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NFRMPO Planning Council May 6, 2021 Meeting

Remote Attendee Instructions

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Once the Planning Council Meeting has begun:

1) We will do a roll call once the meeting has been called to order. 2) Please keep your line muted unless you are speaking, this will help to cut down on

background noise and make the audio clear for all participants. 3) Please do not place the call on hold, doing so could cause hold music to play and make

participation by all other participants on the call impossible. 4) Please use the Chat box function as shown below, to indicate that you wish to speak by

typing in your name, for example: ”I have a question regarding the TIP Amendment” and wait to be recognized by the Chair before proceeding with your question or comment, so others do not talk over you and your question can be recorded for the Minutes.

5) Each time you speak, please state your name for the record before proceeding with your question or comments.

If at any time during the meeting you have any questions or technical difficulties accessing the meeting, please contact Alex Gordon at (970) 289-8279 or agordon@nfrmpo.org.

419 Canyon Avenue, Suite 300 Fort Collins, Colorado 80521

(970) 800.9560 nfrmpo.org

MEMORANDUM

To: NFRMPO Planning Council

From: Medora Bornhoft

Date: May 6, 2021

Re: NFRMPO Air Quality Program Updates

Background

Ongoing and Upcoming Air Quality Tasks

On May 20th, the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) is scheduled to hold a rulemaking hearing request on the revision of three regulations to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector. Requests for party status will likely be due in early- or mid-June. The rulemaking hearing is expected to occur at the AQCC’s regular meeting on August 19th -20th. The AQCC transportation GHG rulemaking includes the creation or modification of three programs, as described below.

• Employee Traffic Reduction Program: The Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) is developing the Employee Traffic Reduction Program (ETRP), building on the ETRP framework initiated by the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC). NFRMPO staff are participating in listening sessions hosted by APCD on the proposed ETRP and are contributing to the RAQC’s Employer-Based Trip Reduction Control Strategy Work Group. The RAQC board is scheduled to discuss the ETRP framework at their May 7th meeting. Key concerns from the NFRMPO on the ETRP include:

o The disproportionate impact to blue collar and essential workers whose alternatives to driving alone are limited and often time consuming due to inability to telework and the unaffordability of electric vehicles (EVs).

o The use of a one-size-fits-all SOV commute rate requirement that does not consider the variations in single occupancy vehicle (SOV) commute rates by land use, transportation infrastructure, or industry.

o The lack of detail on exemptions, enforcement mechanisms, employer applicability, and other key program details during the APCD stakeholder engagement process, which prevented a robust and meaningful exchange of ideas.

o The use of a 100 percent SOV commute rate baseline to determine the estimated emissions benefit from the proposed program, which vastly overestimates benefits, instead of using a baseline SOV commute rate that reflects current or pre-pandemic SOV commute rates.

419 Canyon Avenue, Suite 300 Fort Collins, Colorado 80521

(970) 800.9560 nfrmpo.org

o The need for funding to support employers with implementation, especially in portions of the Nonattainment Area without Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) or TMA-like services and expertise already in place, including the entirety of the Northern Subarea.

• GHG Pollution Standards: CDOT is leading the proposal to set GHG pollution standards for regional and statewide transportation plans, which will be submitted to the AQCC for their consideration. CDOT is also developing a Policy Directive (PD) with implementation guidance for GHG pollution standards for consideration by the Transportation Commission (TC). NFRMPO staff is participating in CDOT’s Transportation GHG Advisory Group, which is providing input on both the rule and the PD. CDOT held a regional stakeholder meeting on April 16 for CDOT Region 4. The key concern from the NFRMPO on the GHG Pollution standards is ensuring it sets achievable requirements that reflect the effectiveness of strategies that can be deployed by MPOs.

• Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance: As announced at APCD’s listening session held on April 20th, APCD is proposing to lower the cut-points for the IM240 test, which are conducted on vehicles 11 years and older registered in the emissions testing program area. The reduced cut-points are expected to increase the exhaust fail rates from 4.1 percent to 8.2 percent, which corresponds to an increase from ~24,000 vehicles to ~47,000 vehicles. The key concern from the NFRMPO on the revised cut-points is consideration of equity impacts to low-income vehicle owners.

Action

NFRMPO staff invites feedback on the ongoing and upcoming tasks of the NFRMPO Air Quality Program.

VanGo Vanpool Program 1st Quarter Stats

Year-to-Date

www.vangovanpools.org 1 800 332-0950 www.nfrmpo.org

VanGo is the nationally-recognized vanpool program of the North Front Range Metroploitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO). This dashboard provides a snapshot

of the programs operations and financials. The document will be updated online quarterly to provide transparency regarding the operating efficiency of the program

to the hundreds of vanpoolers it serves.

