Eagle Valley Transportation Authority is making strides

A robust local transit system is important because it promotes mobility, reduces traffic congestion, contributes to environmental sustainability, saves money, fosters social equity, influences land use planning, and has a range of positive economic and public health effects.

Eagle River Valley voters overwhelmingly agreed with the need for transit, voting last November to support the creation of the Eagle Valley Transportation Authority (EVTA or RTA - these acronyms can be used interchangeably). The intergovernmental agreement that helped establish the RTA also established a transition plan for moving from the existing authority, ECO Transit, to the new one. It states that this transition is to take place within a 24-month period of its effective date.

We’re one year into the transition, and we are fortunate that the ballot language was prescriptive about what must happen as the EVTA gets started. First and foremost, the goal remains to expand transit service, express routes, and transportation options across the valley.

Good news for locals: the EVTA board and staff are making progress toward this goal a full year ahead of schedule. The board approved a 25 percent fair reduction on single rides, 24-hour passes, and 30-day unlimited passes. The board – made up of officials from the jurisdictions that voted yes on the ballot initiative – also approved increased service on the Highway 6 route this winter, with 40 busses eastbound and 42 busses westbound (an increase of 11 and 16 percent, respectively). The additional service includes a transition to a 30-minute frequency all day along this route.

More good news: the goal to establish a fare-free zone is moving forward. The EVTA board voted in October to approve fare-free service on the Vail-Beaver Creek Express route. This will give the EVTA a chance to study costs, vehicle/driver needs, ridership, etc. as it plans the full Vail to Edwards fare-free zone. Remember, the implementation was planned over multiple years and we’re making progress toward the goal.

The Vail-Beaver Creek Express connects the two busiest stops in the ECO Transit system – the Vail Transportation Center and Avon Station – with the important employment and activity centers of Beaver Creek Village and Lionshead Village. More than 70 percent of those using this route last season were ECO pass holders, reflecting its importance to local transit users.

This fare-free service also increases capacity and frequency, with the shuttle moving from hourly last year to every 20 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. This is expected to move riders from the overburdened Highway 6 route, resulting in improved capacity on those buses that are heavily used by local workers.

The EVTA board is obligated to put into motion provisions in the ballot language. There is a lot of potential for what the Eagle Valley Transportation Authority can do - beyond the specific projects identified in the ballot question. Importantly, the ballot language does not preclude the EVTA board from making other decisions that will improve access to transit across the entire region, including Eagle and Gypsum, even up to Lake County. For those who might feel Town of Eagle residents are being left out or underserved by the EVTA, please remember that Eagle will benefit from recent EVTA board actions, including fare reductions and efforts to increase frequency and capacity across the system.

At the end of the day, transit riders and community members need to express to their EVTA board members what improvements they want to see from EVTA. It is our community transit system, and it is ahead of schedule in its efforts to shape the livability and access to work and recreation in the Eagle River Valley.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, the regional chamber of commerce. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com