The first Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board meeting of the year started quietly and quickly. There were no public comments or additions to the agenda. The group swiftly approved the December meeting’s minutes and moved on to board member comments.
Board comments
Several board members spent time reflecting on how much they appreciate RFTA bus operators and expressed gratitude for the access to transport during the holidays. “It’s so nice to have a solid backbone,” said Chair Greg Poschman. He later announced that RFTA is receiving a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) federal grant.
Art Riddle of New Castle thanked RFTA for cleaning up the Park and Ride there and extending patience with the construction of a new roundabout in that area.
Tom Fridstein, the Snowmass Village alternate, provided an update on the vision for the transit center at the Village Mall. Snowmass is hoping to have a multilevel center, with the RFTA buses on the top level and Village shuttle buses below that on the ground level. The plan at present has six positions for RFTA buses and seven positions for shuttle buses. Snowmass Village is aiming to start work on this by March, given stipulations around a federal grant received. The community will explore financing options to make up for a possible shortfall between the grant and total project costs.
The board then proceeded to the consent agenda. Three items were quickly approved: a settlement agreement and mutual release of claims along Rio Grande Trail corridor in Carbondale, the designation of a Glenwood Springs location for posting public notice of RFTA board meetings (Blake Street Offices) and an intergovernmental agreement to provide additional Hogback transit service routes in unincorporated Garfield County.
Looking back and forward
CEO Kurt Ravenschlag shared a review of what the organization accomplished in 2024. Two notable achievements included 5 million riders across RFTA services and 5.2 million miles driven by RFTA buses. Ravenschlag noted that the ridership increase is a significant win for the organization, as ridership had dropped to 2.6 million in 2020 and has slowly increased back toward the previous standard. RFTA also completed over 15,000 paratransit rides within the service area and counted nearly 291,000 trail users on the Rio Grande Trail.
Across 2024, the organization secured over $48 million in funding grants: $32.8 million in federal grants for the Glenwood Springs maintenance facility expansion and $15.5 million in state funding to expand the electric bus fleet. The maintenance facility is a major project which will support downvalley and Hogback service capabilities and bus operator resources. RFTA has entered a contract with a U.S.-based electric bus manufacturer for the 10 new buses.
Last year, RFTA was honored as a Climate Champion by the Federal Transit Administration in recognition of the work it is doing to further eco-friendly transportation alternatives, from bikeshare programs to expanding electric vehicle services. Ravenschlag’s induction as CEO in September of last year also marked RFTA’s first CEO change since 1988. The organization also finalized and passed a new five-year plan, which will shape strategy into 2029. That included the adoption of an official Climate Action Plan for reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, and a Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Plan to have a fully electric fleet by 2050.
Other accomplishments included awarding nearly $765,000 to support first and last-mile mobility in member jurisdictions, WE-cycle surpassing 250,000 riders and the success and frequent use of the Basalt Connect and Carbondale Downtowner local microtransit services.
Completion of the Glenwood Springs 27th Street underpasses addressed risky pedestrian highway crossings. The project employed 678 people outside of RFTA and was completed on time and within its $22 million budget. Work on the Glenwood Maintenance Facility also made progress, with the Bus Operations Center opening last month. So far the latter project has employed 840 people outside of RFTA.
Looking ahead, RFTA anticipates additional Iron Mountain Place housing units being ready for its employees soon. Ravenschlag then introduced the 2025 work plan. One of the top priorities is the Rio Grande Trail corridor, reducing private landowner encroachments on the trail and implementing a public communication campaign to improve awareness and understanding of the corridor’s purpose and function. It was originally purchased for a commuter rail, and RFTA continues to maintain it according to those standards.
RFTA also plans to continue increasing first and last mile mobility solutions this year. Implementing a new housing policy including a housing stipend to support employees is another priority. Further details and goals of the 2025 work plan can be found in the board agenda packet on RFTA’s website.
The next meeting will occur Feb. 13 at 8:30am in Carbondale. The public is also able to join via Webex. More details will be available on www.rfta.com the week ahead of the meeting.