DRCOG Regional Transportation Committee Meeting
May 14, 2024
SPEAKER: Okay everyone, it is 8:30. Please take
your seat so we can begin the meeting. It is 8:30 everyone. Please take your seat so we can
begin the meeting. Chair Shaw we have quorum, so when you are ready we can begin the meeting.
WYNNE SHAW: Yes, please do that. Welcome to this morning's Regional Transportation Committee. It
is May 14th and 8:30 a.m. our meeting is now in order. Our first item for the agenda is public
comment. Is there anyone here who is signed up for public comment or hand raised.
SPEAKER: Thank you madam chair. I will give it a second. But no, I don't
see hands raised online or in person.
WYNNE SHAW: So we will close the public
comment and begin with the meeting summary, which is in attachment A.
Were there
any questions or changes? Seeing none, the meeting summary will be filed as distributed.
We have four action items this morning, so we'll get right to work. The 2050 Metro
Vision Regional Transportation Plan amendment, which is attachment B in your packet. I believe
that's being presented by Alvan-Bidal Sanchez, regional transportation program manager.
ALVAN-BIDAL SANCHEZ: Thank you, Chairman. As introduced I am introducing our 2050 Metro
Vision Regional Transportation Plan. I will go over highlighted results.
We are going over the
amended 2050 Metro Vision Regional Transportation Plan. Denver sow they were sub area eight-hour
ozone conformity determination and transportation greenhouse gas results. We kicked this off back in
September. We made sure we reflected the projects appropriately in the model and plan. The first
couple of months of this year was finalizing our documents and made sure our main plan was
updated with these documents. So part of that was updating appendix S, which is RTP and GHG.
>> Our official public hearing — so we are now in the adoption finalization stage of this work.
TAC has recommended approval of the plan. We are before y'all for recommendation. Hope to go
before the Board tomorrow and hopefully we will get our materials together for submittal to
partners and meeting the state accessibility requirements by July 1st of this year.
>> Five amendments we are processing in this cycle amendment process are across the region
for new projects. Four in our time line in our 2024 staging period. We worked with project
sponsors and regional partners.
There were seven submitted and we are processing five. One
we wanted to handle in our four-month update to have a more holistic view of the corridor.
>> A key piece when we worked on the GHG planning standard. All of that we planned two years ago
stayed the same. We made this to be in compliance with the GHG rule. Measures have been unchanged
since the original plan was updated back in 2022. With that, we still do have to show GHG compliance
even with amended plan. This chart shows how we got to that plan. This is the new modelling with
the new project with the plan and programmatic row and the two rows changed from when we first worked
on the GHG planning standard. Those calculations, measures and strategy values have stayed
the same. For this effort you will take the GHG row and make sure we exceed those. For
each four analysis we are subject to, we do achieve emission reduction that's required.
>> The other piece is our federal air quality requirement. The MVRTP has to address the
ozone pollutants. With the GHG work the RTP passes air quality test.
A table for what
that looks like compared to the GHG work this is a ceiling we can achieve. We can exceed any
of those values in the analysis years. We pass our air quality conformity requirements.
>> Like I mentioned, there are a number of different pieces that are part of our plan.
When we do an update they are routine to make sure projects are shown appropriately in the
plan. We do routine and minor updates in the appendices and the financial plans and GHG
transportation report. And the transportation committee has accepted the GHG.
>> We have a one stop shop for people to come for a virtual workshop to have information
available to them. Includes discussion board for people to comment and have other folk react,
comment as well. Also instructions on how to do formal complaints, whether coming to us. There
were no testifiers at that public meeting.
>> Some things we did to promote the review
period. An eblast was sent out and we had a number of post across our various social
media platforms, announcing to folks we had this plan.
Those are available to you and
when and how you can provide comments to us.
>> Highlights we saw through our engagement.
We had 13 social media posts and 561 eblast. We have different materials available for the
material and this is common for us. Different metrics we follow across various plans and
projects. With that we have a proposed motion to recommend to the board the draft. Thank you.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you. Are there questions for Alvan? Great presentation.
We have
no questions. I look for a motion. Thank you. (Chuckles).
SPEAKER: I would second.
WYNNE SHAW: So you move to recommend to the board
of directors to draft 2050? All right. Thank you very much as prepared by staff. Is there a second?