$18,356.67

$956.41

$87,800.44

$-

$10,000.00

$20,000.00

$30,000.00

$40,000.00

$50,000.00

$60,000.00

$70,000.00

$80,000.00

$90,000.00

$100,000.00

Revenues Expenses

Revenue/Expenses Year-To Date

Fares Interest Capital Funds Operations Capital

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30

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80

1/1/2021 2/5/2021 3/5/2021 4/9/2021 5/7/2021 5/28/2021 7/6/2020 7/23/2021 8/27/2021 9/24/2021 10/22/2021 11/26/2021 12/10/2021

Active Vanpools & Occupancy Rate

Active Vanpools Occupany %

January, 193,875

February, 184,167

March, 194,919

Miles Saved-Year to Date:

572,961

0 20

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Match Search Tracking www.vangovanpools.org

Matches Made Vanpool Match Searches

NFRMPO 2021 Legislative Update May 2021 - UPDATED

TRANSPORTATION FUNDING BILL

SB21-260

Status: 05/04/2021: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance The bill creates four new enterprises and updates the purpose and funding for one existing enterprise: • Community Access Enterprise

o Agency: Colorado Energy Office (CEO) o Purpose: Supporting the widespread and equitable adoption of electric motor vehicles and electric

alternatives to motor vehicles in an equitable manner o Funding: Authorized to impose a community access retail delivery fee to fund its business purpose

• Clean Fleet Enterprise o Agency: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) o Purpose: Incentivizing and supporting the use of electric motor vehicles and other clean fleet technologies

by owners and operators of motor vehicle fleets o Funding: Authorized to impose a clean fleet retail delivery fee to be paid by the purchaser of tangible

personal property delivered to the purchaser by motor vehicle and a clean fleet per ride fee to be paid by a transportation network company (TNC) on each ride offered and accepted by the TNC

• Clean Transit Enterprise o Agency: Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) o Purpose: Supporting clean public transit through electrification planning efforts, facility upgrades, fleet

motor vehicle replacement, and construction and development of associated electric motor vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure

o Funding: Authorized to impose a clean transit retail delivery fee of up to a specified amount to fund its business purpose

• Nonattainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Enterprise o Agency: Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) o Purpose: Mitigating transportation-related emissions in ozone nonattainment areas o Funding: Authorized to impose air pollution mitigation per ride and retail delivery fees to fund its business

purpose • Statewide Bridge Enterprise → Statewide Bridge and Tunnel Enterprise

o Purpose: expanded to allow completion of tunnel projects o Funding: Authorized to impose a bridge and tunnel impact fee on diesel fuel and retail delivery fee to fund

its business purpose

The bill creates new funding and builds on existing funding: • General fund transfers to the State Highway Fund, the Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF), and the Multimodal

Transportation and Mitigation Options Fund • Restoration of the Referendum C cap to its maximum voter-approved level • Per ride fees annually adjusted for consumer price index (CPI) inflation • Indexing the existing $50 registration fee imposed on electric motor vehicles to national highway

construction cost index (NHCCI) inflation and additional electric motor vehicle road usage equalization fees on battery electric motor vehicles at a specified level and on plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicles at a lower level

• Road usage fees on gasoline and diesel purchases that are phased in from state FYs 2022-23 through 2031-32 and thereafter indexed to NHCCI inflation

• Retail delivery fee on retail deliveries by motor vehicle that include tangible personal property subject to the state sales tax, requires the fee to be collected from the purchaser by the retailer, and requires simultaneous collection of community access, clean fleet, bridge and tunnel, clean transit, and air pollution mitigation retail delivery fees imposed

• Indexing the existing $2 short-term daily vehicle rental fee to CPI inflation and, on or after July 1, 2022, requires a car sharing program to collect the daily vehicle rental fee for any short-term vehicle rental of 24 hours or longer that is enabled by the car sharing program

• Reducing the amount of each road safety surcharge imposed on motor vehicle registration for registration periods beginning on or after January 1, 2022, but before January 1, 2024, by $5.55.

