Glenwood Springs

Garfield County Communities May Get Another Shot at RFTA

RFTA’s board of directors appointed a subcommittee “to plan outreach to Garfield County communities regarding joining RFTA and/or forming a Garfield County Regional Transit Authority,” the Aspen Daily News reported. Voters in Silt, Rifle and Garfield County as a whole have rejected charging a sales tax to contribute to RFTA in past elections, but those were years ago.

RFTA officials say it is vital to beef up transit in western Garfield County because two recent origination and destination studies of traffic show roughly 50% of the morning rush hour traffic passing through Glenwood Springs to points south come from western Garfield County. RFTA currently operates limited bus service on the Grand Hogback route between Rifle and Glenwood Springs. For 2023, the cost is estimated at $3.8 million. Garfield County is contributing $550,000 and Rifle is contributing $20,000. Silt and Parachute are not contributing for the Grand Hogback service, but Parachute doesn’t receive RFTA service. The balance of approximately $2.78 million is being funded by RFTA. Elected officials and some residents of western Garfield County are wary of implementing a sales tax in their communities because they feel it just subsidizes upper Roaring Fork Valley interests and their import of workers who cannot afford to live in Pitkin County.