Director Silverstein, thank you. Move as proposed by staff. Is there further discussion.
Those in favor aye. Aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it and the motion is passed.
>> Next item Fiscal Year 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program Policy, which
is attachment C in your packet. Josh Schwenk senior planner is here to present.
JOSH SCHWENK: Thank you. I have three proposed amendments for you. The first is to add $8 million
in federal bridge system funds to the region one BRO pool going for Culver repairs. The next is
add a little over $18 million in funds. This is prior year funding which was incorrectly
not moved forward from our prior tip to the current tip. We are adding those funds back
in. The next is for capital investment grant, $127 million.
Happy to take questions, otherwise
there is information in your packet.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you. Are there
questions for Josh about this?
RON PAPSDORF: Thank you. I don't want people to
go through without knowing the significance of the improvement grant award to RTD to the city
of Denver for the project. This has been a long time in the works. It is the first of what we
plan to be several bus rapid transit corridor in the region. This is a significant issue and a
really big deal in RTD in Denver to move forward with the implementation of this project.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you. Very helpful. Yes, director Rosen.
SPEAKER: Question about the scope of the project. It stays fuel efficient
busses and vans, ADA compliant list. How are these busses and vans more fuel efficient and
provide less greenhouse gas emissions than the current busses that are new for RTD?
JOSH SCHWENK: This is for the RTD capital improvements project?
SPEAKER: Yes.
JOSH SCHWENK: This is for the bus funding
project pool. As they are purchases newer busses, the new busses are for efficient than the
older ones. Just by replacing those with emissions impact and they are looked for
improved efficiencies of their busses as well. Did you have a specific fuel type question?
RON PAPSDORF: If there's a scope, like 10-20-30% fuel efficient from busses ten years ago. I know
I'm putting you on the spot here. If you don't have that, we can follow up. Thank you.
JOSH SCHWENK: Yeah I don't know that I can answer that.
WYNNE SHAW: Director Welch may have information. Primarily east metro
and district shops. This language is pretty general for funding in general. We will use
it for those specific purposes for 5339.
WYNNE SHAW: Director Adams, you're
all right? Good questions. Yes.
SPEAKER: Not a specific question on the
amendments, but it would be really nice to receive in this committee, a full briefing on BRT
maybe in the future because this funding source, there's the climate pollution reduction grant
that mentions BRT.
There's the funding and the tip itself that has approved funding for the BRT.
All of this working together, I would like to see the big picture, the briefing on BRT.
WYNNE SHAW: That makes sense. That's a great idea and staff will take note.
SPEAKER: I do have a question. Thank you for making that comment about BRT. I do talk
to some merchants on that East Coast corridor a lot of times and there is a lot of concern
on the BRT. I think we deserve a really good briefing on exactly what the plans are. There
are a lot of concerns around construction, the middle lane that people believe the work we
will do. A lot of merchants are worried about the impact on their business while they work
is ongoing.
I do appreciate the notion of a briefing on BRT. Thank you.
WYNNE SHAW: Excellent. Other questions? Yes, director Stewart.
SPEAKER: I'm forced to make a comment. Don't is your opportunity to learn about BRT.
We have a federal BRT program going on at CDOT and it's well underway and the other meeting
is 5-7 — tomorrow at the — oh I thought it was Wednesday. I thought today was Wednesday.
Sorry, tomorrow. Don't go tonight. And it will be at the Mac recreation center in Westminster.
And there is a collaboration going on with BRT with the opportunity for federal boulevard.
SPEAKER: Is that a streaming opportunity or is that in person only?
SPEAKER: In person meeting — do we have one — no this is the third one we
have had. I will turn it over to Jessica.
SPEAKER: We had a meeting last night at the CDOT
head quarters and had a lot people attend. We had the stay time for individuals was about 30-45
minutes. Very good interest. We had a meeting at the end of the corridor at Dartmouth. Not as
many attended but general positivity. We have our third and final meeting tonight. All the
boards will be posted online and the comments will be posted online.
If you can't make the
meeting, you with welcome to submit comments.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you. Excuse me. Other
questions before we go to the motion slide? I think we can look for a motion then. Stewart.
SPEAKER: I recommend to the board of directors the attached for the Fiscal Year 2024-2027
Transportation Improvement Program Policy.
WYNNE SHAW: Those in favor, aye.
