Colorado Senate committee advances Bill 176

by Rob Rynerson

By a vote of 5 to 2, the Local Government Affairs Committee of the Colorado Senate approved Senate Bill 176, a first step in advancing a State Assembly measure which sets up policies and financing for the Centennial State's share of improvements to the 'Southwest Chief' route through Southeastern Colorado. The Tuesday afternoon approval vote was bipartisan.

Senator Larry Crowder (R), a committee member and sponsor of the bill was joined in presenting it by Senator Leroy Garcia (D).

Members voting to advance the bill: Larry Crowder (R), John Kefalas (D), Kerry Donovan (D), Lucia Guzman (D), Beth Martinez Huminek (R).

Members voting against the bill: David Balmer (R), Vicki Marble (R).

Members who supported the bill generally shared ColoRail's view that the 'Southwest Chief' offers a unique service in an area of the state that is struggling economically and that with a reroute to serve
Pueblo, it is a building block toward Front Range service.

Senator Marble, who chaired the meeting, expressed during a break that her Northern Colorado constituents want money spent on highway improvements first.

Senator Balmer, representing part of Arapahoe County, was concerned about national issues and asked questions about the feasibility of defunding Amtrak completely.

FasTracks and Ski Train - Where do we stand?

Colorado Rail Passenger Association Winter Meeting

Saturday, February 29, 9am to noon

Denver Union Station, downstairs conference room

This is to the south of bus box on the other side of the Amtrak trains.

Buses: 0, 6, 20, B, L, AF (The list of routes is incomplete on Google Maps.)

Light rail lines E and W are a five to ten minute walk away.

Draft Agenda

9:00 am -- Meeting convenes
Fighting to Achieve ColoRail’s Goals -- Jim Souby, ColoRail president
Amtrak and the New Congress -- Invited: Joe McHugh, Vice President, Amtrak by video conference
Fast Tracks: Four Major New Lines Will Open in 2016 Including the Airport Train -- Richard Clarke, RTD Ass’t General Manager, Capital Projects
How the Millennials Will Revitalize Our Transportation System: More Bicycles, Buses, Cars to Go, and Trains Are In Our Future! -- Sylvia Brady, Jack Wheeler
12:00 pm   Adjourn

1-70 Conversation on Tuesday

Community discussion on the proposed I-70 project
Hosted by Councilwomen Ortega and Montero
Tuesday, February 24, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Bruce Randolph Middle School
3955 Steele Street
Denver
Bus: 24, 44

Rather than spending money to widen more roads, producing more pollution, and destroying more communities, we should spend this money keeping RTD fares low. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_27547776/poor-homless-sound-off-rtd-fares

Police Presence along the W line

Cops, Council and Community

Tuesday, February 17, 6:30 to 8:30

Clements Center, downstairs

1580 Yarrow

Lakewood

Bus: 16, 16L, 26, 28, 76

Representatives from Lakewood's police department will present crime statistics along the W line and discuss procedures when people don't have their fares.