Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit Reform topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate advances transit-reform package after second conference committee; bill repassed
Summary
Senate Bill 1 61, a transit reform package that includes new study, planning and reporting requirements and authorizes service partnerships by the Regional Transportation District, was the subject of conference committee negotiation; a second conference committee report was adopted and the bill was repassed by the Senate.
Senate Bill 1 61, a broad transit reform measure, was the subject of extended conference committee negotiation before the Senate adopted the second conference committee report and repassed the bill.
Senator Winter, sponsor and conference committee chair, moved to dissolve the first conference committee and appoint a second conference committee after negotiators made corrections and sought further authority to consider matters beyond the immediate differences between the two chambers. The Senate approved appointment of a second conference committee and granted it permission to go beyond the narrow differences.
The second conference committee filed a report recommending that the Senate accede to the House amendments with further committee-recommended changes. The Senate adopted the second conference committee report and repassed SB 1 61. The clerk recorded the final passage tally as 23 ayes and 12 noes.
The package as described on the floor includes study, planning and reporting requirements; increased coordination among transit agencies and planning organizations; authorization for the Regional Transportation District (RTD) to enter service partnership agreements; creation of an RTD accountability committee; and directives that RTD emphasize ridership growth, worker retention, safety and statewide climate goals, plus an appropriation.
Senators said the negotiations involved stakeholders including transit workers and RTD; sponsors described the result as a negotiated, final solution following bargaining between workers and RTD.