Those opposed? The ayes have it. Josh you can stay right there because
our next item is Fiscal Year 2024-2024 Unified Planning Work Program. Thank you.
JOSH SCHWENK: Yes. Thank you again Chair. Those who may not be aware, our unified planning work
program is the work program for Denver Regional Council of Governments.
All of our work tasks
are included within this document. It helps us to plan out the work we intend to do over a
two-year period. The primary purpose of this amendment to a document is that we recently
closed out our previous consolidated planning contract associated with our previous unified
planning program. We have the financial tables in the back of the documents to roll over from
remaining funding from that previous grant contract into the current one. Additionally, we
released the document out to staff for comment, any edits that needed to be made. Primarily the
changes that were made are fairly minor changes to the text to clarify the scope of work in the
document. We had two new deliverables added, these will be TDM and toolkit.
These are added as
deliverables in the time frame of this document. Happy to take questions on the proposed
document, otherwise I have a proposed motion.
WYNNE SHAW: Any questions or
observations. Yes, director Stewart.
SPEAKER: Red line and I just had a question on
the mobility hub's part under innovative mobile planning. It used to say about hubs and now it
says prepare hubs in the Denver region white paper. Will we see more about that? I remember a
while back CDOT had done a white paper on mobile hubs and I don't think that was published.
Is your coordination with CDOT on this one.
JOSH SCHWENK: I believe the changes within
that section are to kind of more generalize the language. I think we are still looking
into that. There will be work to come. I think it was just kind of to make it a little
more general, increase the range of scope that we could participate in looking forward. But
I don't believe we're actually removing any planned work from what we're intending to do.
WYNNE SHAW: I would be interested in an update on that when it comes to fruition. We have some that
have not been identified from north to south and goes along with BRT. There you go. Thanks.
SPEAKER: Thank you. Josh is right. We want to give more flexibility to that evaluation. We
are engaged with CDOT on CDOT's mobility hub along with the corridor. This is looking
for opportunities outside of the freeway corridor outside of the CDOT around where
mobility hubs may be appropriate. Those may be tied to where future BRTs are for the rail
system.
Designated urban systems around the region where significant regional transit
services come together. This is more of a DRCOG effort to explore those opportunities in
addition the mobility hubs the CDOT is proposing to serve Mustang throughout the corridor.
STUART: This is like BRT. Mobility hubs mean something different to everyone. And — how
it has to provide to — when we talk about mobility hub to the Denver region that serves
something different. It would be interesting to see how we do for clarification on
the definition, I guess.
Thanks.
WYNNE SHAW: That may be why we
make the language more general so we can kind of insert the appropriate papers.
Really good observation. Thank you. Any questions? Seeing none. Would someone like to make a
recommendation? Director Guzman, thank you.
SPEAKER: Motion to recommend to the Board
of Directors adoption of Fiscal Year 2024-2024 Unified Planning Work Program.
WYNNE SHAW: Those in favor say aye. Those opposed say no. The ayes have it and the motion is
adopted. Thank you. And our next item is Federal Transit Administration Section 5310-Fiscal
Year 2024 Funding Awards. Which is attachment E in your packet. We have presenting
for us Travis Noon, program manager, administration and finance. Thank you Travis.
TRAVIS NOON: Thank you. Thank you for having me back as well. We will talk about
this like we did last month. On the background, DRCOG is the designated
recipient of the grant.
We release a yearly call for project. We released this call
this year in November 2023. Released from ten organizations requesting for $4.1 million.
There is approximately $3.1 million available for July 2024 through June 2025. All of the
applications are reviewed and scored by a panel that makes recommendations to you.
>> Diving into why I'm back here. I originally estimated the funding for five-month
apportionments. I had originally estimated there was $3.1 million available for the apportionments.
When they were released in April, unfortunately, it is $2.9 million and there is carry over
and there was set aside faster funding that is from this call that makes up that $3.1 million.
Based on projected funding available to carry over for the DRCOG for fiscal year 2023, we are
recommending we reduce the DRCOG award down. Based on what we will be able to carry over, it
will be minimal impact on the DRCOG budgets.
All rewards are remaining the same as recommended by
the review panel. These are the awards here. Like I said, they are the same as I presented to you
last month aside from that one line for the DRCOG project mobility management project brought
down. If there are no questions or comments, I have the recommended motion.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you. Are there questions for Travis? Thank
you for hunting for extra money and for adjustment that DRCOG was able to make to their own funding.
