Transit Access

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date field was empty in the metadata; only the start dates for requirements (June 30, 2027) are known from the summary text.

Transit Access Act

This law requires large transit agencies in Colorado to display clear maps and fare information, translate public materials into widely spoken languages, and submit annual progress reports.

What This Bill Does

• Requires covered transit agencies to display clear, up-to-date system maps at rail stations, bus stations, and rapid transit stops starting June 30, 2027.
• Mandates that fare rates, discount program rules, and application instructions are available online and posted in vehicles and at shelters with signs.
• Allows agencies to use summary information or QR codes linking to websites instead of printing all details on physical signs.
• Requires public transit information like schedules and rider rights to be translated into languages widely spoken in the counties where the agency operates, or as required by existing language access plans.
• Orders covered agencies to submit an annual report on their progress by January 31, starting in 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

• Transit agencies with at least one million unlinked passenger trips in the most recent year.
• Agencies that are not the Colorado Department of Transportation or regional authorities that only fund but do not run transit services.
• The Governor and the transportation committees of the General Assembly, who receive annual reports.

Terms To Know

Unlinked passenger trips

A count used to measure how many people use transit services by counting each time a rider boards a vehicle or train.

Covered transit agency

Large transit agencies that must follow the new rules in this law because they meet specific size and service requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

• Agencies do not have to replace existing signs or maps immediately; updates are only needed when signage is regularly scheduled for replacement.
• The effective date of the law has not been specified in the provided text, though rules begin on June 30, 2027.

Official Summary Text

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.)