The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
It’s an investment for the future
It looks like the Crested Butte South subdivision will get some winter bus service to complement the summer routes. The Mountain Express board of directors has agreed to run six trips a day into the residential area during ski season.
“The board felt it was in a position to look at it seriously,” said Roland Mason, board member and Crested Butte councilman. “The RTA [Rural Transportation Authority] doesn’t go in there in the winter because if the bus is full coming up from Gunnison, it can’t stop and pick up people. So the Mountain Express looks like it has the resources to start winter service.”
Mason said there would be three morning trips running from Crested Butte South to Mt. Crested Butte. Three more trips would run in the afternoon. A transit stop was built in Red Mountain Park that includes adequate parking for bikes and cars and is centrally located in the community. A weather shelter was recently relocated to that stop.
The total cost for the three and a half month service would be $49,500. Crested Butte South has pledged $16,500. The remainder of the cost would be picked up by Mountain Express. Mountain Express gets most of its funds through a sales tax collected in both Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. Board members were asking the CB and Mt. CB Councils for approval. They got it from both.
“Mountain Express has strong reserves and feels it is in a spot to do this,” added Glenn Michel, a fellow board and CB councilmember. “It should bring more people into town to spend money so there is a positive economic element to this. It could also be successful enough to deter the need for a large parking structure. It can be included in our overall transportation plan.”
Mountain Express executive director Chris Larsen said the service would begin December 15 and run through April 5. The new service would not include a late-night bus.
Crested Butte South Association manager Dom Eymere said details are still being worked out but getting winter bus service to the major subdivision is a plus for everyone.
“Year-round, meaningful bus service has been a top priority of the residents of the community and this is a great first step,” said Eymere. “With the RTA moving forward with spring, summer and fall service for the future, the Crested Butte South board of directors has approved the funds needed to provide for the service for this year. As a major population base and economic driver for the area, transportation ranks as the most important planning objective for the community, its health and development.
“As the third largest population in the county, a substantial work force and so many school children, this has been a major priority for a long time,” Eymere continued. “A special thanks goes out to Scott Truex and the RTA board for initiating a pilot program this summer. With an upfront investment in the infrastructure we demonstrated that Crested Butte South is a strong economic driver for the towns and county. And transportation being a major factor in the health and growth of the community, we are committing a major investment in the future.
Eymere said the winter service with the Mountain Express was “the next natural step in a comprehensive transportation plan and my board feels that the community is willing to take the next step in funding the service. The budget implications are enormous and as we approach the budget planning process for 2015 we are looking at different funding options.”
Mason was clear that the new service would only run through the ski season, but then the RTA will begin spring bus service to the subdivision.
“This is an investment in the future,” concluded Michel. “We all hope it is successful.”
