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Colorado Hyperloop Progress in 2019

ColoradoHyperloop.com is proud to have been founded five months after Elon Musk’s initial white paper in May of 2013. We have shifted the conversation for sustainable transportation and infrastructure to look 50 years into the future and have been at the forefront of hyperloop discussions and the reality of the real world.

ColoradoHyperloop.com’s goals fulfill three categories; imagining how high-speed Hyperloop transportation might be built and deployed in Colorado with local user input, decrease air pollution by petrol-based transportation, and support train and high-speed rail initiatives through the Great Plains and Mountain West.

We see a perfect storm in the next couple of years in the progress of electrified high-speed transportation in Colorado and the world. Below are updates from around the State and nation. ColoradoHypelroop.com is proud to be a part of the wider debate for sustainable transportation and make sure Colorado users are heard.

Governor Polis on High-Speed Electrified Transportation

Governor Polis gave ColoradoHyperloop.com his policy position on faster-than-car transportation during the campaign. We believe the Polis Administration’s leadership is aligned to fulfill ColoradoHyperloop.com’s goals as stated above. We look forward to closely monitoring and reaching out to the Governor for policy, but a great first start is his stated dedication to moving Colorado’s electric grid to 100% renewable sources by 2040, and thus transpoprtation electirfication, and protecting the environment for future generations.

“Colorado is relying on 20th century infrastructure to power a 21st century economy. It is time for bold, innovative ideas that are not just going to add lanes to highways, but rather build a system for the future. I’ve built my career on long-term solutions. As an entrepreneur that built an internet company before computers were a household item, created first-of-its kind producer-to-consumer online companies, I am very excited to see ideas like the hyperloop considered. I encourage this type of leadership and look forward to see innovative ideas like this come to fruition.
Imagine being able to quickly commute anywhere between Fort Collins and Pueblo without the usual hassles of driving up and down I-25, like air and noise pollution, traffic, and icy roads. A comfortable, wi-fi connected, mass-transit option that is accessible and affordable may be the solution that makes this vision a reality.
Effective rail can help us get to work quicker and less expensively than driving a single-occupancy vehicle, especially when you consider the mounting costs of gas, maintenance, and depreciation of a car’s value. While Colorado will always continue to evaluate and aggressively pursue bringing emerging technologies like Hyperloop to our state, an economically viable rail option is a promising and attractive alternative to traveling by car.”

https://polisforcolorado.com/transportation/

Arrivo

Is no-more. It was a brief but spectacular ride.

Colorado Rejects Two Transportation Ballot Measures

ColoradoHyperloop.com did not have a stated policy position for three reasons:

  • Hyperloop was not mentioned.
  • Both groups, while different, need each other to build, fix and ‘go’ for statewide transportation needs. We are dismayed that these two groups and measures did not work together more, as collaboration is the only way to move the State forward.
  • The current way that transportation is funded, by elected State House and Senate representatives, is completely hamstrung by Tabor / Gallagher. These bigger issues need to be dealt with first.

Virgin Hyperloop One, AECOM & CDOT

ColoradoHyperloop.com is still waiting for these groups to release or be contacted for “initiate stakeholder engagement” for connecting Cheyenne, Denver Pueblo. Transparency has been a key to the founding of ColoradoHyperloop.com, so we look forward to their outreach:

In addition to technical and economic aspects, the study will offer multiple opportunities for additional partners and stakeholders, such as local governments, businesses, and community groups to become part of this venture and to help make hyperloop a reality in Colorado.

https://www.aecom.com/jp/press-releases/rocky-mountain-hyperloop-project-advances-second-half-feasibility-study-unveils-vision-denver-intl-airport-portal/

Colorado Passenger Rail Initiative

ColoradoHyperloop.com is encouraged by their fantastic work and we highly recommend you subscribe to their newsletter and become a supporter. Their latest update included details on the Rail Commission:

Legislature funds Rail Commission
The Colorado Legislature appropriated $2.5 million dollars for the Southwest Chief & Front Range Passenger Rail Commission to begin planning a Front Range rail corridor. The Joint Budget Committee then released an initial allocation of $938,000 for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2019. The Commission will request the balance in the upcoming legislative session.
The measure enjoyed bipartisan support. ColoRail thanks House Speaker Crisanta Duran and House Transportation Committee Chair Faith Winter for their leadership.
The state DOT is now interviewing candidates for a project director who will lead the creation of the Front Range rail plan.

http://colorail.org/

New Head of CDOT

Governor Jared Polis recently appointed Shoshana M. Lew as the new Executive Director for CDOT and she has experience in financial operations of DOT’s and studied in American History. Welcome to Colorado!

