Carbondale is gearing up for a new transportation initiative by introducing Downtowner Carbondale — a free, on-demand ride service set to debut on July 1. This service hopes to enhance mobility and convenience for residents, workers and visitors alike.
In a recent interview with The Sopris Sun, Carbondale Planning Director Jared Barnes and Town Manager Lauren Gister discussed what’s new with Carbondale’s transportation options.
In 2016, Aspen decided to implement the Downtowner Aspen service to address the lack of available parking and congestion in Aspen’s downtown core. In 2022, Basalt launched Basalt Connect, an on-demand transit service in partnership with the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), providing transportation to and from downtown Basalt, Willits and nearby neighborhoods.
In late 2021, RFTA announced a new $3 million first-and-last-mile mobility grant program to further transportation solutions within the Roaring Fork Valley.
Carbondale secured a RFTA grant to fund a six-month pilot program, commencing on July 1 and running through Dec. 31. This initiative requires a 50% match of $181,500 from the Town of Carbondale, with potential plans to extend the service into a full-year operation in 2025, pending ridership usage, community feedback and budget considerations, Barnes shared.
Earlier this month, informational flyers were mailed to households across Carbondale, telling residents about the service’s availability and benefits. According to Gister, monthly feedback and ridership data collected during the pilot phase will be crucial in shaping the service’s future. “We will have everything from response times to the most popular hours and frequent destinations. We’ll learn which neighborhoods are being heavily served and others that have just begun using the service,” she explained.
The flexibility inherent in the Downtowner model allows for real-time adjustments based on user feedback. “It’s extremely easy for them to say, ‘Let’s change the service hours,’ or, ‘Let’s change this service area a little bit.’ We can work with them to update our services,” Barnes said.
Operating seven days a week, Downtowner Carbondale will run from 7am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 10pm on weekends. The service promises a maximum wait time of 20 minutes, though actual wait times are expected to average between 10 and 15 minutes.
The Downtowner company, a national entity known for its eco-conscious minibus fleet, will provide shared rides, ensuring efficiency without compromising comfort or sustainability. Future plans may include transitioning to electric or hybrid vehicles to better align with Carbondale’s green initiatives by promoting environmentally-friendly transportation alternatives.
Barnes said if the service is renewed in 2025 after the pilot program ends, Carbondale residents could rename the rider service or participate in a logo design competition.
“If we move forward with the service long term, we want our community to tell us what they want it to be named. There are so many creative people in the community, and we think they could come up with a better name than three or four of us sitting here in an office,” he said.
Looking ahead, Barnes and Gister expressed optimism about the Downtowner’s impact on local transportation dynamics. They envision it as a pivotal link in Carbondale’s multimodal transit network and complement to existing services like RFTA’s Carbondale Circulator buses and WE-cycle, the local bike-share nonprofit that launched services in Carbondale last August.
The initiative aims to improve quality of life by providing convenient, accessible and sustainable transportation solutions tailored to Carbondale’s needs. “I’m very optimistic that it’s going to fill in those little gaps all over town,” Gister concluded.
For further updates and details on Downtowner Carbondale, visit the official Town of Carbondale at www.bit.ly/CdaleDowntowner