The bill in support of the Southwest Chief is now in the Colorado Senate

Senate Transportation Committee Meeting
Tuesday, April 1 at 2 pm
Colorado State Capitol, Rm 352
200 E. Colfax
Denver
Bus: 15, 15L, 16
Within walking distance of Civic Center Station

Tomorrow the Colorado Senate will discuss HB 14-1161, the bill to fund repairs and improvements to the Southwest Chief. I am not sure if voters will be able to give testimony, but having lots of people there increases the odds that the bill will pass.

Another photo of the California Zephyr returning to Denver Union Station

The California Zephyr changes crews in Denver.

RTD's Citizens Advisory Committee has its first public meeting of 2014

FasTracks Citizens Advisory Committee
Wednesday, March 19, 6-8 pm
Arvada City Council Chambers
Arvada City Hall
8101 Ralston Road
Bus: 52, 72 (You may need to leave early if you take the 72 eastbound home.)

The public get updates about the construction of the Gold Line from the Eagle P3 information officer and information about the Olde Town Arvada Station project from the builders, Trammell Crow Co.

March RTD Board Meeting

Tuesday, March 25 at 5:30 pm
RTD Administrative Offices
1600 Blake Street
Denver
Bus: Still almost all that go downtown

The bill to fund and improve the Southwest Chief is out of the appropriations committee

And now it has passed the House by 44 to 20.

HB 1161, Preseve and Expand Amtrak Service, passed the House Appropriations by 11 to 1 this week. This bill would fund repairs to the tracks while creating a new stop in Pueblo. Thanks to Rep. Leroy Garcia for getting this done.

Petition to Save and Improve the Southwest Chief

Sal Pace, a Pueblo County Commissioner, has created a petition to the Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and to the Colorado Legislature to ask for funding to add Pueblo to the route of the Southwest Chief along with funding to fix the tracks.

Petition to Fund Improvements to the Southwest Chief

I encourage everybody to sign.

Colorado Rail Passenger Association Meeting Focuses on the Southwest Chief

Saturday, March 8 at 9 am
History Colorado
Martin Room
1200 Broadway
Denver
Bus: 0, 6, 16, 19, 83

Doors open at 8:30 and the meeting starts at 9:00 am. Right after opening remarks, Rep. Leroy Garcia and Pueblo County Commissioner Sal Pace will give a legislative report. Then there will be a forum with industry representatives. The meeting will end by 11:30.

Could Boulder Give an EcoPass to All Residents?

It looks like the answer is yes. Residents, businesses, and government entities are already paying most of the cost of such a program. We may just need to use our money more efficiently.

Of course, the more people we cover, the more we will have to pay. But the more people we cover, the greater the increase in people who take the bus, the fewer car trips and car pollution, the more people who are able travel to leave their homes for work, school, or just to go out. Currently, the median household in Boulder County spends 47% of their income on housing plus transportation with people who live outside of the City of Boulder spending more than people who live in Boulder itself.

That means that it would not cost that much and not require a lot more service to give everyone in the City of Boulder an EcoPass, but many of the people who need more service and cheaper service live in the smaller cities and in incorporated Boulder County. Personally, I think we could get the biggest bump by giving EcoPasses to people in Layafette. There are lots of people there who already take the bus, but who also live in households with cars because the bus does not go everywhere in a timely manner. Lots of residents of Longmont are almost prisoners in their homes because they can't afford to go anywhere other than work and the grocery store.

This program would prepay for predicted demand. That means more buses would come into service on the same day that the EcoPasses become valid.

There are PDF's online that you can read if you would like more information.

Community Wide EcoPass FAQ

EcoPass Feasibility Study

California Zephyr is back at Union Station.

Amtrak is officially back at Union Station, and Robert Brewster of Colorail was kind enough to take a picture of the staff taking care of that first train which arrived yesterday evening. I should have a new post soon on the mechanics of getting to and from local buses and light rail. Construction in the area will continue to be an issue for people taking the train until at least May. I will also research taking Amtrak's buses.