City Council Minutes 2018 09 11 SP

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City Council Meeting Minutes September 11, 2018 Page 4 of 13 so there is concern in this region. There are cuts to key routes for our neighbors. The largest of which is to the LD which runs from Longmont, Lafayette to Denver without any transfers. This grant funding is coming to an end, instead of reducing service the suggestion is requiring a transfer to Flatiron Flyer (FF) to get to Denver. RTD proposed 3 routes including one through CTC. Louisville is interested in the CTC connection but Lafayette, Longmont and Boulder County are losing service on the LD and the 225. We are regionally working with RTD to get the CTC connection without compromising our neighbor's service. Looking for a solution before January or asking RTD for a delay in implementation. RTD is having public meetings and Davis encouraged people to attend and share their opinions. Next step is a decision from the RTD board. Councilmember Loo expressed concern this service doesn't reach the communities to the east that might be providing employees to the CTC. It would be nice to know where people in CTC are coming from and to where they need the connections. Councilmember Stolzmann noted there is a risk if this CTC route does poorly, RTD may be reluctant to add other services. Deputy City Manager Davis stated the RTD annual Northwest rail update includes a peak rail service conversation to get numbers to potentially run peak service Denver to Longmont morning and evening. We are continuing to look at this but there hasn't been a lot of momentum with BNSF. RTD is hoping to get some numbers from BNSF, they can't assess feasibility without it. RTD might have more funding available in 2027. RTD stated they are committed to exploring possibilities. Mayor Pro Tem Lipton stated he was shocked at the numbers for rail service; $120M up front and $14M for operations plus BNSF lease costs. He asked if they have a cost per boarding as it would be small number of trains at this point. Councilmember Stolzmann stated the number the County is putting out now, based on a lot of assumptions, is about $85 per trip. Mayor Pro Tem Lipton stated someone needs to ask if this is the best or most cost- effective solution. At some point we have to make it cost effective. Outside the issue of equity for Longmont, we need to look at all altematives. Councilmember Stolzmann stated the Hwy 119 bus cost is $500M right now. She felt there is a need to look at the two projects together as a region and determine the best solution. Councilmember Maloney agreed but wanted to see all the studies before having those discussions. Mayor Pro Tem Lipton asked if money in the proposed transportation tax is dedicated to rail or can it be used for other options. Deputy City Manager Davis stated none of the ballot issue money is dedicated to rail but might have access to others funds for rail.