TAB endorses proposed transportation maintenance fee; council hearings scheduled in October

The Transportation Advisory Board on Sept. 8 voted unanimously to send a letter endorsing the city of Boulder’s proposed Transportation Maintenance Fee (TMF) as part of the 2026 budget process.

TAB’s endorsement letter, drafted by member Mike Mills and approved 3–0, states that TAB "endorses the city of Boulder's proposed transportation maintenance fee, recognizing that the TMF provides a stable and predictable source of funding for essential transportation maintenance" and asks council and staff to advance the fee with equity considerations in implementation.

City staff briefed TAB on the TMF’s purpose, scope and schedule. Chris Hagelin, principal project manager leading the TMF effort, described the fee as a locally controlled mechanism to raise stable, indexed revenue for unfunded and underfunded transportation maintenance activities including pavement preservation, bridge and safety asset management, sidewalk and multiuse-path maintenance, roadway markings and bus‑stop upkeep.

Hagelin said the TMF methodology uses person‑trip generation to apportion rates between residential and nonresidential properties and that the city has integrated the TMF into the 2026 budget and long‑term financial strategy. He identified two draft ordinances tied to the fee: an originating fee ordinance (listed in the meeting as "4-20-78") that would add the TMF to the city’s fee schedule, and an enabling ordinance (listed in the meeting as "8 2 26") spelling out rate methodology and administration.

Hagelin said staff have been engaging major local institutions (University of Colorado, Boulder Valley School District, federal laboratories) to discuss voluntary contributions because state and federal entities are not required by Colorado law to pay local fees. He also said city staff will meet with the business community (with the Boulder Chamber) and conduct broader public outreach; a fact sheet was distributed to TAB.

Council schedule and next steps: Hagelin said the TMF will be included in the city budget study session Sept. 11, with the enabling ordinance first reading scheduled for Oct. 9 and public hearings on Oct. 23. If council adopts the ordinance, the city will then implement internal procedures and billing systems; Hagelin said actual fee collections likely would begin in fiscal year 2026 (which begins July 2026) because of the lead time required for administration and billing.

TAB action and vote: TAB moved to send the endorsement letter to city council. The board recorded the vote as 3–0 in favor.

Why it matters: The TMF is intended to diversify Boulder’s transportation revenue and maintain local infrastructure proactively. Staff and TAB members said the fee would free sales-tax revenue used for maintenance and provide predictable matching funds required for grants.

Provenance: - topicintro: transcript excerpt starting at 8289.31 — "Yes. Thank you, Steven. Chris Hagelin here... managing this transportation maintenance fee." (TMF presentation opening). - topicfinish: transcript excerpt ending at 9226.01 — "I know we last updated you in May... I'm glad that you've been able to kind of be a part of of the development of of this approach and offer your feedback along the way." (staff acknowledgements).