Mountain Rail and Loop

ColoradoHyperloop.com does not focus too much on I70 corridor due to the fact that much of the state does not live in the mountains but rather on the plains. However, we have seen in the past and now present that a mountain route belenefit in faster, safer and less energy dependent than a car transportation.

While Virgin Hyperloop One considers their tubes going along I-70, the I70 Coalition is the latest group to want a fast mountain transportation by train. ColoradoHyperloop.com hopes that they make transparent their study and findings.

With regard to the high-speed transit component, there is more that needs to be known about its potential and specifically about the economic impacts of high-speed transit in the corridor.  
Development Research Partners has been retained by the I-70 Coalition, Summit/Clear Creek and Eagle Counties, CDOT, Denver Metro Economic Development Corporation, City and County of Denver, City of Idaho Springs, and Black Hawk Silver Dollar Metro District to conduct a study to estimate the economic impacts of a high-speed transit system in the I-70 Mountain Corridor. Development Research Partners is surveying and interviewing residents, businesses and various other individuals and organizations to better understand how high-speed transit might change business-to-business and consumer-to-business spending.

https://goi70.com/news/2018/high-speed-transit-economic-impacts-considered

Washington Post, Green Deal and E-bikes/scooters/transit

  • The Washington Post has a fantastic on “The rising Western skyline” that mentions “The construction is focused around public transportation centers.”
  • Interesting article on the new “Green Deal” by Vox. “High-speed trains already compete with planes in many parts of the world. They also have far lower carbon emissions.”
  • Mashable had an interesting article on e-bikes “After Uber bought Jump, people started riding bikes instead of ordering cars” which mentions Denver: “All this data shows how e-bikes, e-scooters, and yes, even public transit, can work together to get people around.”
https://twitter.com/COHyperloop/status/1095071871433887745
https://twitter.com/COHyperloop/status/1095071873669443584
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2018 Smart Infrastructure Challenge with VentureSmarter.com and SmartRegions.org

2018 Smart Infrastructure Challenge [Venture Smarter's Regional Smart Cities Initiative] (1)

ColoradoHyperloop.com participating in the 2018 Smart Infrastructure Challenge VentureSmarter.com and SmartRegions.org

Venture Smarter will be hosting monthly webinars for the Smart Infrastructure Challenge teams. The goal of this initiative is to democratize smart city planning. In June the focus was on financing requirements, smart government and outcomes impact grant information. The 2018 Smart Infrastructure Challenge had 80+
Project Proposals, 250 Governments and Universities and 500+ Participating Organizations.

Colorado Hyperloop has no public-sector partners… yet… so we are not qualified to present our innovative plans at the Smart Regions Conference in Columbus, OH on October 25th, 2018. Our team can still be eligible to present and showcase at the event provided that public partners are secured before draft presentations are due on September 25th, 2018.

ColoradoHyperloop.com Looks forward to collaborating during the 2018 Smart Infrastructure Challenge and beyond.

If you would like to play a part, in either working on the challenge or helping us with public-sector partners, please contact us: https://coloradohyperloop.com/contact/

Learn more about other 2018 Smart Infrastructure Teams: Colorado Smart Cities Alliance (CSSA) and Colorado Spring Smart Team,  and other hyperloop specific teams like Arizona Hyperloop and Midwest Connect.

