Legislation to Expand and Improve Public Transit Options Signed Into Law
DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed two bills to improve public transit and increase transportation options: SB25-161 to improve the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and SB25-030 to encourage alternative modes of transportation.
SB25-161, sponsored by Senators Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, and Representatives William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield, and Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, would require RTD to adopt new policies to enhance services, boost ridership, and rebuild public trust in the transit system.
“Colorado deserves a world-class public transit system that is convenient, safe, and reliable,” said Winter, sponsor of SB25-161 and SB25-030. “As Colorado grows, we must be intentional about growing sustainably, keeping services affordable, and making sure that Coloradans can access transit where they live and work. This new law will help unlock the potential of RTD to deliver fast, frequent, dependable public transportation.”
“Coloradans deserve safe, affordable and reliable transportation options,” said Lindstedt, sponsor of SB25-161 and SB25-030. “Colorado’s population has dramatically grown in the past decade, especially in the Front Range, and we must take a strategic approach to build up transit that serves the needs of our communities. I’m proud to have sponsored these new laws that identify funding gaps, create important new accountability, and help improve mass transit ridership.”
“Thousands of Coloradans rely on public transit every day to get to work and school, attend essential appointments, and see their loved ones,” said Jodeh, sponsor of SB25-161. “For many, unreliable service can mean losing a paycheck or even their job. This law is about restoring trust in our transit system and ensuring all Coloradans, including my constituents in Aurora, get the safe, efficient transit they need.”
“Transit is a key piece of the puzzle that can help Colorado meet our housing and climate goals, and reliable transit saves Coloradans money,” said Froelich, sponsor of SB25-161 and SB25-030. “Colorado Democrats have made major strides to improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions and provide quality transit systems. These laws will help ease traffic by increasing ridership, reliability, and safety on mass transit so we can get more single-occupancy vehicles off the roads and safely get Coloradans where they need to go.”
SB25-161 will require RTD to develop an ambitious 10-year strategic plan to expand and improve transit in the Front Range, aligning its goals with state climate goals and enhancing partnerships with local governments.
The new law will improve transparency and accountability by creating public dashboards for riders to access information on transit performance, safety, and reliability. Finally, the law will establish an RTD Accountability Committee with fourteen voting members and one ex-officio nonvoting member to evaluate RTD’s governance structure, local and state agency representation, workforce retention, paratransit services, and opportunities for transit expansion, as well as make recommendations to the General Assembly.
Governor Polis also signed SB25-030 into law, sponsored by Froelich, Lindstedt, and Winter, in addition to Senator Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo. SB25-030 will increase transportation options, making sustainable transportation more accessible, convenient, and reliable. This law will allow the Colorado Department of Transportation and local governments to more efficiently identify gaps in transit, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure in state and regional transportation systems.
“This law is a practical, long-term solution to a host of different issues – from traffic congestion to climate change,” said Hinrichsen, sponsor of SB25-030. “We all love shorter commute times and more options to get to school, work, and community spaces. Senate Bill 30 will help give us a clear, practical path to make sure the state’s transit agencies are partners in achieving that goal.”