transportation policy

A bill just cleared the Colorado Senate that formalizes language for localities that want to let people on bikes treat stops signs as yields.

Common sense prevails over attempt to outlaw speed cameras and red light cameras.

The measures would raise the state sales tax, with 40 percent of revenue reserved for cities and counties, and 15 percent for transit, biking, and walking.

Funding for sustainable transportation and safety measures are on the table.

"Good Roads bring the autos — the more autos, the more money for good roads."

RTD is one of the few transit agencies in the country with a publicly elected Board of Directors making policy decisions, but it doesn't show the public how it operates. That will change in the first half of 2018, when the agency will start broadcasting Board meetings live online and post video, transcripts, and audio recordings.

The Denver City Council voted 10 to 3 Monday to approve Mayor Michael Hancock's 2018 budget. Among the initiatives covered in the spending plan are 29 full-time employees to get a fledgling stand-alone transportation department up and running; $33 million for walking, biking, and transit improvements; and $75 million for standard street maintenance and paving.

It's been nearly four months since Mayor Michael Hancock announced his plan to break transportation out of Denver Public Works. The move could have profound effects on the pace and scope of change to city streets, which is necessary to prioritize walking, biking, and transit and move the needle on car dependence.

This committee is a way to shape transportation policy from the inside and watchdog a process that will create new policies, programs, and funding streams to reach the administration's stated goals.