To fast Front Range transportation,

The Smart Regions Team of ColoradoHypelroop.com

~~~~

VentureSmarter.com and SmartRegions.org and Regional Smart Cities Initiatives are non-for-profit efforts that educate and align interdisciplinary groups of leaders around available tools and resources, so they can effectively research, plan, fund, and build smart cities and connected communities.

 

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January 2018 Update

A different view of Denver from the foothills overlooking the planes.

Colorado Hyperloop has been busy working behind the scenes to lay the foundation to best serve you and the idea of a hyperloop in Colorado.
Hyperloop interest is increasing with both decision-makers in government, the general public and businesses in Colorado.

Survey of the 2018 Colorado Governor Candidates
We are thankful for the candidates who answered our questionnaire.

Survey Question: Do you think of a very fast Hyperloop transportation system along a North-South alignment from Fort Collins to Pueblo connecting all major cities and airports along the corridor is a good or bad idea?

 

Read the Candidates who responded here. 

Hats and Flamethrowers!

Got your attention! We do not have Black Hats nor do we have Flamethrowers… but what if we could help design hyperloop technology in a way that is more human-centered?

Help us out by completing one (or both) Colorado Hyperloop surveys:

  1. Tell us your top NEEDs of a Colorado Hyperloop
  2. What I love about my neighborhood in Colorado

The results of these surveys are being compiled into a one-page white paper meant to inform decision-makers and people unfamiliar with hyperloop

Colorado Hyperloop wants this technology to be designed in a way that will help the communities and not hurt them. The Hyperloop is all about connection. It is about eliminating borders and going beyond the limitations of time and space. It is meant to empower communities and that’s why we wanted to incorporate these future users.

Thank you to everyone that has already filled out the surveys!

#COHYPERLOOPHERE

Denver Colorado Hyperloop

We want your art submissions! What do you think a hyperloop in Colorado would look like? This submission was kindly developed by KNewsUpdate.

Use #COHyperloopHere for your art impact submissions or contact us here: https://coloradohyperloop.com/contact/

The goal is to start to think how art could be displayed or used to in transportation. Credit to RTD’s great use of art in their transportation projects: http://www.rtd-denver.com/artnTransit.shtml

Pro Hyperloop

We are still working with other groups on how to represent pro-hyperloop organizations in Colorado. Details will be provided soon, contact us for your input.

Recent Hyperloop News in Colorado

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Tell us what you want from a Colorado Hyperloop

Colorado Hyperloop Map

 

What if we could help design hyperloop technology in a way that is more human-centered?

To design it in a way that will help the communities and not hurt them. The Hyperloop is all about connection. It is about eliminating borders and going beyond the limitations of time and space. It is meant to empower communities and that’s why we wanted to incorporate these future users.

Help us out by completing one (or both) Colorado Hyperloop surveys:

  1. Tell us your top NEEDs of a Colorado Hyperloop
  2. What I love about my neighborhood in Colorado
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Making Hyperloop Public

Colorado Hyperloop and the Colorado State Capital in Denver

Below are some current questions and ideas that the citizens of Colorado have and we hope this elevates the civic discourse around Hyperloop in Colorado.

Will Hyperloop add to (car) congestion?

Hyperloop is being built as an on-demand and direct service as stated by both Arrivo, Hyperloop One and other Hyperloop groups. Colorado has a lot of auto congestion along its major highway arteries that serve the cities along the Front Range. Adaption of Hyperloop in Colorado will probably increase travel between these cities. But would a sustainable, rapid transportation option be bad?

However, as stated in the original Hyperloop Alpha white paper,  Hyperloop has benefits that current modes of transport do not have:

The corridor between San Francisco, California and Los Angeles, California is one of the most often traveled corridors in the American West. The current practical modes of transport for passengers between these two major population centers include:
1. Road (inexpensive, slow, usually not environmentally sound)
2. Air (expensive, fast, not environmentally sound)
3. Rail (expensive, slow, often environmentally sound)
A new mode of transport is needed that has benefits of the current modes without the negative aspects of each. This new high speed transportation system has the following requirements:
1. Ready when the passenger is ready to travel (road)