The bill also: • Requires the CEO and CDPHE, after consultation with CDOT, to jointly and annually prepare a report for

specified legislative committees that details the progress made toward the electric motor vehicle adoption goals set forth in the "Colorado Electric Vehicle Plan 2020" and the transportation sector greenhouse gas pollution reduction goals set forth in the "Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap"

• Specifies a methodology to be used by the CEO, CDOT, and CDPHE to estimate the social costs of greenhouse gas pollution

• Effectuates the repeal of the requirement that a ballot question seeking approval for the issuance of transportation revenue anticipation notes be submitted to the voters of the state at the November 2021 statewide election

• Requires CDOT to comply with specified transparency and contractor short-listing requirements when using the integrated project delivery method of contract procurement for a public project.

• Clarifies that sales and use tax is not levied on the retail delivery fees imposed by or as authorized by the bill

• Provides legal authority for collection under an existing multistate agreement of the motor fuel road usage and bridge and tunnel impact fees imposed by or as authorized by the bill

• Requires the Public Utilities Commission to conduct a certificated taxi carrier parity study. • Requires CDOT and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to engage in an enhanced level of

planning, analysis, community engagement, and monitoring with respect to transportation capacity projects and specifies what that entails and also requires CDOT to conduct a road usage charge study and an autonomous vehicle study.

• Authorizes a transportation planning organization (TPO), subject to territorial restrictions and TPO member jurisdiction approval requirements, to exercise the powers of a regional transportation authority (RTA)

o Any additional transportation funding obtained by a TPO exercising the power of a RTA is intended to supplement and not supplant state and federal transportation funding allocated within the boundaries of the TPO

o CDOT, when submitting its annual proposed budget allocation plan, is required to provide evidence that the proposed allocation of state and federal transportation funding within the boundaries of any TPO that has obtained such additional transportation funding has not been reduced in any way on account of the additional transportation funding.

UPDATES SINCE COUNCIL PACKET: SB21-238 Create Front Range Passenger Rail District

Bill Summary: The bill creates the Front Range Passenger Rail District for the purpose of planning, designing, developing, financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining an interconnected passenger rail system (system) along the Front Range. The district encompasses the DRCOG, PPACG, PACOG, and NFRMPO regions as well as all areas within Huerfano, Las Animas, and Pueblo counties that are not located within the territory of a MPO and are located within a county precinct that is located wholly or partly within 5 miles of the public right-of-way of interstate highway 25; and all areas within Larimer and Weld counties that are not located within the territory of a MPO and are located within a county precinct that is north of the city of Fort Collins and is located wholly or partly within 5 miles of the public right-of-way of interstate highway 25.

NFRMPO Analysis: The NFRMPO would be a constituent area of the Front Range Passenger Rail District. Potential NFRMPO responsibilities if this bill passes include appointing a Director to the Board of Directors. No funding is attached this proposal currently, but the Rail District may propose funding in the future.

Sponsors: L. Garcia / R. Zenzinger / D. Esgar / M. Gray

Last Action: 4/27/2021: Transportation & Energy hearing

Upcoming Action: TBD

Web Link: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-238

HB21-1066 CDOT Financial Reporting Requirements

Bill Summary: This bill modifies monthly financial reporting requirements for CDOT, specifically sufficient financial information for the controller to complete a review of legal over-expenditures, any deficit fund balances, and a budget to actual report for all budget lines within the annual general appropriations act; and CDOT to submit a monthly budget report of the expenditures made from each budget category and the unexpended and unencumbered balance of each budget subcategory and to make each report publicly available on the department's website.

NFRMPO Analysis: The bill updates CDOT financial reporting requirements to the Transportation Commission.

Sponsors: R. Bockenfeld / D. Michaelson Jenet / J. Smallwood / R. Woodward

Last Action: 04/28/2021: Sent to the Governor 04/27/2021: Signed by the President of the Senate 04/27/2021: Signed by the Speaker of the House

Upcoming Action: N/A

Web Link: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1066

HB21-1056 Cost Thresholds For Public Project Bidding Requirements

Bill Summary: The bill repeals the lower cost amount for CDOT projects ($150,000 for CDOT compared to $500,000 for other agencies) related to the Construction Bidding for Public Projects Act. CDOT would no longer need to prepare a bid estimate when it proposes to undertake a project itself rather than awarding the project to a contractor through competitive bidding if the cost of the project is reasonably expected to exceed $500,000 for any fiscal year. The bill would also increase from $50,000 to $100,000 the maximum cost for a CDOT project that is exempt from transportation commission approval. The bill also limits the existing requirement that CDOT pay all employees performing work on any public project local prevailing wages in accordance with specified federal acts to projects that cost more than $500,000.

NFRMPO Analysis: The bill would reduce some bureaucracy for CDOT, hastening some projects.