That is much more of a comfortable outcome for the providers who may have already committed to
staff based on preliminary.
I appreciate that. Other comments? Otherwise, I look for a motion.
Motion to recommend to the Board of Directors approval of the Federal Transit Administration
Section 5310-Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Awards for the period beginning July 1, 2024, and
ending June 30, 2025. Thank you Dr. Clark. Ayes? Opposed say no. The ayes have it. Thank
you so much Travis, that motion moves forward.
>> Then we have nondiscrimination program update
by Alvan-Bidal Sanchez, regional transportation manager.
ALVAN-BIDAL SANCHEZ: I will give updates and this comes out
of the requirements out of the 2050. We do this to make up for our nondiscrimination plan
each year. I will go over each plan. There is one new proposed plan and the scope of work
we recommend for them and the time line we look for over the next year.
>> Start with our most expansive plan the title VI implementation program.
This helps us make sure our procedures and resources are inclusive to the region in
a nondiscriminatory manner. What plans and programs we adopt in a nondiscriminatory way.
>> This is the demographic profile across our ten county area. We pair that with our transportation
investment analysis. What is our funding and how it lays out across the region and compare to
the marginalized community to make sure there is not a disparate impact on communities. Like
I mentioned, it's our most expansive plan. In addition to those key pieces, it outlines the
policies and procedures in place. Board and committee structure. How do we add to the public
to ensure there is nondiscriminatory. What are the different key products of the various
staff division. From a transportation side, what are regional planning staff doing and
ageing staff doing.
What are key products and are they inclusive in nondiscriminatory way? The
last piece put in was subrecipient monitoring, ensuring they are in compliance with title
VI. Outline the public participation to ensure they are engaging with us.
>> The next is the limited English proficiency plan. This is to ensure all residents
of the DRCOG region can participate. What that assistance could be and training and resources
available for staff here at DRCOG. The title VI plan has assessment of the English efficiency
plan. What is the distribution, the top language in the region and broken down by county. That
is provided in our limited English proficiency plan. How do we make decisions to make sure it is
equitable and how our LEP program looks like at the agency.
The number of people that are limited
English proficient — what are our resources available to help in these conversations.
>> Our third existing plan is the Americans with Disabilities Act access plan. It looks
at the different requirements we have under our requirements as an agency and just document
how we are making accessible in various forms, physical accessible, website accessibility for
folks with accessibility, for folks to engage in our products. One is office
place. We don't own this space, we rent and conform to ADA standards. What is
available through browser stands for those who interact with our website, ensure they can
do that. How do people move differently get there. We outline our planning process, running
how we are accessibility, inclusive throughout our different milestone deliverables we achieve
as an agency. We also ensure our subrecipients are compliant with the ADA as well.
>> We have a new plan proposed.
This is a disadvantaged business enterprise program plan.
Any program we allocate for our about psi, it would be a 5310 portion of our funding. That is a
result of us starting to hit our $250,000 contract threshold. We are required to have DBE.
Ensure we are in compliance with our partners. We have a DBE request form that is included. Any
time those go out we receive that information from a potential folk looking to respond to those.
We
already have a portion of this program in place. This is just formalizing what it looks like in
this agency as far as goal setting and the like.
>> The scope of the update we are looking at
for the title VI plan, we are wanting to move to marginalized communities. We want to use the
new ten indicators that came tout of our equity index work.
We want those indicators and those
with the agency. Update investment analysis to use that index and begin to talk about the
benefits burdens, conversations we begin to have in the transportation improvement plan
last year. Looking at updating the data for the program access plan. We have a translation
policy and we provide training for that, do annual staff training. For the ADA access program
plan, we want to be set up with the new state accessibility requirements and DRCOG response.
All of the updates, etc., to ensure we are providing updated documents here at the DRCOG.
>> We have been updating the schedule to perform the investment analysis.
We hope to formalize
our documents this year. We will have a public hearing for this process and get into the
recommendation and adoption process as we do with these planned adoptions. And TAC and
the board would see it then. Thank you.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you. Are there questions
for Alvan? Yes, director Guzman.