2. Inexpensive (road)
3. Fast (air)
4. Environmentally friendly (rail/road via electric cars)

What about passenger rail in Colorado?

ColoradoHyperloop.com is interested in passenger rail in Colorado! We view passenger rail as one transportation layer, among other layers like pedestrian infrastructure and a future Hyperloop infrastructure layer. Rail has been an important solution to making a more green and efficient transportation solution for the Front Range and it services as a lifeline to smaller cities on the Eastern Plains. We are interested in the current legislation (Senate Bill 17-153) in the Colorado State Capital. However, Hyperloop has major differences than rail. Specifically, it is on-demand and direct, environmentally friendly, less expensive and a totally different technology.

Is Hyperloop a waste of a State’s Department of Transportation’s time and money?

Colorado’s rapidly growing population and booming economy make for the ideal location for the development of Hyperloop systems.  The opportunity and potential of Hyperloop companies coming to Colorado with test facilities, employees, and direct investment, is a testament to the culture of Colorado innovation that drives the regional economic engine.

Learn more about the Colorado Department of Transportation and their work on the Hyperloop: https://www.codot.gov/programs/roadx/projects-in-motion

People often believe that CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) maintains local and residential roads, including neighborhood streets. However, cities and counties are responsible for local and residential roads—not CDOT.

Why not focus on bike, pedestrian, and public transportation before new transportation systems? What about other transportation and social problems?

The great thing about Hyperloop technology right now is that it is currently being developed! Anyone can help shape how it is developed! If you have an idea of how Hyperloop could have publicly owned bus, bike and pedestrian pods, then there should be more promotion of those ideas! There should be more focus on the engineering and economic impact of those public centered features of the Hyperloop system.

What if RTD (Regional Transportation District for Denver) or CDOT operated Hyperloop pods like they do with the Bustang® interregional express bus service?  Bustang® connects major populations, employment centers and local transit entities along the I-25 and I-70 corridors. “Connectivity, convenience and comfort are the hallmarks of Bustang’s success in helping further CDOT’s multi-modal mission” and should also be the hallmarks and goals of a Colorado Hyperloop system.

Want to play a part and shape Hyperloop development? There are various companies hiring right now! New Hyperloop focused nonprofits and global groups want you to help them too! You can even assist with public policy outreach for ColoradoHyperloop.com!

What is the projected timeline for connecting Pueblo and Denver with Hyperloop or other regions?

That is a good question. The Hyperloop concept is disruptive as it forces citizens to have a discussion on how do they want to get around the state in 2, 5, 10, 50 years from now. It’s not easy thinking about cities in 10 to 50-year timelines but hopefully, it will change the political discourse and help solve the problem of funding infrastructure in Colorado.

Dis-information about the Hyperloop concept.

Yes, cynical disinformation seeks to inflame existing tensions by putting out viral web stories that would then be republished by local news outlets and on social media to distort political debates about wedge issues (like pedestrian or biking infrastructure, auto and bus infrastructure, or use of high-speed rail). The use of trolls, cynicism, and false information often amplifies and distorts the very real problem of lack of investment in infrastructure in Colorado and they seek to degrade confidence in existing institutions and new technologies.

ColoradoHyperloop.com has reached out to these groups to start a dialogue and will continue to do so in the future.  No matter what other groups say, whether you’re getting information out of them, out of others, even out of your crazy uncle… the best way to respond to them is with a positive story.

The citizens of Colorado are well-educated and because of that, we are very resilient to such attempts. But Hyperloop technology does have one thing that fuels the detractors; the game-changing speed of Hyperloop (classic) pods velocity of 670 miles per hour and Hyperloop-ish levitating sleds traveling 200 miles per hour.

ColoradoHyperloop.com has in the past has had meetups and will soon start an online hangout (details to be forthcoming soon, but let us know if you want to assist in this) to make Hyperloop information more public. We are excited to have a positive discussion based on non-hyped facts and real engineering. We agree with the ethos that building good transportation systems today doesn’t exclude researching good transportations systems of tomorrow.