Sponsors: R. Pelton / C. Hansen

Last Action: 05/03/2021: Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments 04/30/2021: Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments 04/27/2021: Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

Upcoming Action: TBD

Web Link: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1056

HB21-1095 811 Locate Exemption For County Road Maintenance

Bill Summary: To prevent routine and emergency maintenance activities from triggering the excavation notification requirement, the bill specifies that "excavation" does not include routine or emergency maintenance of right-of-way on county-owned gravel or dirt roads performed by county employees that does not lower the existing grade or elevation of the road, shoulder, and ditches; and does not disturb more than 6 inches in depth during maintenance operations.

NFRMPO Analysis: This legislation would help counties avoid having to alert the statewide notification association of all owners and operators of underground facilities of its intent to engage in excavation.

Sponsors: M. Baisley / C. Kipp / J. Ginal / R. Woodward

Last Action: 04/29/2021: House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass 04/28/2021: House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily 04/27/2021: Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

Upcoming Action: TBD

Web Link: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1095

HB21-1206 Medicaid Transportation Services

Bill Summary: Current law requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to oversee the safety and oversight of Medicaid nonmedical and nonemergency medical transportation services (NEMT). The bill eliminates the commission's responsibility to oversee the safety and oversight of the transportation services. The bill requires the Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing (HCPF) to oversee the safety and oversight of the transportation services. The bill also requires HCPF to collaborate with stakeholders to establish rules and processes for the transportation services.

NFRMPO Analysis: Transportation providers have been left out of much discussion concerning Medicaid Transportation Services, so this bill could be beneficial to transportation providers who transport Medicaid-eligible riders. This also puts Medicaid services under one Department, rather than across multiple.

Sponsors: C. Larson, A. Valdez, D. Moreno, D. Coram

Last Action: 04/27/2021: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services

Upcoming Action: 5/12/2021: Health & Human Services hearing

Web Link: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb21-1206

Other Bills To Watch (Air Quality or Mobility-related)

HB21-1175 Donation To Nonprofit For Traffic Violations

The bill allows a person who has been issued a penalty assessment for or has been convicted of a traffic infraction or traffic misdemeanor to make a donation of money or time to a nonprofit organization in lieu of paying the fine. The amount of fine that may be offset by a donation is limited to $500.

Upcoming Schedule: 05/13/2021: Finance hearing

SB21-099 Sunset License Plate Disability Support Act Sent to the Governor

The bill implements the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies in its sunset review and report on the "Laura Hershey Disability Support Act" by continuing the act for 5 years. This continues the Colorado disability funding committee, which auctions motor vehicle license plate numbers to raise money to aid persons with disabilities in accessing disability benefits.

SB21-161 Voluntary Reduce Greenhouse Gas Natural Gas Utility

Postponed indefinitely

The bill requires the public utilities commission (PUC) to adopt by rule, no later than July 31, 2022, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction programs (reduction programs) for large natural gas utilities (those that have at least 250,000 customer accounts in Colorado) and small natural gas utilities (those that have fewer than 250,000 customer accounts in Colorado). Municipally owned utilities may, but need not, participate in a reduction program. The bill establishes the following GHG emission reduction targets, using a utility's 2019 GHG emissions as a baseline: by January 1, 2025, at least 5%; by January 1, 2030, at least 10%; and on and after January 1, 2035, at least 15%.

GHG emission reductions from the delivery of natural gas to other utilities and transportation sector retail customers are excluded from the reduction programs.

SB21-072 Public Utilities Commission Modernize Electric Transmission Infrastructure

House Committee on Energy & Environment Refer Amended to Appropriations

The bill directs the PUC to approve utilities' applications to build new transmission facilities if the PUC, in its discretion, finds that the new facilities would assist the utilities in meeting the state's clean energy goals established in 2019. Section 1 also requires the PUC to consider the ability of the proposed facilities to support future expansion as needed to enable the utility to participate in a regional transmission organization (RTO). The bill also would create the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority (CETA) as an independent special purpose authority. CETA is authorized to select a qualified transmission operator to finance, plan, acquire, maintain, and operate eligible electric transmission and interconnected storage facilities (eligible facilities).

CETA is granted various powers necessary to accomplish its purposes, including the power to Issue revenue bonds; identify and establish intrastate electric transmission corridors; coordinate with other entities to establish interstate electric transmission corridors; exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire eligible facilities; and collect payments of reasonable rates, fees, interest, or other charges from persons using eligible facilities.

SB21-230 Transfer to Colorado Energy Office Energy Fund

Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

The bill provides a one-time transfer of $40M from the General Fund to the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) for grants to the Colorado Clean Energy Fund and the Colorado new energy improvement district totaling up to $30 million and $3 million, respectively; residential energy upgrade loans up to $2 million; and up to $5 million in additional funding to the Charge Ahead Colorado program administered by the CEO.

