To improve air quality, Colorado Democrats are poised to fund a free public transit program. RTD’s past suggests it won’t help much
Broomfield LCC, July 8th 2022
Marc Ambrosi reported that the Midway Boulevard has had a project going for about a year and they’ll be sharing their proposals soon on https://www.broomfieldvoice.com/midwayplan
Sarah Grant reported that route 128 service will likely not be returning to Broomfield and Westminster. Conversation shifted to implementing resources on Flex Ride. RTD Flex ride free fare summer in Broomfield is going really well. Ridership is 3-times what is was in 2019 pre-pandemic. There is a google form on the Broomfield website asking for feedback on transportation needs of community members.
John Hubbard reported that Broomfield Bikes arranged a free bike repair event last month and it was very successful. The article covering that event can be found here: https://www.broomfieldleader.com/local-news/broomfield-bikes-free-repair-events-draw-large-crowds-5539820. This event showed the clear need and desire for events like this and they hope to do another one soon.
National Night Out is Tuesday, August 2nd at Broomfield County Commons and members of Broomfield LCC will be there promoting transit opportunities.
DRMAC attended the Summit organized by The Denver Community Active Living Coalition (CALC) and The Denver Streets Partnership. It featured 3 Mobile tours options of: Montbello Transit Tour, Sun Valley Biking and Rolling Tour and Downtown Denver Walking and Rolling Tour.
Keynote speakers were Elena Madison, Director of Project for Public Spaces and Nancy Young, Director of On Ramps Program, Fountain House. Keynote speakers presented on how both of their organizations are working with people in communities in New York especially those who are homeless in public spaces.
The last leg of the summit was a panel discussion with Carleigh Sailon of Star Operations Manager with Denver County, Kayleigh Gates, Community Resource Outreach Administrator of The Denver Public Library, Debra Johnson CEO and General Manager of RTD Denver and Lisa Raville, Executive Director of Harm Reduction Action Center. The moderator Molly McKinley, Policy Director of Denver Streets Partnership asked questions about how each panelist was addressing the needs of the community especially those who are unhoused and struggling with drug abuse.
Jefferson County Subregional Forum Meeting, June 15th, 2022
DRCOG FY2022 – 2025 TIP Support Requests- Arapahoe County Forum: Countywide Transit Study
DRCOG FY2022 – 2025 TIP Project Submittals by Jefferson County Subregion Members- Golden: Colfax Complete Streets, $6.5 million, Golden: Downtown Traffic Signal Upgrade, $1.5 million, Jeffco: Bike Plan Signage/Striping Implementation, $1.25 million, Lakewood: Wadsworth/Morrison Intersection, TBD, Wheat Ridge: Wadsworth Sidewalk – 32nd to 35th Avenues, $7 million, and Wheat Ridge: 32nd Avenue Bike Lanes, $1 million.
July 13th JEFFTAAG/Jeffco Forum Combined Meeting
ADRC Advisory Council, May 17, 2022
Sasha Story – NYMBL Science – sasha@nymblescience.com – free balance training app. Can help older adults download the app, use email if do not have a smart phone. NYMBL is a great program, they have 14,002 people signed up, do not need internet, people in rural communities can access
- Rich Mauro – Director of Legislative Services – Legislative updates. Bills related to sunsetting of SAPGA (Strategic Planning Action Group on Aging – created by HG 15-1033) -institutionalizing it with HB 1035 – Modernization of the Older Coloradoans Act. 2 Representatives from each Congressional District. Will resemble SAPGA’s membership. Puts in statute – they are to be leaders in advocating for older adults and to implement the Strategic Action Plan on Aging. Establishes lifelong Colorado program, focused on older adults, directs department to create a technical advisor group to work on collaboration and cooperation among State offices.
o HB 79 – Alzheimer’s Association sponsored – establishes certain requirements for dementia training.
o SB 185- last year was SB 290 that created an AAA (Area Agencies on Aging) grant for various AAAs (Area Agencies on Aging) around the State, extends that program indefinitely & expands it to other entities. Still need to fund.
o SB 89 – geriatric provider pipeline – initiated out of UC Anschutz – introduced too late to qualify for funding, will sponsor next year. Extends loan forgiveness program for geriatric training specialty. Train the trainers program
o SB 154 – deals with safety in assisted living residences. It became quite a fight with the industry who strongly opposed the bill. Establishes appeal process in evictions (involuntary discharges) that does not exist now, stabilizes criteria for administrators that are currently not licensed, a requirement for new hires of at least 1 year of experience in direct care, now required for everyone.
AAA Business Overview
- Jayla met with the U.S Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMHSA).
- We Received notice that DRCOG will receive approximately $322K from ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Public Health Workforce funds.
- This is the year of the Area Plan on Aging. This is a big project which requires doing a regional Community Assessment Survey of Older Adults, a gap analysis of services, community
One theme was the investment of millions of dollars into important solutions.
Transit – $28 million was dedicated to at least a month of fare-free transit during summer ozone season at RTD and other transit agencies around the state.
Eliminating transit fares can increase transit ridership, which is an important long-term strategy to reduce air pollution. A recent “Free Fare February” pilot undertaken by the Utah Transit Authority saw ridership increase 17% during weekdays, 58% on Saturdays and 33% on Sundays during the course of the program.
A month of fare-free transit is not enough to solve our ozone problems but eliminating fares will recruit a lot more people to ride transit and build momentum for the bigger investments we need to significantly increase and improve transit service.
SB22-180 also invested $30 million in Colorado’s statewide bus system, Bustang. Launched in 2015, Bustang’s ridership significantly grew from 102,503 annual riders in its first year to 238,302 annual riders in its fourth year.
$30 million is enough to take Bustang routes that have a few buses a day and expand them so they come hourly. That kind of service will increase clean travel options along I-25 and I-70, some of our busiest corridors.
https://copirg.org/blogs/blog/cop/big-wins-lots-wins-and-more-wins-2022-colorado-legislative-session
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