The Oct. 10 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board of directors meeting focused on the 2025 proposed budget and strategic planning. Before heading into the agenda, Vice Chair Greg Poschman and others commented on the significant upvalley traffic they noticed while traveling downvalley for the meeting in Carbondale. Others noted that daily traffic extends onto I-70 at the Glenwood Springs exit. There was a consensus that RFTA services are highly needed.
Poschman and the rest of the board honored departing Chair Shelley Kaup. Kaup, who, likewise, recently resigned from her position on Glenwood Springs City Council, introduced Councilor Erin Zalinski as the new RFTA board representative from the municipality.
Pitkin County Commissioner Kelly McNicholas Kury proposed a resolution in support of Ballot Issue 1A. The county’s ballot item aims to create a property tax increase to help fund additional affordable housing.
If passed, the cost increase would be roughly $10 a month for homeowners and $36 a month for commercial property owners. As proposed, the funds collected from the tax would be used to create 250 new housing units over 10 years.
The Pitkin County commissioners have identified two priorities: to house critical workforce — such as public safety workers, transit operators and teachers — and to preserve the county’s rural character. In regard to the latter, new affordable housing would be established close to public transit routes to help cut down on traffic. The RFTA board formalized its support for the ballot measure by unanimously passing Resolution 2024-17.
Budget Manager David Carle presented the second iteration of the 2025 proposed budget. Costs for various construction projects, such as the Iron Mountain Place housing project, are projected to increase operating costs. Estimated revenue for 2025 is $91.7 million, on top of an additional $18.2 million available in other financing. Projected 2025 expenditures amount to $103.1 million, leaving a net revenue of $6.8 million.
The RFTA budget committee anticipates a 12% increase in insurance premiums next year. However, that has been reduced from a projected 16% increase listed in the first draft of the budget.
The latest draft anticipates a 10% decrease in funding from Garfield County for the Hogback bus route. RFTA forecasts a $212,000 shortfall in 2025. The finance team recommended covering the gap so that services do not have to be reduced. Hogback services have seen the greatest increase in ridership. Projections indicate that a reduction in service would exacerbate traffic and negatively affect the community.
The drafted budget did not include $78 million for various strategic initiatives. Those anticipated budgetary expenditures include housing and bike-sharing, the latter being covered under the First and Last Mile Mobility (FLMM) program. A third draft of the 2025 budget will refine these items and be presented in November.
Chief Operations Officer David Pesnichak provided an in-depth presentation of four different options for the FLMM fund. Projections do not factor in the potential for additional partners, such as the Town of New Castle. Staff recommended Option C — a prioritized grant program that would provide funding in full for three years and then partial funding that would decrease by 10% each year as FLMM solutions become more established in partner communities.
While the budget team recommended Option C, the board was hesitant to adopt a resolution and opted to form a subcommittee, instead, that will look into available options in more detail.
CEO Kurt Ravenschlag noted that in early October, RFTA formally received an award from the Federal Transit Administration for its work in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The honor was announced in April but the trophy presentation just occurred at the TRANSform Conference in Anaheim, California.
RFTA Report: 2025 budget talks continue
