The Northwest Chamber Alliance wants to keep Colorado moving by exempting RTD from the TABOR cap on voter approved funding for regional transit services.
Today, the Northwest Chamber Alliance announced its support of the November ballot measure (now known as measure 7A) that exempts the Regional Transportation District (RTD) from the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) cap on voter approved funding.
The Northwest Chamber Alliance speaks with one voice when there are threats to regional business interests. The transit services RTD provides are critical to ensuring that our regional workforce has convenient commute options. While there are shared concerns among the Northwest Chamber Alliance member chambers regarding the need for enhanced RTD transit services, they all recognize that arbitrary revenue cuts will only cause further service degradation.
“For Superior, this isn’t just about improving transit; it’s about ensuring our regional economy thrives,” said Superior Chamber of Executive Director Leslie Espinoza. “Removing funding caps will allow RTD to invest in better service quality and more sustainable transportation options, which are indispensable for attracting businesses and talent to our area.”
“The Latino Chamber of Commerce proudly supports RTD’s TABOR override initiative,” said Carla Collin, President of the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County. “This critical measure will ensure that our communities, particularly those in underserved areas, have access to reliable and equitable public transportation. By reinvesting in our transit system, we can strengthen economic opportunities, improve connectivity, and support the vibrant, diverse communities that make up our region.”
“The Lafayette Chamber is supporting NWCA’s position on this measure,” said Katey McNeil, Executive Director of the Lafayette Chamber. “With our Boulder County communities being so interconnected as is, and as a Chamber of Commerce supporting businesses and focusing on overall connectivity between people, services, jobs, etc., we feel a strong transportation system is integral to maintaining, and increasing, our healthy community.”
“The Broomfield Area Chamber does share concerns about the level of RTD service in our community. However, we also realize that potential revenue cuts to the agency will not help us resolve those concerns,” said Pat Monacelli, President and CEO of the Broomfield Area Chamber. “As such, and because a strong transportation system is vital to business growth and enhancing connectivity, our chamber is supporting the NWCA position on this measure.”
“The Boulder Chamber, in keeping with the mobility advocacy leadership of our Transportation Connections team, stands with our regional chamber partners in demanding more of RTD,” said Boulder Chamber President and CEO John Tayer, “At the same time, we can’t hobble RTD with arbitrary funding caps. Let’s keep Colorado moving by making sure RTD has the voter approved funding to meet the needs of our regional workforce for reliable, accessible and sustainable transit services.”
Boulder Chamber President and CEO John Tayer will speak about the importance of transit to regional businesses tomorrow at the Keep Transit Moving campaign launch in Denver.
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About the Northwest Chamber Alliance
The Northwest Chamber Alliance – comprised of the Boulder Chamber, Broomfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Latino Chamber of Boulder County, Louisville Chamber of Commerce, Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce, and Superior Chamber of Commerce – was formed in 2016 as a coalition of chambers focused on regional issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life. The Northwest Chamber Alliance member chambers of commerce represent approximately 380,000 employees and 3,700 businesses, ranging from large international corporations to small businesses, startups, nonprofits and public institutions.