The Funding focus area is arguably the most important.  Reliable transportation funding is paramount to maintain progress and essential if the TMP hopes to meet current (and future) objectives.  This is the simple reality for Boulder and other communities across the country. 

Focus area key topic:
Transportation Maintenance Fee (TMF) • See TMF one-page fact sheet

Questions?  Check out the Transportation Funding FAQs.

June 18, 2013 - All potential ballot measures, including transportation funding will be discussed by City Council.

• See the council agenda item (Transportation item begins on pg. 110)

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April 9, 2013 - City Council discussed transportation funding at a Study Session.

• See the Study Session memo

At the meeting, council feedback included:

• general agreement that additional funding for transportation is needed;
• support of revenue levels that would cover basic operations and maintenance as well as funding for system enhancements;
• request for more analysis related to potential funding sources;and
• general support for a 2013 ballot measure.

See the complete Study Session summary.
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As part of the 2013 TMP Update, the Transportation Division is exploring funding mechanisms to better maintain the city’s extensive transportation system.    

Since 2001, transportation funding has stagnated while inflation and construction costs have increased.  This scenario creates a substantial gap in transportation’s purchasing power. 

In 2012, council endorsed staff and the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) to form a community task force to study and formulate options for a potential Transportation Maintenance Fee (TMF) and to consider other options to address the city’s significant unfunded transportation operations and maintenance needs.   See the TAB task force recommendations to city council (December 2012)

On Dec. 18, 2012, staff, TAB and the task force presented the TMF work to date.  At that time, council asked staff to get community feedback before a TMF Study Session on April 9, 2013.  

To gather input from Boulder residents, a telephone poll was conducted between Feb. 24 and March 5, 2013 by Talmey-Drake Research and Strategy, Inc.  The objectives of the poll were to gauge the likelihood of success for ballot initiatives to fund city transportation projects and measure the relative importance to voters of different transportation projects on which the new revenue might be spent.  The poll tested both a sales tax and a fee that would raise either $3.5 million or $5.5 million per year.

See polling result highlights

See the complete polling results report

Background documents

• Draft report from Tischler-Bise on Transportation Maintenance Fees (TMF)

This draft report explains a methodology for designing a TMF for Boulder. The report was completed prior to the formation of the TMF Task Force. The data contained in the report was used by the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) and the TMF Task Force in the development of their guiding principles and discussions on revenue, rates, discounts and exemptions.  The final report, anticipated to be completed in spring 2013, will be influenced by input from TAB and TMF Task Force and, ultimately, by City Council direction and further data analysis as needed.

• Update on the Transportation Maintenance Fee Process (Aug. 2012)
        Please refer to the May 2012 Transportation Funding Update below for more information.

• City Council Information Packet: Transportation Funding Update (May 29, 2012)

• City Council Memo: Funding of Operations and Maintenance of the Transportation System (Jan. 24, 2012)

• City Council Study Session Memo: Transportation Finance (Nov. 9, 2010)

• City Council Study Session Memo: Transportation Funding (Dec. 8, 2009)

• Transportation Funding Report (June 2009)