Be sure to sign up for the Colorado Hyperloop newsletter or contact us directly.

Finally, take a look at just a sampling of local reporting about Hyperloop technology in Colorado:

  • http://gazette.com/gallery/articleid/1615235/pictures?display=flexFullscreen&galleryTheme=lightTheme
  • http://gazette.com/colorado-hyperloop-challenges-3-major-hurdles-among-big-possibilities/article/1612230
  • http://www.denverpost.com/2017/09/22/colorado-hyperloop-one-cost-24-billion/
  • http://www.chieftain.com/business/local/hyperloop-test/article_0e97161c-c9a2-11e7-a87a-f771ab41cbd4.html
  • http://www.chieftain.com/news/pueblo/front-range-rail-rolls-forward/article_23df5fe8-aff4-5141-b3dd-3e96515aecc9.html
  • http://www.westword.com/news/hyperloop-plans-in-colorado-9524478
  • http://www.westword.com/news/hyperloop-one-and-importance-of-tunnels-9555475
  • http://www.westword.com/news/colorado-wins-hyperloop-like-arrivo-test-track-9693161
  • http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/denver-to-colorado-springs-in-9-mins-colorado-could-build-one-of-first-hyperloop-routes-in-world
  • http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/where-would-colorados-hyperloop-stop-how-much-would-it-cost
  • http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/cdot-partnering-with-calif-company-to-build-hyperloop-style-test-track-in-colorado
  • https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2017/11/14/colorado-lands-multimillion-dollar-investment-from.html
  • https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/video/B1ZHBvYzE6MvcNHk3TCQdl9776KCqfir
  • https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2017/09/14/how-colorado-landed-on-hyperloop-one-s-top-10-list.html
  • http://www.9news.com/travel/heres-the-next-step-for-colorados-hyperloop/475703822
  • http://www.9news.com/news/travel/company-plans-to-build-hyperloop-test-track-east-of-denver/491665682
  • http://www.foxnews.com/auto/2017/11/15/denver-to-test-200-mph-hyperloop-inspired-track-with-tech-startup-arrivo.html
  • http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_31301612/cdot-distance-from-interstates-was-boulder-countys-hyperloop
  • http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_31479183/alec-wyand-an-alternative-route-through-mountains-hyperloop
  • Letter to the editor: http://www.dailycamera.com/letters/ci_31463175/craig-jones-how-about-direct-east-west-hyperloop and http://www.dailycamera.com/editorials/ci_31462507/from-editorial-advisory-board-tube-travel
  • Not local but interesting read: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2017/10/30/colorado-hyperloop-plan/813214001/
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Colorado Hyperloop: Legislative Loop

Colorado Hyperloop and the Colorado State Capital in Denver

 

Today is Election Day 2017, with various Colorado ballot measures and races, we thought it fitting to start keeping everyone in the Colorado Hyperloop: Legislative Loop.
Colorado Hyperloop is tracking current and future elected representatives who support, and those that do not, a future Colorado Hyperloop. Below is a brief outline as we start reaching out to these people as citizen lobbyists.

… government of the people, by the people, for the people…

-Abraham Lincoln

Mission:

Get in touch with people running for elected office in Colorado and ask them what they think of very fast hyperloop transportation system along with a North-South alignment from Fort Collins to Pueblo connecting all major cities and airports along the corridor.

The Problem:

The population boom along the front range overloads current transportation systems. Elected officials might not have heard about Hyperloop technology, so we want to inform them and ask them what they think of this solution. If the person running for office doesn’t like Hyperloop, we will ask them what they might suggest as an alternative and how infrastructure might look like to them in Colorado in the year 2040.

Summary Timeline:

The Colorado Gubernatorial Election is on November 6, 2018. In this month of November 2017, we will be contacting all candidates and will publish their responses at the end of the month.

Thank You:

Politics, like anything else in life, ultimately comes down to people.

Take Back Your Government – Morgan Carroll

Colorado Hyperloop wants to thank all the candidates running for office for being willing to work hard for us. We also want to build a rapport and relationship between future needs, suggestions, and input on how the Colorado Hyperloop can help all Colorado.

If you have any questions or would like to help out, please contact us.

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New President, New Hyperloop

No more Front Range Smog...

