The June 12 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board meeting opened with public comments. Several community members proposed solutions for improving community services. Teresa Salvatore lives in Satank and asked RFTA to improve river access there. She said it is a public amenity that deserves more attention.
Next, Aspen High School Principal Sarah Strassburger joined online to propose a bus connecting school campuses with the Brush Creek intercept lot and Aspen Recreation Center. “I wondered if that could be considered as a way to have fewer cars on the road and make it easier for kids to get to campus,” she said. Greg Poschman asked if that’s a service school buses could provide. Strassburger clarified that her request was to incentivize high school students using public transit.
During board comments, Aspen Mayor Rachel Richards shared that the City of Aspen has confirmed funding for this autumn’s fare-free pilot. She thanked CEO Kurt Ravenschlag and other board members for participating in the Roaring Fork Transportation Coalition meetings, emphasizing the importance of RFTA’s perspective in those conversations.
The board then considered two resolutions for consent and authorization. Sustainability Director David Johnson shared Resolution 2025-22, authorization to request the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to fund up to $300,000 with a match program. These funds would improve roadway safety, repair bridges and expand transit offerings. Because the grant program requires matching, RFTA would be obligated to meet CDOT’s commitment, up to $300,000.
Next, Johnson outlined Resolution 2025-23, another authorization to request CDOT grant funding for up to $1,800,000 in a matching grant program. Like the first request, if approved, the grant would require RFTA to match the funds granted. This grant is part of a Federal Transit Administration program for non-urbanized areas — providing capital, planning and operations assistance to rural areas with populations of less than 50,000. CDOT allocates the federal funds apportioned to the state. Both resolutions were authorized without discussion.
In the first presentation, Chief Operating Officer David Pesnichak talked about the RFTA shuttle service between Aspen Highlands and Maroon Lake. Maroon Bells Shuttle revenue has begun to plateau and level with the operating cost over the past five years. Annual Maroon Bells Shuttle ridership from 2021 to 2024 has been almost double pre-2021.
Pesnichak introduced Jennifer Schuller, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District deputy district ranger for the White River National Forest. Schuller shared Forest Service updates for the summer of 2025, and how the Forest Service uses RFTA shuttle revenue to cover the costs of interns from the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps serving at the Maroon Portal area. Despite partnerships with other local agencies to staff the area, Schuller said that service is down 50% based on federal budget cuts to the Forest Service.
She reiterated that recreation facilities near Maroon Lake will be limited this year, as Forest Service management will not be running hydroelectric services or water treatment. This greatly reduces the bathroom capacity. The large toilet bunker will be closed and the limited potable water fountains near the lake will not be functional. The Forest Service will encourage riders to fill up on water and use the bathrooms at Highlands before riding the shuttle.
The board brainstormed several potential solutions for mediating electricity and hydration issues at Maroon Lake. Detailed conversation around these limitations took up a significant portion of the meeting. Interested community members can view a video recording of the full meeting at www.rfta.com/board-meetings
The next board meeting will occur on July 10 at 8:30am in Carbondale. The public is also able to join via Webex. An agenda will be available at www.rfta.com a week ahead of the meeting.