April 2, 2021
Dear Honorable Members of the Colorado State House and Senate,
We are writing on behalf of the Denver Streets Partnership (DSP) to express our support for H.B. 21-1186 regarding the Regional Transportation District’s operations. The DSP is a coalition of community organizations advocating for people-friendly streets in Denver. On people-friendly streets, walking, rolling, biking, and transit are the first choices of transportation for all people. Streets for people are living, public spaces that connect us to jobs, schools, services and each other, and are designed to foster health, happiness, and opportunity for all.
We are glad to see the legislative recommendations from the RTD Accountability Committee moving forward by way of this bill. RTD has been hamstrung by state statute for too long and it is time they have flexibility that will allow them to succeed.
The DSP is particularly excited to see elimination of the farebox recovery ratio as that will give RTD the flexibility to lower fares, and even offer free service, to increase ridership. Right now RTD has some of the highest fares in the country. Having the ability to readjust the fare structure would go a long way in serving low income residents who rely on RTD’s service the most. Additionally, we strongly support the recommendations which will make it easier for RTD to encourage more equitable transit oriented development and charge for parking. Land use and transportation are so inextricably linked and this provision is a critical step towards ensuring our land use decisions support higher ridership potential for RTD.
We encourage you to support H.B. 21-1186 and any amendments that reflect agreement on technical changes between RTD and Amalgamated Transit Union so that RTD has the opportunity to grow and better serve its ridership. We welcome a dialogue if you would like to discuss this issue further.
Sincerely,
Jill Locantore
Executive Director
Denver Streets Partnership
Molly McKinley
Vice Chair, Denver Streets Partnership Policy and Advocacy Manager, Bicycle Colorado
Jaime Lewis
Transit Advisor
Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition
Donna Garnett
Executive Director
Montbello Organizing Committee
Adam Estroff
Board President
YIMBY Denver
Dan Shah
Executive Director
West Colfax Business Improvement District
Hilarie Portell
Transportation/Mobility Chair
All In Denver