§ 43-1-131 — Transportation planning study - report - rules

(1) On or before
November 30, 2023, the department shall complete a study and study report of the
boundaries of the transportation planning regions, as defined in section 43-1-1102
(8), the membership of the transportation advisory committee created in section
43-1-1104 (1)(a) and the special interim transit and rail advisory committee
appointed pursuant to section 43-1-1104 (1)(b), and the consistency and
transparency of the transportation planning process across the transportation
planning regions. In conducting the study, the department shall provide opportunity
for public comment throughout the state and consider input from stakeholders
throughout the state. On or before November 30, 2023, the department shall
submit the study report to the commission and to the transportation legislation
review committee created in section 43-2-145 (1)(a) or, if the committee has held its
last 2023 meeting before the study report is completed, to the house of
representatives transportation, housing, and local government committee and the
senate transportation and energy committee, or their successor committees. The
study must include consideration of:

(a) The membership of the special interim transit and rail advisory committee
and its representation on the transportation advisory committee;

(b) The transparency of the transportation planning process in each
transportation planning region and the consistency of the transportation planning
process across the transportation planning regions; and

(c) The boundaries of transportation planning regions considering factors
related to:

(I) Highway and transit corridors and transit district boundaries;

(II) Disproportionately impacted communities, as defined in section 43-4-1202 (5);

(III) Vehicle miles traveled, truck vehicle miles traveled, transit vehicle
revenue miles, and lane miles;

(IV) Population trends;

(V) Safety and management considerations;

(VI) Commuting, commercial traffic, freight movement, tourism impacts, and
other travel patterns;

(VII) Transit-oriented development and access to affordable housing;

(VIII) Levels of air pollutants, as defined in section 25-7-103 (1.5), including
criteria pollutants, as defined in section 43-1-128 (2)(b), and greenhouse gas
pollutants, as defined in section 43-1-128 (2)(d); and

(IX) Communities of interest.

(2) The department shall not include any recommendation in the study report
that, if adopted, would reduce the number of rural transportation planning regions,
which shall be maintained at the maximum number specified in section 43-1-1102
(8).

(3) Following completion of the study, with consideration of the findings of
the study, and before June 1, 2024, the commission shall initiate updates to its rules
concerning the statewide transportation planning process and transportation
planning regions, 2 CCR 601-22.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (HB 23-1101), ch. 132, p. 507, � 3, effective April 28.