GUZMAN: Language efficiency
you have, is there a clear definition between (audio going in and out) and
interpretation for meetings and documents. Those are two different functions of work mentioned.
ALVAN-BIDAL SANCHEZ: Yes, there will be. We recognize the distinction like
live and simultaneous training for meetings. That is a clarification we make.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you. Director Mulvey.
MULVEY: Do you focus on particular language sets
or are you trying to broaden in so that someone that comes in can obtain what they need?
ALVAN-BIDAL SANCHEZ: Within the data we highlight the top nonEnglish languages used. In terms of
resources we typically default to Spanish in a lot of our work. That's the population most often
we deal with on our transportation side. From our area agency on that side of the work we lean
on them for more of the lived experience they are encountering and on the level we can get
through the U.S.
Census Bureau. The general language is more Spanish centered. But we provide
I speak cards and around 31 different languages, other than English spoken in the region. And we
rely on (indiscernible) on a granular level.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you.
MULVEY: Thank you so much for this overview. I'm anxious to learn about the
DBE program. I'm looking forward to learning more about that and the softer DRCOG emphasis and
the DBE or small businesses out of 5310 funds.
WYNNE SHAW: I see a note is being made.
Thank
you. Other questions? Yes, director Rosenthal.
ROSENTHAL: Approximately how much is
received by DRCOG every year that is subject to the DDE program.
ALVAN-BIDAL SANCHEZ: For us I think it hovers around $250,000 and
we are reaching that, and that will be subject to the DBE requirements.
That's what we are focussing on.
WYNNE SHAW: I guess I had a question and maybe it
is worth a clarification. I think DBA now refers to something that we used to refer to as women
and minority businesses.
Is that correct?
ALVAN-BIDAL SANCHEZ: We do rely on the
state certification definition. It does historically include minority, small business,
women business enterprise. For this they have to be certified through the state certification
process. So a woman may not be DBE.
SPEAKER: DBE is race neutral
and that's the difference.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you. That's great. Other
questions? All right. Good discussion. Thank you. Wow. We have made a lot of progress. We
are down to administrative items. Member comment on other matters. CDOT is first.
>> Mr. Hogan do you have a comment to make before we move on?
HOGAN: Sure, I can start. We have our workshops tomorrow and our meeting on Thursday.
We have a
packed agenda. A lot of decisions. I'm assuming there will be a lot of public comment as well.
We have quite a few items. I will say the thing I'm most excited about, we just got notification
we got the busing that will be coming tomorrow, so we will get to see it. Excited to see the
fuel efficiency and really the impact in our environment. So then yeah, I guess I will
leave the rest of the comments for you all. Thank you.
SPEAKER: I have no additional comments. I will
refer to Jessica and Darius and Karen.
SPEAKER: Region one has lots of things to
celebrate. The I gap program received the excellence award. There is a ceremony going on I
think in Washington to receive. That I believe I70 central also received an award for that project.
Exciting there. We were just notified we received the UPWA award. It was for Colorado and that is
the I70 and the I70 mountain corridor. That was requirements under Senate bill 260. We submitted
our project and the gal conducting the research monitoring the air quality results will be going
to Maryland to accept that award.
Really excited about those. We mentioned the federal BRT public
meetings. We have a lot of public meetings going on right now. I think we had a stall during
COVID. The public meeting is tomorrow. The bridge replacement had a meeting a couple of weeks
ago. We will have another public meeting for that in August. The I72 corridor has set a couple of
public meetings including stakeholder engagement. We are making momentum on that project. The I70
project is going as well. We anticipate having the first public meeting in July/August time frame.
We had a quiet period and we're getting used to the dual virtual and in person, but we have had
great turn out for our intern engagement. We are excited to have the communities back and able to
engage with them one on one.
If you would like to be on the mailing list for any of those projects
or want more information, let me know and I can connect you with the team managers.
SPEAKER: I will finish off saying the commission for this month we are kicking off
the long term transportation plan and associated documents. We are doing workshops on the overall
goals and looking at long range revenue. That will help kick off what will probably be many
conversations with not only the commission but local programs throughout the state including
DRCOG or any partners throughout the state. I think there will be finality on the decision
as well. The only decision that I want to mention is if the commission agrees, there will be a
decision on the allocation of MLMF funds so all of the MPOs and — they will know what money they
are getting for FY25 to make decisions on those projects. That's it for me, Chair.