Without getting too political, The New York Times has an article how the Trump Administration could set goals for massive infrastructure projects.  In Trump-Size Idea for a New President: Build Something Inspiring, we read that Colorado is mentioned for one such project:

Denver I-70 east: Denver is trying to put a section of Interstate 70 underground to reconnect the city’s urban fabric and use four acres of the reclaimed space for parks, bike paths and walks, and farmers’ markets. The green space could be much larger, further reducing pollution. Cost: $1.17 billion.

I would like to point out that the Hyperloop is probably the cleanest and fastest transit option ever… but it would not necessary be on I-70 axis, more of a I-25 North-South corridor. But imagine less noise and pollution more Parks and GreenWays along I-25!

For investing improvements for I-70 and I-25,  CDOT needs to balance projected growth along these corridors and balance political views between rural and urban areas (read economic):

Cities are trending Democratic and are on an upward economic shift, with growing populations and rising property values. Rural areas are increasingly Republican, steadily shedding population for decades, and as commodity and energy prices drop, increasingly suffering economically.

The political divide goes even deeper than simply between the two parties.

…

“The urban-rural split this year is larger than anything we’ve ever seen,” said Scott Reed, a political strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce who has advised previous GOP campaigns.

Will people in rural areas feel that a city connecting hyperloop will benefit them? What kind of support will these groups give to a new infrastructure that includes city centric hyperloops?

Conversely, will city based advocates against costly highway lanes, but for pedestrian friendly cities support the hyperloop?

Also, to note is the role of national infrastructure advocacy groups. They will try and shape urban and rural transit policy. Yet these too are sometimes split in supporting new infrastructure goals for a new administration.

Finally, there would be those that would point to bolstering already present infrastructure and private  company services like Greyhound busses, espically within Colorado. 

So it is up to CDOT to plan on how to work with a new Federal priority list. But there is already chatter, and outright public backing of a certain hyperloop company, as well as in the greater Hyperloop community that a Trump administration might be pro-hyperloop.

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Hickenlooper Focuses on Issues of Rural Colorado, Transportation in State of the State

Priorities of the Governor of Colorado, Transportation

Governor Hickenlooper’s State of the State address, the medusa like TABOR continues to drag any new Colorado initiatives to a legislative thrashing of poisonous paralysis. Even without TABOR, everyone, including the Governor is worried about traffic congestion, specifically I-25 and I-70:

Add to the equation 2 million more residents projected to join us over the next 20 years, and we’ve got a math problem.  Our population grew by over 100,000 last year alone, so we need to invest now to ease congestion and mobility for today and tomorrow.   

We have transportation issues up and down I-25, along I-70 and other high-volume traffic corridors throughout the state.  

If we’re going to get these projects done, we must find new funding sources and leverage partnerships to pay for them.

Perfect timing for a Colorado Hyperloop to alleviate traffic!

Here’s an idea: TABOR will only go away with the support of rural Coloradans. So if the hyperloop is built along I-70, rural areas will improve because the state wide tax base due to more populated front range cities will enable rural parts of Colorado to get more money out of their elected members.

The Colorado Independent has a great summary of the response from the Governor’s charge:

Gov. John Hickenlooper used his annual State of the State speech last Thursday to chide lawmakers for failing to compromise last session on the state’s most pressing issues: the state’s budget, which he believes will have to be cut in 2016-17, changes to a hospital provider fee that could free up $1 billion over five years for transportation and education, and reforms to a state construction defects law that developers say prevents them from building affordable condominiums.
Last year’s partisan gridlock was due largely to split control of the General Assembly. It’s the same for this year – Republicans have a one-vote majority in the state Senate, and Democrats hold a three-vote advantage in the state House.
While democracy “wasn’t designed to be argument-free,” it also “isn’t designed to be combative to its own detriment,” Hickenlooper said. “Our conflicts aren’t serving us,” either at the state Capitol or in Washington, D.C. “We used to take pride in compromise…but in today’s politics we revel in getting our way without giving an inch, and stopping the other guy from getting anything done.”
