Press Release- Jul 10, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
TRANSPORTATION PANEL MEETS IN PUEBLO
Gov. Bill Ritter's blue ribbon transportation panel will meet in Pueblo on Thursday, the group's first meeting in southern Colorado since convening earlier this year.
The meeting is scheduled for 9 to 4 p.m. at the Marriott Convention Center, 320 Central Main St. It will include regional presentations from southern Colorado transportation experts, including Action 22, the Pueblo Area Council of Governments, Southeast Transportation Planning Region and the South Central Transportation Planning Region.
Gov. Ritter tasked the 30-member Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel to explore the state¿s transportation revenue challenges. The state's primary revenue sources are declining while demand and the cost of construction and maintenance are rising. Final recommendations are due to the Governor by the end of the year.
The panel met on June 29 in Meeker and discussed Western Slope transportation issues. Following Thursday's meeting in Pueblo, the next meeting is scheduled for July 31 in Akron.
Click here for more details about the transportation panel and its technical advisory committee.
Here is the agenda for Thursday's meeting:
8:30 a.m.
Coffee & Pastries with local elected officials and public
9:00 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Co-Chairs Doug Aden, Cary Kennedy and Bob Tointon
9:15 a.m.
Transportation Panel Overview and Challenges
Russ George, CDOT Executive Director
Carla Perez, Governor Ritter's Office
9:35 a.m.
Topic: Regional Presentations
(Presentations to include transportation vision, needs, issues, infrastructure and mobility concerns for each entity; 10 minutes for each presenter.)
- Action 22 - Matt Heimerich, Action 22 Chairman
- Pueblo Area Council of Governments (PACOG) - Bill Moore
- Southeast Transportation Planning Region - Dan Tate, Exec. Director of Southeast Colorado Enterprise CO
- South Central Transportation Planning Region - Priscilla "Pete" Fraser, South Central COG>
- Q&A
Break
10:45 a.m.
Topic: Regional Presentations Continued
- CDOT Region 2 Presentation - Tim Harris, Region 2 Director
Public Comment Period
(There will be a signup sheet at the door. Each speaker will be limited to 3 minutes.)
11:30 a.m.
Keypad Polling Exercise
Peter Kenney - Civic Results
Noon
Lunch
12:45 p.m.
Topic: Discussion Items
Discussion Item B
Does the Panel believe that a flexible funding source should be pursued that can be applied to any type of modal investment or should modal specific funding sources and/or corridor specific sources be pursued?
- Transit Overview - Jennifer Finch, CDOT Division of Transportation Development
- What should the state's role in transit be - grant administrator, operator or other?
- Should transit receive a fixed percentage of any new funding source identified?
Discussion Item C
How can we engage in a collaborative decision making process to invest in the type of improvements we need rather than limiting ourselves to the projects we have money for?
- What is the position of the Panel on increasing or reducing the size of the state transportation system? Do we want more money to increase the size of the state transportation systems or to invest more money into the system that already exists?
- Should the responsibility for maintenance, operation, and improvement of portions of the current State Highway System which serve local and regional transportation needs be returned to local and regional government?
Discussion Item D
Can the Panel confirm that current Transportation funding is being spent appropriately, or is more information needed to reach that consensus? Is there consensus that the planning process has identified actual needs (versus being a wish list)?
4:00 p.m.
Wrap up and Close
Next Meeting:
July 31, 2007
8:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Washington County Event Center, Akron, Colorado