Transit Reform

The bill makes the following changes for the purpose of improving the performance of the regional transportation district (RTD):

• Authorizes RTD to enter into a service partnership agreement with a local government, institution of higher education, or other entity to expand services within RTD's service territory ( section 2 of the bill);
• Requires RTD, in discharging its responsibilities, to ( section 3 ):
• Align with statewide greenhouse gas reduction targets, "Transportation Vision 2035" goals, and mode choice targets as will be developed according to Senate Bill 25-030, if enacted;
• Create worker retention goals;
• Adhere to the requirements of "General Directive 24-1: Required Actions Regarding Assaults on Transit Workers", issued on September 25, 2024, by the federal transit administration of the United States department of transportation; and
• Develop performance measures to evaluate its progress in aligning with state climate goals and achieving its worker retention goals;
• Requires RTD to create a 10-year strategic plan no later than April 10, 2026, and a comprehensive operational analysis no less frequently than every 5 years beginning in 2026, and to report quarterly to the RTD board of directors regarding the plan and analysis ( section 4 );
• Requires RTD, in conjunction with the creation of its 10-year strategic plan, to study or contract with a third party to study and identify opportunities to increase funding to achieve the goals, measures, and targets identified in the 10-year strategic plan ( section 4 );
• Requires RTD to create, maintain, and publish on its website information and dashboards related to capital projects, ridership and service information, planned service changes, workforce statistics, and transit safety ( section 4 );
• Requires RTD to update its service policies and standards, its equitable transit-oriented development policy, and its service buy-up policy, to create specific communication protocols, and to implement parking and transportation demand management strategies and policies ( section 4 );
• Requires RTD to periodically notify the Denver regional council of governments (DRCOG) and the department of local affairs of any known infrastructure gaps that exist within specific areas of a transit-oriented community within RTD's service territory ( section 4 );
• Requires RTD to modernize and advertise its EcoPass and low-income fare discount programs ( section 4 );
• Adds 2 nonvoting ex officio members to the RTD board of directors (RTD board), to be appointed by the executive director of the department of transportation and by DRCOG ( sections 6 and 8 ); and
• Prohibits write-in candidates for the RTD board ( section 7 ).

The bill also requires other entities to analyze opportunities for the improvement of transit services by:

• Requiring the transportation commission to develop and publish best practices and technical assistance materials concerning the creation of regional transportation authorities to increase funding for transit and to provide additional transit services within the state ( section 5 ); and
• Creating an RTD accountability committee within the Colorado energy office that consists of 13 appointed members. On or before January 30, 2026, the commission is required to provide recommendations to the transportation committees of the general assembly concerning the governance structure and compensation of the RTD board and executive leadership, the representation of local governments and state agencies within RTD, and RTD's workforce retention ( section 9 ).
  (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)