WYNNE SHAW: Done. Wow. Thank you. Next is RTD. Thank you.
SPEAKER: Thank you Madam Chair. I could conclude my report by saying the 2024 legislative session
has ended.
(Chuckles). But I will say some more.
WYNNE SHAW: (Chuckles).
SPEAKER: I spoke the last couple of times we were here about that House Bill 1447, the transit
House Bill went through a number of iterations and went away. I credit the team effort, our
staff, our directors here in this room, other stakeholders, lobbyist were instrumental in
it going how it should have gone. It will replace Senate Bill 230. In theory it gives
money to (indiscernible) it allows us to build two major transit lines within
ten years. And last but not least for me, our northwest rail peak feasible study is due
to conclude some time soon.
There seems to be issues getting BFS, Burlington Santa Fe,
what it cost to use their right of way. We have (indiscernible) wanting to use the right of way.
They are kind of sitting in the captain's seat. We are just moving forward.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you.
SPEAKER: One bill is Senate Bill 2022, additional
funding for transit. My understanding is there would be about $5 million for the 0 fare for youth
program going to RTD and we would not be allowed to apply for funding for the 0 fare for better
air, which has been such a success in the past few years. So we're looking to our leadership
and discussions with the board as to — and with DRCOG as well and any entities about how
to continue that program so we do have funding either internally, externally or both. Thanks.
WYNNE SHAW: Can I ask a clarifying question? So you've been procolluded from asking for funding
for that program? Can you explain more why?
SPEAKER: Perhaps Bryan — Mr. Welch,
you may have additional understanding.
SPEAKER: Thank you. What the program did in
the previous two years is provide additional funding to offset the RTD fare loss. First year
was one month and last year was two months. The legislature decided not to provide funding for
that program for 0 fare for better air. If the RTD board decided to pursue that program,
we would have to without state support.
WYNNE SHAW: I misheard that. I
thought that you couldn't apply for funding. So I'm glad at least that.
SPEAKER: The clarification is there is no funding available.
WYNNE SHAW: Correct, from the state. Okay. So I wish you luck finding
alternative funds. It is a good program.
SPEAKER: Sorry. One more followup. For this summer the program is not funding. Are
we okay for this summer or is it future summers that doesn't have funding.
SPEAKER: There is no funding for this summer.
SPEAKER: Marketing program refers to
this program so it's important to us.
SPEAKER: So the old program referred to
(indiscernible) this program — for the legislator to provide funding. Next year they
can provide funding for it. Next year — that was provided for just one year at a time.
WYNNE SHAW: Director Rosenthal.
ROSENTHAL: Perhaps there is something in
the Senate bill where they provide funds for operations.
RTD would have to apply for that
just as much as any other transit agency statewide would have to apply for those funds. That doesn't
mean we would get any at all or how much we would get to cover. Is that correct, Mr. Welch.
SPEAKER: My apologies for interrupting. I think it would be good to get clarification because our
understanding of the senate bill is the — 70% of the funded is intended for transportation
formula and that would be the enterprise that is housed at — the remainder — the over 30
— 10% would be available for grants.
And 20% for rail transit improvements. I think mainly
probably intended for front range passenger rail support. I believe the 70% is supposed to
be distributed to transit providers by formula so RTD wouldn't have to compete and hope to get a
grant. We will work on clarification for that and figure out details as that moves forward.
ROSENTHAL: To add to that. The money would possibly start next year and maybe the
following depending on when they start collecting it. Like next July, Septemberish
time line, 2025, so not for this year.
WYNNE SHAW: And director Mulvey.
MULVEY: I may be able to provide clarification for the funding. The Board reviewed 230 in the
final days and iteration. As it went through, it got three pots of 2010, they are all
competitive and not restricted to any form of transportation except roadways.
Any kind of transit can apply to them.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you.
And now back
to the RTD report. Director Guzman.
SPEAKER: I only have one quick thing. We have
the finance meeting and we will be going over quite a few things. It's a very heavy meeting.
It's leading up to the fun stuff for the budget, which is a conversation we have to have. I will
say this about all of the nonsense that happened at the legislature this year. It doesn't matter
who is sitting in the director's seat, but the work we're doing, who we are partnering with and
what we're going done.
