RuralTransportation.org

Resource Library
Colorado

The Rural Context For Transportation Consultations

Colorado is the 8th largest state in the U.S. in land area, 24th largest in population, and 38th most densely populated. Approximately 30 percent of Colorado's population and jobs, and 99 percent of the land, is non-urban. About 89 percent of its roads are rural. Federally owned lands amount to 36 percent of the state's land area.

Colorado is a moderately to significantly growing state, as measured by population, with a moderately growing rate of employment. The proportion of the state's jobs that are in the uniquely rural agriculture and mining sectors is fairly small (7 and 2 percent, respectively). Most jobs in Colorado's rural areas are in sectors also common in urban areas: construction, transportation & utilities (15 percent); manufacturing (11 percent); business & trade (27 percent); and services & government (38 percent).

Demographically, Colorado's non-urban population is predominately white (93 percent). The proportion of the non-urban adult population who did not graduate from high school is low (4th lowest), compared to other states, and the proportion that did graduate from college is high (8th highest). The 12 percent of Colorado's non-urban people who are poor is roughly average compared to most other states. About 39 percent of the state's non-urban population is in non-working age groups (29 percent 18 years or younger, and 10 percent 65 years or older).

Governmentally, Colorado has 63 counties, a fairly manageable number compared to many other states. The state also has 269 municipalities, but no towns or townships. It has the 18th lowest number of sub-county governments. Colorado also has two federally recognized Indian tribes.

In addition, the 1997 U.S. Census of Governments has identified 33 independent, special-purpose governments in Colorado that have transportation responsibilities. This number is lower than in many other states. These special-purpose governments include 21 for highways, 10 for airports, and 1 for transit. Colorado also has 14 other public transit providers serving rural areas and an additional 23 organizations that provide specialized transit services to elderly and disabled populations in those same areas.

Colorado has 15 Transportation Planning Regions. Planning in five of them is done by MPOs, the other ten are rural. Colorado also has 13 regional councils that cover approximately 90 percent of the state. These regional units help to coordinate the other local governments and play a role in rural transportation programs as described below.

Of Colorado's 78,043 miles of roads, approximately 12 percent are state-controlled, while 9 percent are federal. Of the total miles of non-federal rural roads, 13 percent are state, 81 percent are county, none are township, and 6 percent are municipal and other.

Processes For Consultation And Cooperation With Local Officials In Non-Metropolitan Areas

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) conducts multi-modal planning through six regions. With approval of the Colorado Transportation Commission, it prepares and revises a 20-year long-range plan and a 4-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Colorado has 15 Transportation Planning Regions (TPRs) which are not conterminous with CDOT's regions. Planning in five TPRs is conducted by MPOs; three TPRs include both metropolitan and rural areas. The other ten TPRs are rural, and most of them have established a Regional Planning Commission (RPC) to oversee planning. CDOT also works with various modal interests such as transit, rail, and bicycles, to coordinate modal needs in the state. These include the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA), the Colorado Rail Advisory Committee, and Bicycle Colorado. Additionally, a Statewide Transportation Advisory Committee (STAC) was created by state law to review and comment on regional transportation plans, and to advise CDOT regarding transportation needs in the state. This committee meets with CDOT staff quarterly. Each TPR also has a representative who participates on the STAC.

Colorado state statute provides for creation of the RPCs for the purpose of developing the long-range plan. RPCs also are active in preparing the STIP. RPCs are made up of elected officials from all counties and municipalities in the TPR, and act as the formal policy body that directs the transportation planning activities within the TPR. CDOT provides federal funds to RPCs to fund planning activities. Local elected officials from the rural jurisdictions participate on the MPO and RPC boards and committees. The long-range plans have both metropolitan and rural sections. MPO Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs) include only urban areas. Rural areas are included in the STIP through the Project Priority and Programming Process (4P).

After passage of ISTEA, the state expanded its existing county hearing process into the 4P. This process begins with meetings at the county level (if requested) to discuss project status, priorities, and proposed revisions to the STIP. These meetings involve the Transportation Commission and/or the CDOT Regional Transportation Director for that area, county and municipal officials, appropriate TPR representatives, and the public.

Whether or not meetings are held at the county level, meetings are held in each TPR to reevaluate the regional TIP, including requests for additional projects. After these meetings, as well as other project selection activities (for bridges, safety, transit, etc.), draft TIPs are developed. RPC and CDOT officials reach consensus on the TIP, which must be in accord with the state's long-range plan and fiscally constrained. This draft TIP is then made available for review and comment by STAC, local officials, and the public at another round of meetings at the TPR level. Once comments are considered, the final regional TIP is included in the draft STIP prepared by CDOT. The draft STIP is presented, by TPR, to the Transportation Commission in an open meeting, revised as necessary, made available for public review and comment, and approved by the Transportation Commission.

In addition to the process described above, a variety of public involvement activities throughout the planning process could include local officials. Public meetings, forums, and various other mechanisms of communication are conducted. Information is sent to county and municipal offices, as well as other state agencies and modal groups to keep them abreast of the planning process.

Colorado's two Indian Nations, the Ute Mountain Ute and the Southern Ute, are located in an area served by one RPC and both have membership on that RPC. Long-range transportation plans for the Indian reservations are incorporated into the area regional transportation plan. In addition, each Indian Tribe has a non-voting member appointed to STAC. Federal land management agencies are encouraged and invited to participate in regional and statewide planning. They are notified of RPC meetings and kept abreast of public involvement activities. Although the primary focus of the consultation process is transportation, CDOT prepared a guidebook for use by rural RPCs in considering the interrelationship of transportation with land use, demographics, the economy, and the environment.

Rural transportation is funded using federal, state, and local revenue. The primary source of state funds is the Highway User's Tax Fund (HUTF), including motor fuel taxes, driver's license fees, and motor vehicle registration fees. Local governments also receive a portion of the HUTF for transportation needs. The Commission takes funds "off the top" for statewide programs and a Strategic Corridors program. Remaining funds are allocated to CDOT's districts to use on projects prioritized in cooperation with MPOs and RPCs. Local governments contribute to the cost of projects, generally through matching funds. Colorado does not have state funding sources dedicated to transit. Federal transit funds are awarded through grant programs. The Commission is discussing whether to allow federal highway dollars to be used for non-highway projects when the RPC places a high priority on such a project.

Colorado uses these practices:

State Consultation Tours: Meetings are held in each county and TPR to review existing plans and seek proposals for change.
State Hearings: Formal opportunity for comment is provided at several stages.
State Process for Interactive Exchange of Views with Local Officials: Public open house hearings, meetings, forums and various other mechanisms of communication are conducted at various locations in each CDOT administrative district.
Roles of RPOs: RPCs have functions similar to RPOs.
State Policy-Making and Advisory Boards: Colorado Transportation Commission, STAC, etc.

Return to the top

National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation
400 North Capitol St., NW, Suite 390, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 624-7806 • Fax (202) 624-8813 •info@nado.org
www.nado.org