Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Notice of Public Hearing Before the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)

NOTICE is hereby given that the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Board of Directors will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2010. The hearing will be held at 1290 Broadway, in Denver. The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments on the Regional Transportation District's (RTD) 2009 Annual Report to DRCOG on FasTracks.

Download RTD's 2009 Annual Report to DRCOG on FasTracks

Background

The Colorado General Assembly passed Senate Bill 208 in 1990 which gave DRCOG the task of thoroughly reviewing any rapid transit facilities within its boundary proposed by RTD. The bill states that RTD "...shall take no action relating to the construction of a regional fixed guideway mass transit system until such system has been approved by the designated MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization)." The MPO action includes approval of the method of financing and the technology selected for the projects. DRCOG has performed this role for individual light rail corridors and in 2004 when FasTracks went to the voters.

RTD initiates the review by submitting the annual report, clearly identifying changes to the FasTracks program. DRCOG reviews those changes, identifies significance and takes action it deems appropriate. The DRCOG Board of Directors conditioned its original approval of FasTracks by requiring an annual review since most corridors had not yet completed environmental processes and change was inevitable.

The most recent FasTracks annual review, the 2008 Annual FasTracks Review and Determination Report, was accepted by the DRCOG Board in August 2009.

Public Comment

Various opportunities exist to provide comment on RTD's 2009 Annual Report to DRCOG on FasTracks.

* Those who would like to comment at the public hearing may email Mark Northrop at mnorthrop@drcog.org or call 303-480-6771 before July 21, or sign up that evening.
* Those who cannot attend may submit written comments to the DRCOG Chair before 4 p.m. July 21, 2010, by e-mail to drcog@drcog.org or by mail to 1290 Broadway, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80203-5606.
* Comments can also be submitted online.
* Speakers at the public hearing will have no more than 3 minutes to present testimony. Groups wishing to testify about a particular project are encouraged to combine their comments and have one person represent all those wishing to comment on that particular project.
* View comments submitted for the hearing.

Auxiliary Aids or Services

Attendees with disabilities are asked to notify DRCOG at least 48 hours in advance of the need for auxiliary aids or services by calling 303-480-6701 or emailing cgarcia@drcog.org.