Coloradans excel at working together after a tragedy, but that shouldn’t be the only reason lawmakers compromise on the state’s biggest challenges, Hickenlooper said.
The budget will be the focus of this year’s session. While the state’s economy is among the strongest in the nation, lawmakers anticipate issuing refunds to taxpayers as part of the 2016-17 budget. Those refunds, according to legislative economists, could range from $25 to $125 for individual taxpayers, depending on income levels.
At the same time, however, the state is nearly $900 million short of meeting constitutional requirements for funding K-12 education, and more than $3 billion is needed for critical roads and infrastructure repairs. In addition, Hickenlooper’s budget proposes increasing the K-12 funding shortfall by another $50 million, erasing the progress made last year in reducing the shortage.
Those dollars won’t come out of nowhere.
Hickenlooper’s solution: changing the state’s hospital provider fee, a per-bed surcharge paid by the state’s public and private hospitals, matched with federal dollars and then re-distributed to hospitals that provide medical care to the indigent. Hickenlooper and Democrats want to see the fee reclassified as an enterprise, akin to a state-run business, a provision allowed under TABOR, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
Were the provider fee reclassified, it would free up about $1 billion in revenue over the next five years that Democrats say could go to K-12 education and transportation. Hickenlooper pleaded with lawmakers to address the issue.
While Democrats, business groups and the governor believe TABOR allows the change, Republicans, including Senate President Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs and Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, oppose it, calling it a maneuver to get around TABOR.

…

Hickenlooper spoke about rural Colorado concerns throughout the speech.
He highlighted the state’s Rural Economic Development Initiative program, which last year helped bring 100 jobs to Costilla County. Hickenlooper also discussed the effort to expand broadband services to “every corner and corral” in Colorado, by leveraging federal dollars, state assets and with the help of telecommunications reform laws passed in 2014.
Becker praised Hickenlooper’s frequent references to rural Colorado. “It’s rural Colorado that is suffering,” Becker said, adding that growth that has boosted the Front Range economy hasn’t made its way to the Eastern Plains.

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Colorado Capital Can Roll Back Hyperloop via Renewable Energy Standards

News from the Colorado State Capitol of a Senate bill that would effect a solar powered Colorado hyperloop. Senate Bill 44.

The Denver Business Journal reports:

The bill would roll back Colorado’s renewable energy goals, currently set at 30 percent by 2020 for investor-owned utilities, to half of that — or 15 percent. The goal for rural cooperatives, which currently need to get 20 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2020, would be rolled back to 15 percent under the proposal.

It is ironic that a small group Colorado citizens would want a small portion of their energy bills to contribute more to the “Brown Cloud” along the front range where most of Coloradans live.

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RTD Too Expensive? Go Ride a Bike or Ride the Hyperloop!

Colorado Hyperloop Bike

 

There are always grumblings on RTD’s cost of tickets. An even bigger complaint is how complex they are in figuring out which one to buy. 9News and the Denver Business Journal follow up;

…pay for bus and train rides in the Denver area is probably going to change soon.
The Denver Regional Transportation District is working on a plan to simplify its fare system because it decided the current structure is just too complicated.

…

“It’s a mess,” argues rider Kathy Procopio ofArapahoe County. She has a point: there are three different kinds of bus fares depending how far you go, transfers to keep track of, and the light-rail system has four different zones with different prices.

So if people can’t figure out what to pay, how will they get the energy to use RTD? What if RTD needed a temporary fix for congestion? Well 9News and the Denver Business Journal have the scoop again:

If you drive along U.S. 36 between Denver and Boulder, you know It can be tough to maneuver around the construction. A new program, though, is aiming to cut down on the number of cars on the highway.

…

It would combine RTD public transportation with employees who work in this corridor, and it won’t cost those workers a thing.

Programs like this have been shown to be a very effective way to change commute behavior,” said Audrey DeBarros, executive director of the non-profit “36 Commuting Solutions,” which is administering the program.
