For more information please contact Stephanie Thomas, Colorado Environmental Coalition, (303) 405-6710

Please Support SB 108

FASTER

(Sen. Gibbs, Rep. Rice)

Colorado must develop a long-term, sustainable transportation solution that addresses congestion, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and empowers local governments to raise the funds necessary to repair critical infrastructure. FASTER will help Colorado meet these goals by allowing tolling on existing capacity, providing funding for transit safety, and implementing a pilot study for Mileage-Based Revenue.

FASTER offers real SOLUTIONS by:

1) Putting Local Communities in the Driver's Seat

• FASTER allows local communities the option of imposing a toll on local roads, giving local governments a new tool they can use to raise money to fix roads and build transit (like FasTracks).

• FASTER requires that 100% of all substantially affected communities agree before a toll can be placed on a roadway.

• Because tolling revenues would stay where they are raised, communities that choose to impose tolls and/or congestion pricing get the full benefit.

• Tolling is one of the fairest ways to pay for transportation, because people pay based on the amount they are using roads and highways.

2) Improving Air Quality and the Environment

• To reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, we must reduce the amount we drive as a society. Providing an incentive for people to think about how to drive less by combining trips, using transit, and walking or biking more is the key to lowering our emissions from transportation. Tolling tends to encourage more people to make these sustainable transportation choices.

• Reducing emissions will help Colorado meet the Governor's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020.

3) Protecting the Safety of Bicyclists and Pedestrians

• About 1/3 of Coloradans don't drive, for a variety of reasons.

• In 2007, 69 bicyclists and pedestrians were killed on our roads, yet no state money currently goes to protect them.

• FASTER will dedicate $10 million dollars per year to address multimodal safety.

For more information please contact Stephanie Thomas, Colorado Environmental Coalition, (303) 405-6710

4) Preparing Colorado for the Future

• FASTER calls for a Mileage-Based Revenue Study. As cars get more fuel-efficient, gas tax revenues will continue to decline. This means less money will come into state coffers from the gas tax.

• Experts recommend states begin transitioning to an alternative strategy to raise revenue for transportation. Revenues based on mileage are the forerunner in the search for new sources and this is being studied across the country (including OR, WA, NC, TX, IA, and MN). Colorado needs to get in the game.

• It is only a study. The amendment would set up a STUDY to see which options are best for Colorado. The studies performed by the Commission can look at the various benefits and costs of this kind of system, including social, technical, economic and environmental issues.

PROBLEMS WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM

Congestion is increasing along with Colorado's growing population. As the number of drivers and cars on our roads also increases, experience tells us we cannot build our way out of congestion. Private and public transportation studies have demonstrated overwhelmingly that adding more lanes induces more traffic, and does not help congestion. In addition, as congestion increases, so do greenhouse gas emissions. In order to reduce GHG emissions and meet the Governor's goal of reducing emissions 20% by 2020, we need to encourage commuters to make different choices: when possible using public transit instead of personal vehicles, carpooling instead of driving alone, and consolidating miles driven by planning trips wisely. Currently, few incentives exist to encourage these behaviors. Faced with budget cuts and reductions, local governments lack the resources to repair critical existing structures (roads and bridges) or invest in expanding public transportation infrastructure, both critical to meeting the needs of their communities in the 21st century. As the demand for transit continues to rise, sales tax revenue continues to fall, leaving little opportunity for the funding of transit projects.