  Safety clause. The general assembly finds,

• Page 25, Line 17determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate

• Page 25, Line 18preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for

• Page 25, Line 19the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.