Bill > SB161

This bill addresses transit reform in Colorado, focusing on the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and its operations. The bill begins by establishing a legislative declaration that recognizes transportation's critical role in daily life and its broader impacts on challenges like air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, affordability, public health, safety, accessibility, and equity. It emphasizes that expanding mass transportation can help reduce household transportation costs, decrease pollution, minimize traffic congestion, and improve access to key destinations. The bill authorizes RTD to enter into service partnership agreements with local governments, higher education institutions, businesses, housing entities, or special districts to expand transportation services by sharing resources or collaborating on transportation projects. Additionally, the bill requires RTD to prioritize the completion of specific rail lines, particularly the northwest rail line to Longmont, and mandates that by December 1, 2025, RTD submit a comprehensive report to the governor and general assembly demonstrating how it will fulfill its commitment to complete transportation expansion routes by December 31, 2034. The report must be presented publicly and include detailed plans for achieving these goals, with a focus on creating fast, frequent, reliable, and safe transit services to maximize ridership across the region.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-161