There is a fiscality that has not been addressed by the legislature that
your directors understand very intimately. And it looks like, we will fund this but we will make
a decision every year so we won't know who to tell whether they can include RTD by the first month
or August. We have to make difficult decisions on planning for the future.
Sad thing about being
an elected official is the work we do, especially for this group, I learned last year we can make
plans for the next four years, but we are not likely to see them come into fruition while we are
here. We have a lot of catch up work to do from previous board decisions and continuing work. This
is an honest to goodness — what is the (word?) Without name, conversation that needs to be had.
Because a lot of the strings attached to the legislation had misplaced anger and frustration
and limited funds. And what it cost to lead an administration of this size without funding.
A
third of our size with three times our budget. And the same multimodal situation we have. But
they have a state budget of $5 million and we are nowhere near that. We have to get real
and have an honest conversation about it. The disrespect and the tone of the legislative session
this year is (indiscernible) it is not just RTD board but we all got collectively drug through
the mud this year. My grandmother taught me, if you never get in the mud, you never learn
to respect the earth.
Everything we do is to respect the earth and the land we are on. We
can have that conversation in a very different way. There is another bit, but I saw Bryan has
a note. I haven't looked at that document yet and I want to be careful about what I say.
>> The only thing I will add before we move to Michael is the August 29, 2011, I joined the RTD
staff. August 30th, 2011, if our data there was a signature put on a full grant agreement for a
$1 billion capital grants program that we call the eagle program. Why is that relevant? April
2016, big fanfare over at the airport and we opened the correction when Denver airport and
Denver station. Any metropolitan area has to have transit from their central district to airport.
>> We fast forward to May 2024, I will say this correctly, RTD was successful in defending against
transit appeals in the court of appeals on it's claim of approximately $11 million in damages
against RTD. We finally settled that. There is still one more step potentially Denver partners
could appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court to that decision. For the time being, eight
years later, that has been adjudicated.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you. Director Silverstein.
SILVERSTEIN: Thank you. Not as many things going on as what is happening here. Legislation, we
have a victory to add at the legislature, but small.
There was a (indiscernible) signed a week
ago and that allows local governments to enact for stringent provisions allowed. There will be
outreach to local governments to provide resources and opportunities to suggest, model ordinances
and things to allow local improvement. Adding vehicles more so than they could three weeks ago.
Summertime. Ozone season will begin. We have had a few high ozone days, naturally occurring ozone
intrusions. That means the ozone that protects us from the rays. It gets down at ground level
to high altitudes. Ozone is the same thing, we didn't make it. That shouldn't count against us
in our quest to reach air quality standards.
Our summer campaign will be begin here in a few short
weeks. We hope that we can partner with all of you to get our messages out and get your messages
out to make positive improvement to air quality.
>> Finally, not anything from the DRCOG's
doing. But the new gasoline that should be be in our pumps today. Because we have been a chronic
(indiscernible) we have been downgraded to severe by the EPA. You have to have clean gasoline
blends during the summer months. This will be the first season of reformulated gasoline. The
cost is widely all over the place. Historically you might see a $0.30 a gallon increase. This is
across the nation. We just received a report it might be $0.60 a gallon. That's the kind of sky
is falling scenario but you never know. Prices haven't gone up yet so we have our RTFG tanks.
That's the way it goes because the administration issued a study that said $0.60 a gallon. I have a
hunch it will be $0.60 a gallon because now there is incentive to charge what is already in the
news.
Guess what, it came true. I hope that's not negativity on my part. You never know what
the gas prices will be and why. It is a cleaner blended and will give us better air quality. It
is one more step to allow us to achieve better air quality. That's an editorial mark here for the
group. Any questions, I will be happy to take.
WYNNE SHAW: Thank you. If you will indulge the
Chair for a moment. This is my last meeting with all of you. I was not elected mayor and I'm term
limited on city council. I just wanted to say to the DRCOG for the wonderful presentations
that often don't even generate questions, because they're so darn clear. And for the
good discussions that we have had during the member updates. I think I get almost as much
information in these member updates as I get from the presentations. So it's been my honor to
serve you as Chair. If you would like to join me after the meeting for a quick photo, I'll bet
Cam will take a photo for us. Please note there is no RTC meeting in June. The next is July 16th.
And it is 9:34 and we are adjourned. Thank you.
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