Transportation Commission Resolution #20250108
Concerning the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments GHG Transportation Report in their Regional Transportation Plan as required in Rule 2 CCR 601-22 (Planning Rules).
Approved by the Transportation Commission on January 16, 2024.
Whereas, Senate Bill 21-260 directed the Transportation Commission of Colorado (“the Commission”) to adopt procedures and guidelines requiring CDOT and MPOs to take additional steps in the planning process for regionally significant transportation projects to account for the impacts on the amount of statewide GHG pollution and statewide vehicle miles traveled that are expected to result from those projects ; and
Whereas, Senate Bill 21-260 also specified implementing relevant measures pursuant to §25-7-105, C.R.S.; reducing GHG emissions to help achieve statewide GHG pollution reduction targets established in House Bill 19-1261 (now codified in § 25-7-102(2)(g) and 105(1)(e), C.R.S. and updated in House Bill 23-016); and considering the role of land use in the transportation planning process; and
Whereas, on December 16, 2021 the Commission adopted updated Planning Rules, which included greenhouse gas reduction levels for CDOT in non-MPO areas, DRCOG, NFRMPO, PPACG, GVMPO, and PACOG; and
Whereas, the Commission adopted Policy Directive No. 1610 on May 19, 2022, with minor amendments thereafter (as amended, the “Policy Directive”) which guides implementation of the Planning Rules and use of GHG Mitigation Measures; and
Whereas, PPACG is nearing completion of their 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan and the Planning Rules require PPACG to provide the Commission “at least 30 days prior to adoption” of their Long Range Transportation Plan a GHG Transportation Report (Report) containing a GHG emissions analysis, and if applicable a GHG Mitigation Action Plan, demonstrating that the Applicable Planning Document is in compliance with the GHG Reduction Levels in Table 1 of the Planning Rules; and
Whereas, under 8.05 of the Planning Rules, “The Commission, within thirty days of receipt of the GHG Transportation Report or at the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting, whichever is later, shall determine whether the applicable GHG Reduction Levels in Table 1 have been met and the sufficiency of any GHG Mitigation Measures needed for compliance”; and
Whereas, on December 12, 2024, the Commission received PPACG’s GHG Report reflecting the results of modeling their 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan for the PPACG area; and
Whereas, CDOT modeling staff expect that PPACG complete work to reevaluate population growth and land use assumptions contained in their 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan and recalculate associated GHG baseline emissions prior to PPACG’s next submittal of a GHG Transportation report; and
Whereas, the December 2024 GHG Transportation Report concludes that PPACG will achieve the required reduction levels under the Planning Rules; and
Now Therefore Be It Resolved, after review and consideration of the PPACG Report, the Commission finds the Report and PPACG to be in compliance with the Planning Rules of the State of Colorado.
/s/
Herman Stockinger, Secretary
Transportation Commission of Colorado