HB21-1266 Environmental Justice Disproportionate Impacted Community House Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations

This bill defines "disproportionately impacted community" and requires AQCC to promote outreach to and engage with disproportionately impacted communities by creating new ways to gather input from communities across the state, using multiple languages and multiple formats, and transparently sharing information about adverse effects resulting from its proposed actions. The bill also creates the Environmental Justice Action Task Force in CDPHE, the goal of which is to propose recommendations to the general assembly regarding practical means of addressing environmental justice inequities.

SB21-200 Reduce Greenhouse Gases Increase Environmental Justice Senate Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations

This bill builds on current requirements for AQCC to adopt rules reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, this bill supplements these requirements by directing the AQCC to consider the social cost of GHG emissions; require GHG reductions on a linear or more stringent path; and finalize its implementing rules by March 1, 2022, including specific net emission weight limits for various emission sectors, subject to modification by the AQCC, including through the use of a multi-sector program. The bill would set an "upper limit" on GHG emissions from each sector, including transportation.

Virtual Meeting

419 Canyon Avenue, Suite 300 Fort Collins, Colorado 80521

(970) 800-9560 nfrmpo.org

Weld County Mobility Committee (WCMC)—MINUTES

April 27, 2021 1:34 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

1. Call Meeting to Order, Welcome and Introductions • Abdul Barzak, Town of Severance • Janet Bedingfield, 60+ Ride • Andrew Jones, Arc of Weld County • Lisa Bitzer, Via Mobility Services • Leiton Powell, GET • Steve Teets, WAND

• Brad Taylor, Connections for Ind. Living • Celeste Ewert, Envision • Julie Glover, Adeo • Moira Moon, CDOT • Rachel Bolin, CDOT

NFRMPO staff: Alex Gordon, Cory Schmitt

2. Review of Agenda 3. Public Comment (2 minutes each) 4. Approval of February 23, 2021 Meeting Minutes

Ewert motioned to approve the February 23, 2021 minutes. Powell seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Schmitt announced that the August WCMC meeting will be a joint meeting with the LCMC to discuss the update to the Coordinated Public Transit/Human Services Transportation Plan.

PRESENTATIONS

No items this month.

DISCUSSION ITEMS NFRMPO & One Call/One Click Center Update – Gordon shared an update on the Coordinated Plan, including presentations and conversations with various commissions and stakeholder groups in the region. Gordon summarized a conversation with Barzak about better incorporating transportation availability and needs into land-use planning before residential, commercial, medical, and other developments get underway. Barzak said he would like to see more people involved in the process and get them involved earlier, if possible. Ewert mentioned the strength in the Evans Multimodal Transportation Plan process to engage with residents around transportation and mobility needs. Ewert also suggested meeting with general contractors and developers to ask about transportation access before ground is broken on projects. Bedingfield agreed and added educating people to think about the long term when it comes to transportation access, not just asking older adults to consider it. Powell mentioned GET often receives paratransit applications from people who moved outside of the Greeley Evans Transit service area and can no longer access services.

Schmitt shared the finalized RideNoCo logo and thanked the WCMC for providing input to decide a final design. The website project is kicking off soon with expected completion by the end of July 2021. Schmitt

also shared that the MPO has hired a Mobility Coordinator to support the mobility program and RideNoCo. This individual is a Greeley native and will start near the end of May.

Expansion of Via Mobility Services – Bitzer shared that Via Mobility Services is interested in doing a six-month pilot (6/1-12/31/21) utilizing available FTA §5311 funds for rural transportation in non-urban portions of Larimer and Weld counties, with a pilot service area south of US34. Bedingfield asked if this would be wheelchair accessible or not to which Bitzer said it would be an accessible vehicle. Riders could travel to urban or rural destinations within or outside Weld County but trips would have to originate in rural areas. Members agreed that there is a huge need for wheelchair accessible transportation in Weld County, especially rural areas. WCMC members unanimously motioned to proceed with planning for the pilot. A subsequent meeting between Via, CDOT, NFRMPO, 60+ Ride, and potentially others will follow to iron out details.

