Regional transportation recommendations

On May 23, the Future of Regional Transit steering committee presented its recommendations for funding and governing public transit service in the Pikes Peak region to the Colorado Springs City Council.The steering committee was formed a year ago at the request of the City Council to study ways to change Mountain Metropolitan Transit ñ a division of Colorado Springs city government and the region’s only provider of fixed-route bus service ñ so that its funding and governance correspond to the regional service it provides.Since then, the committee has gathered public input and the opinions of interested parties and talked with managers of public transit systems in areas similar to the Pikes Peak region, said Marc Snyder, steering committee chairman.The committee found the following:

• Reliable and efficient public transportation will increase the region’s ability to attract and retain employers.
• Public transportation is critical for providing mobility to the elderly, disabled and those who cannot drive.
• Voters favor investment in transit options over investment in roadway capacity, although they are more likely to vote for dedicated transit funding if the initiative also includes roadway funding.
• Voters trust the Pikes Peak Regional Transportation Authority to deliver timely and cost-effective regional transportation.
• Voters want more alternatives to driving individual vehicles, such as public transportation, bicycling, private bus and taxi services.
• Public transportation systems in areas similar to the Pikes Peak region work best when independent governance allows them to focus on transit services.Public funding of transit is necessary because fare revenues will not cover the entire cost of operations.

Committee recommendations:

• Seek voter approval in 2012 to change governance of Metropolitan Mountain Transit from the Colorado Springs City Council to the PPRTA
• Increase PPRTA funding and allocate more PPRTA funds to public transit
• Set a goal of returning public transit service to its 2008 peak level as measured by the total time buses were in service
• Set additional goals to expand transit service beyond the level set in 2008

The presentation was informational only, and the City Council did not vote on the committee’s recommendations.Although MMT is a division of Colorado Springs city government, it has grown to provide regional service to Manitou Springs, Fountain and mountain communities along Highway 24; also providing an express commuter service to Denver and parts of unincorporated El Paso County (but not east of Peterson Boulevard).The Colorado Springs City Council has final authority over the activities and operations of MMT, even though part of its funding comes from the 1-percent Pikes Peak Regional Transportation Authority sales and use tax on non-grocery purchases in Manitou Springs, Green Mountain Falls, Colorado Springs and unincorporated El Paso County.