2030 Intermountain Regional Transit Element Prepared for TRANSPORTATION Intermountain Transportation Planning Region CONSULTANTS, INC. Intermountain TPR Transit Element Final Report Prepared for: Intermountain Transportation Planning Region under contract to Roaring Fork Transportation Authority 0051 Service Center Drive Aspen, CO 81611 (970) 920-1905 Prepared by: LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. 101 North Tejon Street, Suite 200 Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (719) 633-2868 LSC #026121 June 10, 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Title Page I INTRODUCTION ............................................I-1 Project Purpose.............................................I-1 Organization of This Report....................................I-3 Study Approach .............................................I-4 Initial Kick-Off Meeting.....................................I-4 Intermountain Regional Transportation Plan Vision Statement..........I-4 Summary of the Issues .......................................I-5 Goals and Objectives.........................................I-6 II SOCIOECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE ................ II-1 Eagle County.............................................. II-1 Garfield County............................................ II-3 Lake County .............................................. II-3 Pitkin County ............................................. II-3 Summit County............................................ II-4 Transportation System Overview ............................... II-4 Railroads .............................................. II-4 Aviation Facilities ........................................ II-5 Major Transit Destinations.................................... II-5 Study Area Demographics .................................... II-7 2000 Population ......................................... II-7 Transit-Dependent Populations............................. II-14 Youth Population..................................... II-14 Elderly Population.................................... II-17 Mobility-Limited Population ............................. II-17 Low-Income Population................................ II-17 Zero-Vehicle Households............................... II-24 Population Projections ................................... II-27 Seasonal Population..................................... II-28 Economy and Employment................................ II-29 Major Employers........................................ II-31 III EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS .........................III-1 Introduction ..............................................III-1 Public Providers............................................III-1 Avon/Beaver Creek Transit.................................III-1 Avon Transit Service Overview............................III-1 Beaver Creek Transit Service.............................III-2 Summary of All Services ................................III-2 Performance Measures..................................III-3 Vehicle Fleet .........................................III-4 Cost Allocation Model ..................................III-4 Funding ............................................III-5 Avon/Beaver Creek Transit Needs .........................III-6 Breckenridge Ski Resort...................................III-6 Colorado Mountain College.................................III-7 Service Overview ......................................III-7 Summary of Service....................................III-8 Performance Measures..................................III-9 Vehicle Fleet .........................................III-9 Cost Allocation Model .................................III-10 Funding ...........................................III-11 Colorado Mountain College Transit Needs ..................III-12 Copper Mountain Resort..................................III-12 Eagle County Regional Transportation Authority................III-12 ECO Transit Service Overview ...........................III-13 Summary of Service...................................III-14 Performance Measures.................................III-14 Vehicle Fleet ........................................III-14 Cost Allocation Model .................................III-15 Funding ...........................................III-16 ECO Transit Needs ...................................III-16 Keystone Ski Resort .....................................III-17 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) .................III-17 RFTA Services.......................................III-18 City of Aspen Services.................................III-18 Glenwood Springs Services .............................III-19 Valley Services.......................................III-19 Other Services.......................................III-20 Summary of All Services ...............................III-21 Performance Measures.................................III-22 Vehicle Fleet ........................................III-22 Cost Allocation Model .................................III-24 Funding ...........................................III-25 Summary of RFTA Needs...............................III-26 Summit Stage..........................................III-28 Summit Stage Service Overview..........................III-28 Summary of Service...................................III-30 Performance Measures.................................III-31 Vehicle Fleet ........................................III-31 Cost Allocation Model .................................III-33 Funding ...........................................III-35 Summary of Summit Stage Transit Needs ..................III-35 Town of Breckenridge....................................III-36 Town of Breckenridge Service Overview ....................III-36 Summary of Services..................................III-38 Town of Vail...........................................III-38 Vail Transit Service Overview............................III-39 Summary of Service...................................III-40 Short-Term Transit Need..................................III-40 Town of Snowmass Village Shuttle ..........................III-40 Winter Service.......................................III-41 Summer Service .....................................III-42 Summary of All Services ...............................III-42 Performance Measures.................................III-43 Vehicle Fleet ........................................III-43 Cost Allocation Models.................................III-44 Funding ...........................................III-47 Summary of Village Shuttle Needs ........................III-47 Other Transportation Providers ...............................III-48 Colorado Mountain Express (CME) ..........................III-48 Greyhound Bus Lines....................................III-48 High Mountain Taxi .....................................III-48 Mountain Valley Developmental Services ......................III-49 Rainbow Riders, Inc......................................III-49 Timberline Express......................................III-50 School Districts ........................................III-50 Commercial Providers....................................III-50 Summary of Transit Agency Performance Measures................III-51 Transportation Right-of-Way Acquisition/Preservation ..............III-55 IV TRANSIT NEEDS ASSESSMENT................................IV-1 Introduction ..............................................IV-1 Community Input ..........................................IV-1 Rural Transit Demand Methodology.............................IV-1 TCRP Methodology Background .............................IV-2 Non-Program Demand..................................IV-2 Program Trip Demand..................................IV-8 Summary of TCRP Methodology .............................IV-8 Transit Needs and Benefits Study (TNBS).........................IV-9 Unmet Needs ..........................................IV-10 Ridership Trends..........................................IV-10 V VALUES, VISION, AND GOALS................................. V-1 Review of Regional Vision Document ............................ V-1 Development of a Transit Vision - Values ......................... V-1 Sustainable Communities.................................. V-2 Mobility and Access ...................................... V-2 Quality of Life........................................... V-2 Recreation ............................................. V-3 Community Character .................................... V-3 Safe, Well-Planned Transportation ........................... V-3 Transit Strategy............................................ V-4 Regional Projects ........................................ V-5 Shared Regional Transit Strategies........................... V-5 VI TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES.....................................VI-1 Status Quo - Maintain Existing Level of Transit Service ..............VI-2 Transit Alternatives by Agency .................................VI-3 City of Aspen ...........................................VI-3 Town of Avon ...........................................VI-4 Colorado Mountain College - The Traveler......................VI-5 ECO - Eagle County Regional Transportation Authority............VI-6 Glenwood Springs........................................VI-7 RFTA - Roaring Fork Transportation Authority ..................VI-7 Summit Stage...........................................VI-8 Town of Breckenridge.....................................VI-9 Town of Vail...........................................VI-10 Town of Snowmass Village