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 […]
transportation
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: Budget approved, priorities discussed
The Dec. 11 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board meeting took place exclusively online. While the main order on the agenda was to host a public hearing for final approval of the 2026 budget, the meeting covered several other topics. Following roll call, Chair Greg Poschman welcomed Alicia Gresley, who has been appointed by the […]
Posted inLocal Government
Negotiations secure Hogback bus service in 2026
In early November, Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) CEO Kurt Ravenschlag presented to the Garfield County Commissioners. He was speaking to the role public transportation plays in regional commuting, and asked the commissioners to allot funds specifically to help cover RFTA’s Hogback services west of Glenwood Springs. Garfield County has contributed varying amounts toward this […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: Board approves grant applications to CDOT to support planned purchase of 23 new buses
As the calendar year heads to a close, Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) is preparing for future grant opportunities and long-term projects. The Nov. 13 board meeting included much momentum-focused conversation. The board also reviewed a second draft of the organization’s 2026 budget with plans to vote on the final version in December. There were […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: Goats at work, budget drafting and local collaborations
In mid-August, herds of goats once again appeared along the Rio Grande Trail between Catherine Store and Carbondale. The popular weed-mitigation program is now in its ninth year. Using the goats for corridor flora management helps the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) minimize pesticide use and build soil health. This year, RFTA started a contract […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: E-bikes, holiday bus capacity and Transportation Coalition dominate July meeting
This month’s online meeting started quickly with approval of the June minutes. During public comment, community member Kathleen Brehm spoke up about her injuries and experience stemming from a collision with an e-biker. She requested the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) and Pitkin County establish a self-report database for accidents and mechanisms for enforcement around […]
Posted inOpinion
CVEPA Views: You can’t get there from here
How long does it take to get to Marble? Gus Darien told me that when he was a young man he could hop on the train to Carbondale. The train stopped at his Marble ranch to take on water or maybe coal from Camp Genter Mine and cabbages and raspberries from Clotan Moore’s place above […]
Posted inLocal Government
Carbondale solicits input regarding temporary traffic features
It seemed like it was almost overnight that the streets of Carbondale were transformed with various temporary features installed throughout town. The designs align with Carbondale’s Mobility and Access Plan (MAP) and mimic some possible solutions to slow traffic and make Carbondale more friendly for all types of transportation — even if that’s your own […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: Board focuses on Maroon Bells service heading into summer
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 […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA housing capacity challenges highlight Valley housing obstacles
This spring, a former RFTA bus operator reached out to The Sopris Sun sharing concerns following the loss of his RFTA employee housing. Steve McQuiston worked for the transit authority for years, and has since moved out of the Valley. He said, “There is no way I could have remained in the Valley without a […]