Keep Transit Moving: AARP Colorado endorses Ballot Measure 7A

Keep Transit Moving

If successful, the ballot measure will maintain the Regional Transportation District’s funding without raising taxes.

For Coloradans in the Denver metropolitan area, transit is on the November 5 ballot.

This election season aligns with the Regional Transportation District paying off bonds to finance the provider’s Southeast and Southwest light rail lines. In 1999, voters exempted RTD from Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) limitations, which means without action from voters, the agency will lose funding.

“Timing is everything,” Sara Schueneman, AARP Colorado state director, said. “Once the debt is paid, RTD’s budget reverts to lower levels, resulting in a budget cut for the provider.

“Folks in the Denver-area have the opportunity to pass Ballot Measure 7A November 5, which if successful, would maintain the transit system’s budget without raising taxes.”

Funding stemming from Ballot Measure 7A would pay for RTD’s operations, including repairs, maintenance, and safety and security measures at RTD bus and rail stations.

Access to affordable and accessible transportation is a major factor impacting older Denverites’ capabilities to age in place.

“Most people want to stay in their homes and communities as long as they can,” Schueneman said. “Doing so should not be dependent on a person’s desire or ability to drive a car.”

A 2022 study found that 77 percent of adults over the age of 50 want to age in place. To do so, they very well may need reliable transportation options to get to the doctor’s office, go grocery shopping, and visit friends and family.

“As a daily transit rider, I can attest to the need for robust transportation options for folks to get to where they need to go,” Schueneman said. “Voting yes for Ballot Measure 7A will keep transit improvements moving forward – a major benefit for our communities.”

Full Language for Ballot Measure 7A:

WITHOUT IMPOSING ANY NEW TAX OR INCREASING ANY TAX RATE, SHALL THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT’S (“RTD”) AUTHORIZATION TO COLLECT, RETAIN AND SPEND ALL REVENUES IT RECEIVES FROM ALL SOURCES, INCLUDING ITS SALES TAX REVENUES, GRANT FUNDS AND OTHER MONEYS LAWFULLY RECEIVED BY RTD FROM THE STATE OF COLORADO OR ANY OTHER SOURCE, ORIGINALLY APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN 1999, BE CONTINUED TO PERMIT RTD TO RETAIN REVENUE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE VITAL RTD SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION CHOICES TO LOCAL RESIDENTS BY MAINTAINING AND GROWING CURRENT LEVELS OF BUS, AND RAIL SERVICES;

• REPAIRING AND IMPROVING RAIL LINES, BUSES, BUS STOPS AND STATIONS AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE TO PRESERVE THE PUBLIC’S INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT;

• MAINTAINING THE AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES;

• CONTINUING TO PROVIDE CLEANER, MORE EFFICIENT METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION OTHER THAN DRIVING ON ROADS AND HIGHWAYS; AND

• PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR YOUTH 19 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER AT REDUCED OR NO FARES;

WITH ALL FUNDS SUBJECT TO INDEPENDENT AUDIT AND OVERSEEN BY THE ELECTED RTD BOARD; AS A VOTER APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE AND EXEMPTION FROM ANY REVENUE AND SPENDING LIMITATIONS UNDER ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION?