The March Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) meeting moved forward several easement resolutions, created new board member positions for representatives of Garfield County and the City of Rifle and considered funding strategy options for Hogback transit services beyond November 2026. While RFTA has assured Hogback commuter routes until November, the organization is seeking collaborative solutions with Silt, Rifle and Garfield County to ensure sustainable funding for those routes moving forward.
During public comment, Glenwood Springs homeowner Claire Graff stated that RFTA has the opportunity to take action on a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Glenwood Springs. Graff asked that RFTA, as a tenant of offices in the 100 Midland Avenue building, call for an investigation into the ICE facility in suites 110 and 210. Graff asserted that the ICE location’s missing permits and practices threaten RFTA staff and riders, and emphasized that given the transit organization’s role in the community, she felt it is obligated to speak on the matter. The City of Glenwood Springs is investigating alleged permit violations and other building-compliance issues of the federal offices in the Midland complex.
During board member comments, New Castle representative Art Riddile announced that it was his final RFTA meeting, resigning his position after 12 years serving on the board. Riddile is stepping down from the board and other leadership positions in New Castle to teach full-time at Coal Ridge High School. Board Chair Greg Poschman followed the announcement with a formal recognition of Riddile’s service on the board and in other community venues.
The board moved forward several resolutions on its consent agenda. These included an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) for services in unincorporated Garfield County and non-member municipalities for 2026, permanent easement agreements with Eagle County to support the El Jebel Intersection Improvements Project, formal approval for the legislative and communications protocol presented at the February meeting, a settlement agreement with the Colorado Department of Revenue (which will pay RFTA back $44,000 or half the taxes collected from the organization during the Iron Mountain Place renovation project) and authorization for RFTA to apply for Congressionally Directed Spending funds to purchase two new electric buses.
The board then moved to authorize two new non-voting board of director member positions, one each for Garfield County and the City of Rifle. Garfield County has had a provision for a RFTA board member position through an existing IGA for 20 years, but had not exercised the provision previously. The County recently asked to designate a representative. RFTA approved and appointed Tom Jankovsky to the new role. While the City of Rifle is not currently a RFTA member government, RFTA staff have recommended creating a non-voting board role to represent Rifle residents who use the Hogback services. Alicia Gresley was appointed to fill this new seat, which she had been unofficially representing since January. The Town of Silt has been invited to join the board if they are interested.
CEO Kurt Ravenschlag then presented an update on Hogback service funding. The current multi-stakeholder funding for the routes is confirmed through Nov. 22. The services have faced an increasing funding gap due to a combination of rising operating costs and decreasing Garfield County funding contributions. The County had until recently been the primary funder of the routes but signaled an end to funding after 2026.
Ravenschlag shared that RFTA has been meeting extensively with representatives from Garfield County, Rifle, Silt and the Colorado River Valley Transportation Forum in recent months. He said the discussions have shown momentum toward a potential collaborative solution. Silt Town Manager Jim Mann suggested two ballot measures for November, which would allow Garfield County to redirect library funding to fund the commuter service without creating new taxes.
If successful, the proposal would enable Garfield County to continue contributing $250,000 annually to support the service. Silt and Rifle would increase funding commitments, and RFTA would commit to the remaining gap of $400,000 to 500,000 per year. The stakeholders have discussed this potential solution as a short-term tactic to cover service funding for around five years, with the suggestion for western Garfield County communities to pursue full RFTA membership within the next five to six years.
There was energetic conversation on the topic from community members, including library representatives in opposition to Mann’s proposal. Ravenschlag emphasized that RFTA must make decisions by August 2026 regarding 2026-2027 winter season service. If ballot initiatives prove to be the best option, that may require RFTA to budget for full service for the winter without a guarantee of ballot items being approved by voters.
The next board meeting is on April 9 at 8:30am at Carbondale Town Hall. The public can also join online via Microsoft Teams. An agenda will be available at www.rfta.com a week ahead of the meeting. Community members can listen to meeting recordings via the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority YouTube channel.