Vaccine Transportation – Schmitt shared that RideNoCo has received 25 vaccine related calls, 17 requests for transportation and 13 fulfilled rides; only 3 of those requests have originated in Weld County. Ewert shared that efforts to reach homebound individuals may be mitigating some of the demand for transportation. Bedingfield said that so far 60+ has been able to meet demand and that it seems neighbors and family are really stepping up to help people get vaccinated, thus making demand not as high as originally expected. Taylor mentioned vaccine events organized by Connections for Independent Living. Schmitt mentioned the AAA voucher program for people over the age of 60 and over the age of 18 with a disability and suggested reaching out to Holly Darby to see if already completed rides can be reimbursed. Powell mentioned that GET has partnered with Sunrise Community Health on an as-needed basis to provide transportation to vaccines for individuals within the GET service area.

Executive Committee Elections – Schmitt shared the vision and responsibilities of the Regional Mobility Executive Committee to enhance communication and collaboration between the Larimer County and Weld County Mobility Committees. Schmitt then asked for volunteers to be co-chairs of the WCMC. Bedingfield and Ewert will act as co-chairs for the WCMC. The positions were unanimously affirmed by WCMC members.

GREELEY EVANS TRANSIT NEWS AND UPDATES

Powell stated that GET is hiring a new Transit Manager as Darren Davis is stepping down, effective May 4th. GET is also working on some initiatives related to driver morale and other topics and will have more to share in the coming months.

WCMC MEMBER REPORTS • Gordon provided a link to the Bustang Outrider survey for the upcoming Sterling-Greeley-Denver

Route. Powell shared that the Greeley Transit Center will be the last stop in the morning and first stop in the afternoon, allowing the driver to comfortably hang out between morning and afternoon service. Taylor asked about wheelchair securement spots on the bus and Powell said he believed there would be two. Moon shared the list of stops, including flag stops where people can request drop off.

• Ewert thanked the NFRMPO and CDOT for both the new ADA-van and financial assistance through the Transportation for Vulnerable Populations funds.

• Gordon shared that the pilot Community Advisory Committee received 23 applicants representing

a diverse variety of communities and identities. The goal of the CAC is to better incorporate a broader array of voices into the transportation planning process.

5. Final Public Comment (2 minutes each) 6. Next Month’s Agenda Topic Suggestions

a) Topics for next meeting include inviting Jeff Prillwitz with Bustang Outrider to present about the upcoming Sterling-Greeley-Denver route.

7. Adjourn a) Teets motioned to adjourn the meeting at 2:45 pm. Bedingfield seconded and the next WCMC

meeting will be June 22, 2021.

5/5/2021

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NFRMPO Update

May 6th, 2021

Overview of FRPR

The Project

To reduce pressure on key freight corridors by moving people off congested highways, a passenger service rail linking Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins to Denver—a 173-mile corridor—is currently being planned. The project will be the transportation "spine" along the Front Range, with other multimodal systems east and west of the I-25 corridor integrated into Front Range Passenger Rail.

The People

The Front Range Passenger Rail project consists of a “blended team” led by the Rail Commission and CDOT. The team includes a range of specialized professionals with decades of experience in transportation and on Front Range projects.

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Status and Accomplishments

Where We’ve Been

✔Vision

✔Environmental review

✔Pre-NEPA ridership modeling

✔Conceptual cost estimating

✔Alternatives speed profiles and travel time

✔Conceptual design plans, standards & criteria

✔Preliminary alternatives analysis

✔Funding and Finance analysis

✔Governance analysis

✔Stakeholder coalitions engagement

✔Public engagement via website, surveys and online meetings

180 miles, double trackThree technically feasible alignments

● Stations: Nine with option for secondary stations● Round trips: 24 weekdays/ 18 weekends● Ridership: Up to 2.2m per year (2045)● Max Speeds: 90-110 mph● Travel time: 2.5-3 hours (end to end)● Conceptual Costs:

○ Capital: $7.8-$14.2B○ Operating: $135-$172M/per year

FRPR: Long Range Vision (2045)

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● I-25/E-470 alignment (purple) is six miles east of city centers.

○ Would leverage planned mobility hubs and reduces noise, vibration, and other impacts to established communities.

● Northern communities have a commuter rail vision serving city centers along the freight alignment from Fort Collins to Longmont (in yellow and teal).

