CDOT Receiving $23 Million in Federal Grants to Enhance Rapid and Zero-Emissions Transit in Roaring Fork Valley

COLORADO - The Colorado Department of Transportation is receiving nearly $23 million in federal grants that will be used by local partners to enhance green public transit in the Roaring Fork Valley.

"I’m thrilled to get this additional support for our state’s high-performing rapid bus service in the Roaring Fork Valley with two grants that will help upgrade and modernize the Snowmass Transit Station and support operations of a larger and increasingly electric fleet at the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “This is a great collaboration, and we look forward to ongoing federal investment in our rapidly growing regions.”

The funding is coming through the Federal Transit Administration's Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program, which provides states resources to replace, rehabilitate and buy buses and related equipment. The state, working together with local partners, will be applying for additional federal support to expand transit in this and other critical corridors, providing more options to consumers.

“RFTA is a vital connector for the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys for people to commute to work and school and to enjoy our incredible mountain communities. This federal grant funding will allow RFTA to continue to improve efficiency for the regional bus system and better connect our communities and economies in the Valley,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet.

RFTA CEO Dan Blankenship, CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew, Sen. Michael Bennet and Sen. John Hickenlooper took a ride on one of RFTA’s new electric buses to learn more about bus rapid transit in the Roaring Fork Valley. State and local partners will be pursuing an upcoming federal grant to support expanded RFTA operations in Glenwood Springs as well as better transit connections to neighboring communities along the I-70 corridor.

“More federal grant dollars for Coloradans!" said U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, who sits on the Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. "Connecting our rural towns with clean public transit is a win for communities and the environment.”

CDOT is receiving $9.4 million on behalf of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority to build a bus maintenance and storage facility and support charging infrastructure. RFTA serves the Roaring Fork Valley, with service stretching from Aspen to Rifle and serving Basalt, Snowmass Village, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. The project will also allow RFTA to enhance its maintenance capabilities to support a larger and modern zero-emission fleet.

“With population in Garfield County forecasted to grow by over 50% in the next 30 years, RFTA needs a larger facility to support the fleet required to meet the anticipated increase in ridership,” said Dan Blankenship, RFTA’s chief executive officer. “In the years ahead, the facility will also enable RFTA to transition to a fleet of zero-emissions vehicles and operate them on its regional commuter routes serving communities in the I-70 and Highway 82 corridors.”

Meanwhile, CDOT is also getting a $13.5 million grant on behalf of the Town of Snowmass Village to build a multi-modal transit station that will improve operations for regional and local buses. CDOT’s 10-Year Plan also provides support for this important project, which will feature bike and pedestrian improvements, accessibility features and safety measures addressing future pedestrian and vehicle touch points.

“The town is grateful for this financial partnership,” said Snowmass Village Town Manager Clint Kinney. “This new transit center will be a critical piece of infrastructure that will help the community meet many of our environmental, transportation, and resiliency goals. The grant allows us to bring this project to fruition.”

“RFTA stands out as a national leader providing a high level of transit service and connecting communities and people throughout a vibrant corridor that serves a growing workforce and residential communities, as well as the ecotourism economy,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “CDOT is pleased to be an ongoing partner in these efforts, not only through sponsoring this grant application, but also through investments in these projects through our 10-Year Plan as well as grants to RFTA and Glenwood Springs through Revitalizing Main Streets Program and ongoing improvements to Colorado 82.”