HB 26-1269

HB 26-1269, also known as the Transit Access Bill, requires large transit agencies serving over one million passengers annually in Colorado to implement several measures aimed at improving access for low-income individuals and those experiencing homelessness. These include offering discounted fares starting from June 30, 2027, providing free passes to homeless individuals and those receiving rental assistance, ensuring clear information is available online and on transit vehicles, translating important documents into widely spoken languages, and providing restroom alternatives if onboard facilities are unavailable. The bill also mandates annual reporting of progress to the governor and relevant committees. Since it has been signed, these requirements will become law as scheduled.

Official Summary

The act requires certain transit agencies that have at least one million unlinked passenger trips in the most recent year, and that are not the Colorado department of transportation or a regional transportation authority that provides funding for but does not directly provide transit services (covered transit agencies), to take specific actions to increase transit access.     On and after June 30, 2027, a covered transit agency shall ensure that clear, up-to-date transit system maps are displayed at all rail stations, bus stations, and bus rapid transit stops and that information on fare rates and structures and eligibility requirements and application instructions for fare discount programs is available online and displayed in all transit vehicles and at all rail stations, bus stations, and transit stops with a covered shelter. A covered transit agency may meet these requirements by displaying summary information and a link or quick response (QR) code to a website with detailed information. A covered transit agency is not required to replace its fixed signage, displays, or maps solely to comply with these new requirements and, instead, is only required to update the required information upon the regularly scheduled replacement of any signage, displays, or maps.     On and after June 30, 2027, a covered transit agency shall ensure that all publicly available information that it disseminates related to accessing its transit services, including fare structures, transit maps, service schedules, and the rights and responsibilities of transit riders, is translated into languages that are widely spoken in any county in which the covered transit agency operates or that are required by a covered transit agency's existing language access plan. A covered transit agency may use an existing language access plan to satisfy these language access requirements.     Covered transit agencies are required to annually report their progress on the action areas required by the act, and other required information, to the governor and a joint meeting of the transportation committees of the general assembly beginning on or before January 31, 2028, and on or before each January 31 thereafter. Covered transit agencies must post this annual report on a publicly accessible website. Covered transit agencies are only required to report information that they already collect and may satisfy any of the information required to be reported by referencing or including a link to a publicly accessible official report that includes the required information.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Topics

Related Legislation

Votes