● Intraregional travel supports commuter rail operations and higher ridership

North Segment: Longmont to Fort Collins

Evaluation encompassed full corridor from Pueblo to Fort Collins. Upon defining its scale, the Commission now focuses on early implementation strategies:

Implementation recommended: Identify viability of interoperating with railroads on freight alignment

Why phased approach? ● Implement passenger rail quickly and efficiently ● Build on existing rail to develop a network● Build culture of passenger rail and build ridership

Learned experience from other successful systems:● Washington, Utah, Oregon

Where We Are - Commission Recommendations

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● Rail Simulation Modeling and Preliminary Service Development Planning (in Partnership with RTD)

● Goal is to define viable system and demonstrate NEPA readiness

Rail Commission 2021-22 Work Plan

● Continue program outreach and collaboration (RTD, BNSF, Amtrak, FRA)

● SB 21-238

● Short and long term funding

Studies’ Similarities

● Improve Mobility, Provide Mode choice, Econ Development, Reliable Trip

● Alignment/ Right of Way

● Longmont, Boulder, Denver

● Engineering

● Environmental Context

Previewing FRPR & NW Rail (RTD) Peak Service: Initial

Technical Comparisons

Critical Questions for Studies

● Operator?

● Technology?

● Train Schedule?

● Stations?

● Maintenance Yards?

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Framework for Advancing to Next Steps

Policy Program Project

• Governance Options

• Funding & Finance Options

• Alternatives Analysis

• Inclusion in Local, Regional and State Plans

• Advance to NEPA

● Powers: Finance, Design, Construct, Operate, Maintain Passenger Rail● District Boundaries & Representation● Would repeal Rail Commission by May 2022 and transfer its remaining funds by

February 2022● Timing/Next Steps:

○ Passed out of Committee (4/27)

SB 21-238: Rail District Creation

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● All of the city and county of Broomfield and the city and

county of Denver;

● All areas within Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Douglas, El

Paso, Huerfano, Jefferson, Larimer, Las Animas, Pueblo,

and Weld counties that are located within the territory of a

metropolitan planning organization (MPO);

● All areas within Huerfano, Las Animas, and Pueblo

counties that are not located within the territory of a MPO

and are located within a county precinct that is located

wholly or partly within 5 miles of the public right-of-way of

interstate highway 25; and

● All areas within Larimer and Weld counties that are not

located within the territory of a MPO and are located within

a county precinct that is north of the city of Fort Collins

and is located wholly or partly within 5 miles of the public

right-of-way of interstate highway 25

SB 21-238: Boundaries

● 6 Governor’s Appointees○ 1 - Representative for Organized Labor ○ 1 - Representative for Conservation Organization with Transit Oriented Land Use

Development● 8 MPO/COG Representatives (Senate Confirmed)

○ 3 - MPOs representing more than 1.5m residents (DRCOG)○ 2 - MPOs representing more than 750,000 residents (PPACG)○ 1 - NFRMPO○ 1 - PACOG○ 1 - South Central COG

● 1 Director Appointed by CDOT Executive Director● Non-Voting Members

○ BNSF Railway○ Union Pacific○ Amtrak○ RTD○ Wyoming○ New Mexico

SB 21-238: Board Composition

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5/5/2021

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● Subject to the approval of the voters of the district and other specified limitations, to levy a sales

and use tax and to exercise specified taxing authority common to special districts within the district

and to issue bonds;

● Subject to the approval of the owners of property within a 2-mile radius of any existing or proposed

passenger rail station, to create a station area improvement district with the authority to levy

additional sales and use tax, special assessments on real property, or both, to cover the costs of

construction, operation, and maintenance of the station;

● To enter into public-private partnerships; and

● To employ its own personnel or contract with public or private entities, or both, for the operation and

maintenance of the system.

SB 21-238: Powers

● Passed out of Senate Transportation and Energy Committee (4/27)● Appropriations Committee next

SB 21-238: Next Steps

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Thank you! Ways to Learn More

-Project Websitehttps://www.frontrangepassengerrail.com/

-FAQs

-Follow up meeting with your organization

Please contact:Spencer Dodge, Rail Commission Liaisonspencer.dodge@state.co.us

David Singer, Passenger Rail Program Managerdavid.singer@state.co.us

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REVISED RESOLUTION NO. 2021-10

OF THE NORTH FRONT RANGE TRANSPORTATION & AIR QUALITY PLANNING COUNCIL ADOPTING THE CONFORMITY DETERMINATION FOR THE NFRMPO FY2022-2025 TRANSPORTATION

IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP), NFRMPO 2045 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN (RTP), NORTHERN SUBAREA OF THE UPPER FRONT RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING REGION (UFR TPR) 2045 RTP,

AND NORTHERN SUBAREA OF THE COLORADO FY2022-2025 STATEWIDE TIP (STIP)

WHEREAS, 23 CFR §450 requires the development of a fiscally constrained Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) through a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive (“3C”) multimodal transportation planning process; and

WHEREAS, the Planning Council as the MPO is the agency responsible for developing and amending the RTP and TIP; and

WHEREAS, a portion of the City of Fort Collins is currently designated as a maintenance area for carbon monoxide (CO) for which the Planning Council performs conformity determinations; and

WHEREAS, the Planning Council through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) (2008) has agreed to perform ozone conformity determinations for the Northern Subarea of the Denver Metro-North Front Range 8-hour ozone nonattainment area which includes the North Front Range metropolitan planning area and portions of Larimer and Weld counties outside the NFRMPO boundary, but are contained within the Upper Front Range Transportation Planning Region (UFR TPR); and

WHEREAS, Section 93.122(g) of the conformity rule allows conformity determinations to rely on previous regional emissions analyses if all regionally significant projects were included in the previous analysis; and

WHEREAS, the FY2022-2025 TIP retains the regionally significant projects programmed in FY2022 and FY2023 from the FY2020-2023 TIP and does not add any new regionally significant projects; and

WHEREAS, the UFR TPR 2045 RTP and Colorado FY2022-2025 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) retain the regionally significant projects for the Northern Subarea from the UFR TPR 2040 RTP and FY2020-2023 STIP and do not add any new regionally significant projects for the Northern Subarea; and

WHEREAS, the previous regional emissions analysis conducted on the NFRMPO’s fiscally constrained FY2020-2023 TIP and 2045 RTP, along with the UFR TPR 2040 RTP and FY2020-2023 STIP, using the 2045 planning assumptions were within the federally approved emissions budgets; and

WHEREAS, the Planning Council received no public comment opposing the finding of conformity during the public comment period or during the public hearing.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the North Front Range Transportation & Air Quality Planning Council determines the FY2022-2025 TIP, the 2045 RTP, the Northern Subarea of the Upper Front Range 2045 RTP, and the Northern Subarea of the Colorado FY2022-2025 STIP conform to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) demonstrating positive air quality conformity determinations and redeterminations.

Passed and adopted at the regular meeting of the North Front Range Transportation & Air Quality Planning Council held this 6th day of May 2021.

___________________________

William Karspeck, Vice Chair ATTEST:

_________________________________

Suzette Mallette, Executive Director

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FOURTH AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Fourth Amendment to Employment Agreement (the "Fourth Amendment") is made and entered into this 6th day of May, 2021, (the "Effective Date"), by and between the NORTH FRONT RANGE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (the "MPO"), acting by and through its governing body, the NORTH FRONT RANGE TRANSPORTATION AND AIR QUALITY PLANNING COUNCIL (the "Council") and Suzette Mallette ("Employee").

WHEREAS, Employee and the MPO entered into an Employment Agreement, dated May 29, 2018 (the "Employment Agreement");

WHEREAS, Employee and the MPO entered into a First Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 2019 (“First Amendment”);

WHEREAS, Employee and the MPO entered into a Second Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated January 9, 2020 (“Second Amendment”);

WHEREAS, Employee and the MPO entered into a Third Amendment to the Employment Agreement, dated January 7, 2021;

WHEREAS, the Parties expressly recognize and acknowledge that the term of the First Amendment has expired and the First Amendment is no longer in effect;

WHEREAS, the Parties also expressly recognize that the Third Amendment mistakenly asserted that the Second Amendment had expired, when it had not, and the Parties now wish to ensure that the Second Amendment is still a valid amendment to the Employment Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Employment Agreement is due to expire on June 3, 2021 and the Parties wish to allow for extension of the Employment Agreement, as amended by the Second Amendment, for additional one year terms.

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the receipt and sufficient of which is hereby acknowledged, the MPO and Employee agree as follows:

1. The Third Amendment is declared null and void and the Second Amendment shall continue to be a valid amendment to the Employment Agreement as if the Third Amendment had not been approved.

2. Article II of the Employment Agreement is amended to read as follows:

The term of this Agreement shall commence on June 4, 2018 and shall continue for three (3) years subject to annual performance reviews and evaluations of the Employee by Council. After this initial three year term, the Agreement is renewable for additional one year terms upon mutual agreement of Employee and the Council. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with the right of the Council to remove Employee from the position of Executive Director and terminate her employment under this Agreement at any time, with or without cause. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent, limit or otherwise interfere

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with the right of Employee to resign at any time from her position as Executive Director.

3. All terms of the Employment Agreement, as modified by the Second Amendment, shall remain in effect and not considered modified by this Fourth Amendment.

NORTH FRONT RANGE METROPOLITAN

PLANNING ORGANIZATION _____________________________________ William Karspeck, Vice Chair

ATTEST:

______________________________

EMPLOYEE

_______________________________________ Suzette Mallette