RFTA

The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) has begun its 2011-12 Winter Season. RFTA’s Winter Season runs from December 10, 2011 through April 8, 2012. Go to www.rfta.com to see if your bus schedule has changed. Changes have occur on the Valley, Hogback, Aspen & Snowmass routes. Additionally the Four Mountain Connector bus will begin servicing the four Upvalley ski mountains. For additional information, call 970-925-8484.

This year’s Alternative Transportation Week event was an overwhelming success. We totally out-did last year’s trip numbers. Many thanks to all of the support we received from the teachers, parents, the school systems and especially all of the students who participated in this annual event.

The following is a list of the winning classes during “Alternative Transportation Week”.

CRYSTAL RIVER ELEMENTARY (Carbondale)

1st Place- Meg Burket’s class with 271 non-car trips.

Meg’s class won GRAND PRIZE over everyone who participated!

2nd Place- Ms. Kelly Stainton’s class.

3rd Place – Ms. Annie Metheny’s class

CARBONDALE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Winner – Mr. Ted Frisbee’s Class.

Honorable Mention – Mason & Greenwood’s Class

ROSS MONTESSORI SCHOOL (Carbondale)

Winner – Ms. Wendy’s Class

Honorable Mention – Ms. Amy’s Class

GLENWOOD SPRINGS ELEMENTARY

1st Place – Ms. Lora Smith’s class

2nd Place – Ms. Berkowitz’s class

3rd Place – Ms. Ingersoll’s class

SOPRIS ELEMENTARY (Glenwood Springs)

1st Place – Mrs. Cook’s class

2nd Place – Mrs. Friend’s class

3rd Place – Ms. Pat Davies’ class

KATHRYN SENOR ELEMENTARY (New Castle)

1st Place – Ms. Betty Rahn’s class

2nd Place – Mrs. Lord’s class

3rd Place – Mrs. Fox’s class

Alternative Transportation Week is October 3-7, 2011. The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority and the City of Aspen are sponsoring this event to encourage local students to use alternative transportation throughout the week. The idea is to encourage students to ride their bike, take the bus and to walk to school, your sports practice or to the grocery store instead of driving alone. The purpose is to promote health, safety, physical activity, and concern for the environment. Each trip you have without a vehicle means better health benefits for you and the environment. For additional information on Alternative Transportation Week, click here.

RFTA is proud to announce that our CEO Dan Blankenship was just named “Colorado’s 2011 Transit Administrator of the Year” by the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA).

This award is the highest and most prestigious award in Colorado’s public transit industry and is reserved for individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to public transit within the state of Colorado.

Dan was recongnized by fellow transit agencies from across the state at this year’s CASTA Annual Fall Transit Conference & EXPO that was held in Steamboat Springs on September 9, 2011. He was recognized for his outstanding transit leadership and his innovated accomplishments of leading RFTA to new heights by becoming the nation’s first rural bus rapid transit (BRT) system with its VelociRFTA.

Dan truly exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding public transportation leader – knowledgeable, dedicated and passionate. He has made RFTA one of the most successful public transit systems in the state of Colorado and possibly even the nation. Congratulations Dan! You definitely deserve this award.

Attention Local Contractors: Join us this evening from 4-7 pm at the Glenwood Springs Community Center for an educational Open House. RFTA will be having 60 to 100 contracts coming up next year and we want you to be informed on how to do business with us. Tonight’s Open House will consist of 10 minute presentations to be given every half hour, folks to answer any questions you may have about upcoming contracts and how to respond to RFPs. Food and beverages will be provided. We want to work with you, so please stop by and learn more. For addition information, Click Here.

Just an update on what will be happening in Aspen tomorrow! Just a reminder that due to the Aspen Pro Cycling Challenge coming to Aspen on Wednesday, August 24th, there will be the following the reroutes, road closures and parking limitations:

Starting Tuesday evening 8/23 – there will be a re-route on Main St. between Galena St. and Spring Strett. Also beginning Tuesday 8/23 Monarch Street will be closed from Durant St. to Hyman Ave. Street closures 8/24: Main St., Hopkins Ave., Hyman Ave. & Cooper St. from Original through Monarch St. starting at 6AM. There will be no parking starting on Tuesday evening on the streets that will be closed on 8/24. Please look out for the Yellow “No Parking” notices posted around Aspen for more details.

Independence Pass will be closed from 11am – 5pm* Subdivisions East of Aspen – Access to/from McSkimming, Knollwood, Stillwater, and Mountain Valley by vehicle will be limited on 8/24 and closed to through traffic from 2pm-5pm* The Rio Grande Parking Plaza will be closed on August 24. Handicap parking will be on Hunter St. between Durant and Cooper

The RFTA Hunter Creek bus route will not operate from approx. 10am – 6pm, Mountain Valley Dial-a-ride will not operate from approx. 11am- 5pm. For more informaiton please call 925-8484.

Carpool permits will not be issued because carpool parking will be closed or filled. Free and secure bicycle storage will be available at Francis Whittaker Park on the corner of Monarch St and Hopkins. For More information call, RFTA 925-8484, Parking: 920-5267 or go to www.aspenupcc.com.