In some very exciting news, I am pleased to report that the proposed low-income Eco Pass program that RTD Board Chair Lee Kemp and I initiated, in conjunction with Boulder County transportation staff, is moving forward. 

The following is a memorandum describing the Pilot Pass Program for Housing Authorities that my Board colleagues approved at the October 14 Operations and Customer Service Committee meeting: Pilot Pass Program for Housing Authorities.  In essence, the program will create Eco Pass districts within housing authority communities, such as public housing buildings and trailer parks, where there are high concentrations of low-income households.  The initial pilot study will entail partnerships with three different housing authorities, covering urban and suburban communities.  RTD staff has since assured me that Boulder County will have the opportunity to participate in the pilot program.

As I said when I ran for the District O seat on the RTD Board, one of my top priorities was extending the benefits of the Eco Pass program to a wider diversity of households and individuals.  Implementation of the pilot program for housing authorities, that targets low-income populations, is an important step forward toward the goal of wider access to the Eco Pass for all citizens.