House Bill 17-1242 Clears the House Transportation and Energy Committee Amidst a Slew of Amendments, Increased Calls for the Bill to be Improved Bill Must Be Palatable to Voters, Fix Colorado Roads Says
DENVER—March 22— Before the House Transportation and Energy Committee today, HB 1242, the New Transportation Infrastructure Funding Revenue, moved through Committee although not without first being met with a slew of amendments aiming to improve the bill.
Fix Colorado Roads, backed by heads of Chambers of Commerce and economic development organizations across the state, was joined by numerous other groups encouraging lawmakers to improve HB 1242 to assure the state system is equitably funded and the bill is properly structured to appeal to the broadest universe of voters possible. Fix Colorado Roads remains neutral on HB 1242 until additional modifications are made.
“HB 1242 is the culmination of conversations that have been taking place over two years,” said Sandra Hagen Solin, spokesperson for Fix Colorado Roads. “While our group is encouraged by the initial intent and introduction of HB 1242, amendments passed tonight didn’t address the areas of concerns.”
Three areas of improvement Fix Colorado Roads noted in testimony include 1) restore the balance of the proposal to equitably address the state and federal highway system in Colorado and 2) restore general funds to transportation and 3) ensure inclusion of a list of projects so voters know what projects they will get in return for increasing taxes now as opposed to after bill passage.
In regards to the state system funding, the measure (as currently written) fails to provide growing and significant resources to the state system from the new revenue source. The bill also fails to include any existing general fund resources despite transportation noted as a priority by bill sponsors. The lack of a project list included in the bill from which the citizens of Colorado will benefit, is also a significant oversight. Specifically, Fix Colorado Roads called for a Signature Project list and/or criteria for the selection of major projects to be funded by the $3.5B state bonding program. This would detail transportation projects along Colorado’s key corridors and traffic bottlenecks such as North I-25, South I-25 and the I-70 Mountain corridor.
Offering testimony in support of FCR’s position included Dirk Draper, of the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC, Chris Romer of the Vail Valley Partnership, Rich Werner of Upstate Colorado Economic Development and Jeff Wasden of the Colorado Business Roundtable.
“Congestion in the corridor infuriates travelers. It also harms local businesses,” said Chris Romer, president of the Vail Valley Partnership. Romer also encouraged legislators to find a solution that makes some use of using the state’s existing general fund and stressed the need for bipartisan compromise.
“Among the companies we’re looking to attract or retain to our (Southern Colorado) region, transportation is often one of their chief concerns, said Dirk Draper, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber and 2 EDC.” Draper offered an example of the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado. The region’s growing congestion is impacting the food bank’s ability, or inability, to do business. “When food sits in traffic, people go hungry.” Draper thanked the bill’s sponsors, while asking lawmakers to consider modifications to the bill.
“I implore you to come to a compromise that creates a palatable solution for the voters of Colorado,” said Rich Werner, president and CEO of Upstate Colorado Economic Development. At the end of the day, we want a bill that is balanced on the funding side and can win at the ballot,” said Solin. The bill passed on a partisan 8-5 vote and now moves to the House Committee on Finance