The EcoPass pilot program combines two things: RTD transportation, like buses and light rail, and employees who work at companies within a quarter of a mile of a Park-n-Ride station along U.S. 36. The idea is to get as many as 1,000 workers in this corridor to ditch their cars in favor of public transportation– at no cost to them.

Very novel idea, but I fear RTD has not done enough of this across the entire RTD network.

Also, to add to the confusion, people think the organization is confusing bus rapid transit into the US 36 corridor.

BROOMFIELD — That Bus Rapid Transit system being installed as part of a $438 million retooling of U.S. 36 from Denver to Boulder isn’t what local transportation officials say it is.

At least that’s according to a nonprofit group that helps develop sustainable transportation efforts across the globe. The New York-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy promotes Bus Rapid Transit efforts and certifies projects deemed truly BRT.

What’s being developed on U.S. 36 and being promoted by the Regional Transportation District is not truly BRT, said Annie Weinstock, the institute’s regional director for the U.S. and Africa.

“I would urge them not to call it BRT,” Weinstock said.

The problem for Weinstock is that specially made BRT buses will share an express lane on U.S. 36 with High Occupancy Vehicles and motorists willing to pay a toll.

BRT systems certified by the institute mimic rail transit and travel only in dedicated lanes not open to other vehicles.

Thanks for the input, but the corridor will still be promoted as including BRT, say RTD and local officials.

“If it’s true that U.S. 36 is not actually BRT, then that’s fair to say,” said Boulder Mayor Matthew Appelbaum. “But it’s also fair to say that this is a good mobility solution that can include most of the positive characteristics of BRT for less money and it’s an approach that works best in an area like this.”

“If they don’t like us stealing that name, then help us come up with something else,” Appelbaum added.

The U.S. 36 Express Lanes Project calls for building an express lane in each direction of U.S. 36, in addition to two free general-purpose lanes. The BRT vehicles are boarded from rail-like platforms that are level with bus doors and also tend to carry more passengers and run more frequently than standard buses.

As part of the U.S. 36 project, new electronic display signage will be in place at BRT stations, while new, widened shoulders will allow buses to operate between interchanges to decrease bus travel time.

Crews will also install Intelligent Transportation Systems, or ITS, for tolling, transit and traveler information and incident management.

The whole idea behind the revamped U.S. 36 corridor is to provide people with options for travel, including BRT, standard bus service, toll lanes and even a continuous bike path, said Pauletta Tonilas, RTD’s spokeswoman for its FasTracks program.

“This is going to be a great example of a multi-modal transportation system,” Tonilas said.

Cheap multi modal transport is still a new idea in the US. The Colorado’s hyperloop will be built and connected to every single transport mode RTD has to offer, and other modes like biking. The below video is missing future transportation initiatives, like the Hyperloop.

All modes of transport should cost as little as possible for the user and be good for the environment. Thus, is also interesting to see the recent initiative to build recreational bike trail from Wyoming to New Mexico. It is a goal set by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. From the bill itself:

MANY COLORADANS ENJOY BICYCLING AS A RECREATIONAL
8 ACTIVITY, THAT BICYCLISTS USE BICYCLE TRAILS ALONG AND ON EXISTING

9 ROADWAYS FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES AND TO ACCESS ADDITIONAL
10 RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND THAT SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONS OF NET
11 LOTTERY PROCEEDS ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY DEDICATED FOR OUTDOOR
12 RECREATIONAL PURPOSES AND MAY BE EXPENDED TO CONSTRUCT AND
13 EXPAND RECREATIONAL BICYCLE TRAILS ALONG AND ON EXISTING
14 ROADWAYS;

Interesting and noble, but 9News also states, that its not a done deal:

DENVER (AP) – A recreational bike trail from Wyoming to New Mexico is a goal set by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper.

A proposal before the Colorado Senate Thursday could play a part in that goal.

The Senate Finance Committee starts work on a bill to encourage both the Division of Parks and Wildlife and local governments to spend a portion of the net lottery proceeds they receive to construct and expand recreational bicycle trails.

The bill wouldn’t be a mandate.

The sponsor is Republican Sen. Larry Crowder of Alamosa. He says bike trails should be a priority in spending lottery proceeds.

In conclusion, I think the trump card will still be speed of service.