State Business Leaders and Chambers Look for More Improvements in the Senate
After a lengthy debate on the House floor today, the leading transportation measure this legislative session, HB-1242, also known as the New Transportation Infrastructure Funding Revenue Act, cleared its second reading in the House. The bill now faces a third House hearing before reaching the Senate.
Fix Colorado Roads, backed by heads of Chambers of Commerce and economic development organizations across the state, is currently taking a neutral position on HB-1242.
“Since the bill was introduced, we have applauded the foundation of HB-1242, particularly its allowance for $3.5 billion in bonding, giving voters the power to approve accelerating critical transportation projects throughout the state. We appreciate the bipartisan nature of conversations to date,” said Sandra Hagen Solin, spokesperson for Fix Colorado Roads. “However, our group will remain neutral on HB-1242 until specific modifications are made. We look forward to continuing to make significant improvements as the bill moves to the Senate.”
“We are disappointed the House failed to pass an amendment today that would have provided a growing revenue stream for the state transportation system, instead, leaving the state with a diminishing source of funds, said Dirk Draper, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and EDC. “We urge the Senate to take up this critical issue to provide appropriate equity and balance to the state system.”
Furthering that point, areas of improvement Fix Colorado Roads has identified in previous testimonies include 1) restoring the balance of the proposal to equitably address the state and federal highway system in Colorado 2) restoring general funds to transportation 3) ensuring an immediate project list so voters know what projects they will get in return for increasing taxes and 4) ensuring the state department of transportation receives a growing source of funding (to fund projects) by shifting the fixed allocation to a percentage so the state may benefit from the growth of sales tax as buying power will diminish over the prescribed 20-year, $375M annual allocation.
“There is still much work to be done to ensure the bill is politically and financially sound,” said Chris Romer, president and CEO of the Vail Valley Partnership. “Citizens of Colorado need a transportation solution they can support and be certain it delivers upon its promise of addressing congestion and safety in the major corridors throughout our state. As amended, the bill fails to provide sufficient funding for the completion of the state’s major corridor projects such as the South I-25, North I-25, and I-70 mountain corridors as well as other projects throughout Colorado.”
“Nine out of 10 voters agree that Colorado’s roads are in ‘desperate need of repair’ and favor an increase in transportation funding, but are skirmish on how to do so through dramatic tax hikes,” said David May, president and CEO of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are pleased that HB-1242 continued its forward process toward the Senate today. We are optimistic that lawmakers will remain open in finding a balanced solution that can win at the ballot box.”
HB-1242 will receive a third hearing in the House before moving to the Senate.