My so-called Listening Tour is well underway. Already, I have enjoyed meetings with four different transportation and public policy groups. Thus, I figure it’s time for an interim report from the road.

My tour began with a Town Hall meeting that the City of Boulder Transportation Advisory Board hosted on January 12. Most of the folks in attendance were there to comment on the recent Eco Pass battle with RTD. With RTD General Manager Cal Marsella joining me for this appearance, it was the first time many folks in the audience had a chance to hear his concerns with the Eco Pass financing model. Of course, those in attendance, many of them Neighborhood Eco Pass coordinators, made their own case for the equity of the program just as strongly. 

The Daily Camera covered this Town Hall meeting conversation pretty well, including Cal’s commitment that RTD staff will not pursue further changes in the Eco Pass program until it begins collecting data from the new fareboxes it is installing this year:  http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jan/12/rtd-promises-better-data-determine-eco-pass-pricin/. 

Most relevant to current considerations pertaining to the future of the FasTracks program was the palpable frustration that continues to pervade those who care about the Eco Pass program. These are folks who typically would be RTD’s strongest champions. In the run-up to a potential vote on additional FasTracks funding, one wonders if these folks will put their continuing bitterness behind them. 

That same evening, I had a very pleasant discussion with the regional transportation subcommittee for the League of Women Voters. This group is deeply concerned with the ability that RTD will have to complete the FasTracks program. One participant even asked if RTD might go bankrupt. I was able to assure the group that RTD is on sound financial footing, but the recent economic crunch has forced the Board to make some very difficult service and capital investment decisions.

Later in the month, on January 30, Cal and I again teamed up for a presentation at PLAN-Boulder County. RTD Board Chair Lee Kemp also joined us for this gathering. Just as with the Town Hall meeting, concern about the Eco Pass program dominated the discussion, despite a greater focus on the FasTracks program. Some in the audience were very clear that they saw a connection between the two issues, as they felt the seeming lack of support RTD displays for the Eco Pass program is antagonizing Boulder voters and undermining Boulder citizen support for RTD in general. 

Overall, it was clear that most in the audience want to see the FasTracks program completed. There was some discussion of different potential taxing resources, such as property tax, though Cal explained that these forms of revenue generation for RTD poll terribly. There also was some discussion of the differing benefits between Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Commuter Rail, though it did not appear anyone was advocating for dropping either system at this time.

Rounding out this first half of my Listening Tour, I had the pleasure of speaking before the Town/Gown association. Town/Gown is a group of community and university leaders that meet to discuss issues of mutual interest. Clearly, transit investments are something the group cares a great deal about, and they are very concerned about the fate of the FasTracks program.

Attached is an outline of the speech I gave to the Town/Gown audience. It is an “outline,” because they urged me not to read directly from my notes, so I am sure that I drifted from my planned text. But, in any event, I share this to give you a sense of the tenor of my comments: 

     Town/Gown Presentation Outline

So, in summary, I am still hearing a lot of concern out in the field regarding RTD’s handling of the Eco Pass program.  This definitely has tainted the opinions of many folks regarding anything having to do with RTD, including the FasTracks program.  Still, there is great support our there for completing the FasTracks program, mirroring recent public polling data on this subject (which I will address in a future blog).   Most would even consider some additional funding to achieve this goal.

That is my interim report from the road. The next two planned stops on my Listening Tour will include a presentation to the Leadership Boulder class on February 18 and participation in a Boulder Tomorrow forum, Regional Transit Trends, on February 26. The Boulder Tomorrow forum is at 7:30 a.m. at the Spice of Life Events Center and is open to the public, with a $20 admission fee. Please consider attending this event if you have the chance.

Otherwise, stay tuned here for more updates from my FasTracks Listening Tour.

Seriously, over the course of the next few weeks, I will be meeting with various groups and organizations in the Boulder area to get their thoughts on RTD service.  While all issues are on the table, I am particularly eager to hear how folks recommend that RTD address the difficulties it is experiencing with the FasTracks program.

I have shared some of the background on the current FasTracks situation with you in a previous posting: http://www.johntayer.org/2008/11/03/fastracks-putting-the-cards-on-the-table/.  RTD staff offered additional insights on the state of affairs and some more detail regarding specific implementation options in more recent Board presentations.  Most interesting to our planning here in Boulder County was a new ridership analysis showing that the per passenger cost of a trip on the Northwest Rail line jumped from $16 to $60.44.  Staff is reassessing these numbers in light of some incorrect assumptions, but the they are already entering the debate, with Bob Greenlee jumping on the numbers in this Sunday’s Daily Camera: http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jan/11/northwest-rail-plan-off-track/.

With this background, I commence my FasTracks Listening Tour.  Not all events are open to the public, as I am the invited guest of various civic groups, including the League of Women Voters, the University of Colorado Town and Gown association, and Leadership Boulder County.  However, I will be the featured presenter at two public events:

• The City of Boulder Transportation Advisory Board Town Hall Meeting: Monday, January 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the West Senior Center, 909 Arapahoe Avenue; and,
• PLAN Boulder County Friday Noon Meetings (titled, ”Will RTD Screw Boulder?”): Friday, January 30 at 12:00 p.m. in the main branch of the Boulder Public Library.

Please catch me at one of these events and let me know what direction you think we should be taking with the FasTracks program.