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ENLARGE
The Elected Officials Transportation Committee (EOTC) will soon meet to decide the fate of the free shuttle experiment that we have been running between Aspen and Snowmass. There will be several good arguments for keeping the free service and there will be several for returning to fare service. I have no doubt it will be spirited. I do have doubt that they will do what I consider the right thing and keep it in place.
When voters passed the half-cent sales tax to benefit transportation, the general consensus held that it would mostly be dedicated to improving RFTA service. Number one in the set of priorities outlined by the language of the ballot question was “increased” and “improved” bus service. Park-and-ride lots came next. Purchasing the railroad right-of-way was third and “fixed guideway transportation” between Aspen and Snowmass was last.
As you can see we have achieved almost all of the goals set in the ballot with the exception of the fixed system between our two resorts. The grand experiment of dropping the fares for buses has been an absolute success and is the definintion of “increased” and “improved.” In February 2008, while RFTA ridership dropped on every other sector of the valley in February, it rose 2.8 percent to Snowmass. Remember, these numbers reflect pre-recession ridership and post-recession. Lodging numbers were down 11.8 percent in February 2009. One can only guess at the numbers had it been a “normal” year.
It is easy to take this a step further and say that this policy has decreased the number of cars on the road and especially entering Aspen. Getting people out of their cars and onto buses is the goal of transportation systems and transportation committees everywhere. I know that the rush hour leaving Aspen is no longer backed up to the Jerome. Heck, the line barely gets past the Hickory House these days. Some may blame this lack of traffic on the recession, but I can just as easily place it on the free bus.
Why would the EOTC want to take a successful policy away? The excuse will be that Aspen needs it for the so-called Entrance to Aspen. The debate over how to get into Aspen has gone on for at least three decades and has never been resolved. Saving for that day when a proven solution is in front of the EOTC is counterproductive.
In my opinion ,there are other motives behind potentially pulling funding for the free service. There seems to be a little animosity between the various organizations that control the upper valley. These dysfunctional relationships permeate all aspects of upper valley power structures, but that's another column. The Snowmass/Aspen problems go way back, but the most recent irritant is the Base Village.
Snowmass officials ramrodded the Base down the throats of all of us, including the other local governments. Denials of the impacts of the Base were common and there was no room for discussion as we rushed headlong into construction. One of those impacts was to RFTA.
Because of the arrogance of Snowmass officials, some on the EOTC board feel that Snowmass should pay for the impacts from its own coffers rather than the half-cent tax. We must move beyond this bickering. Just as I have to accept the Base in all its monstrous ordinariness, the EOTC must accept that it is here, too.
Aspen, Snowmass and Pitkin County are joined at the hip in symbiotic oneness. One can't exist without the other, though sometimes I think Aspen would like to try. Aspen's guests need to use the bus to access the easier runs of Snowmass mountain. Snowmass' guests need to use the bus to access the variety of restaurants and shopping that Aspen has to offer.
When you think about it the sales tax leakage that the Base was supposed to stop is exacerbated by the free bus service and Aspen is the prime beneficiary. We have to realize that our guests are going into Aspen no matter what we charge for the bus – fewer will use the bus, but they'll still go. Our guests will rent a car; the locals, who can least afford it, will go ahead and pay.
It is important that upper valley governments work together for our common good. We all are responsible for impacts to each other. Pitkin County allows 15,000 square feet McMansions that impact the entire valley. Aspen has two huge hotels and a third on the way, not to mention large employee housing projects generating traffic. Snowmass built half a base area that will generate hundreds of bus trips if it is ever finished. All upper valley governments are guilty of perpetuating growth and we all need each other to support what we have wrought.
Call your county representatives that have come out for dropping the free service. Rachel Richards and Jack Hatfield need to know what you think. While you're at it, call Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland and let him know how you feel. He probably won't care since you're from Snowmass, but tell him you feel joined at the hip in symbiotic oneness.
Everyone in this village should be calling these guys to express how important this issue is to Snowmass. From the employees to the lodges to the retailers, everyone should realize that keeping this policy in place is as important as any issue we face at this time.
Johnny's kid's book, First Tracks, is available online at amazon.com and www.ptopress.com. E-mail: snomasokist@msn.com
When voters passed the half-cent sales tax to benefit transportation, the general consensus held that it would mostly be dedicated to improving RFTA service. Number one in the set of priorities outlined by the language of the ballot question was “increased” and “improved” bus service. Park-and-ride lots came next. Purchasing the railroad right-of-way was third and “fixed guideway transportation” between Aspen and Snowmass was last.
As you can see we have achieved almost all of the goals set in the ballot with the exception of the fixed system between our two resorts. The grand experiment of dropping the fares for buses has been an absolute success and is the definintion of “increased” and “improved.” In February 2008, while RFTA ridership dropped on every other sector of the valley in February, it rose 2.8 percent to Snowmass. Remember, these numbers reflect pre-recession ridership and post-recession. Lodging numbers were down 11.8 percent in February 2009. One can only guess at the numbers had it been a “normal” year.
It is easy to take this a step further and say that this policy has decreased the number of cars on the road and especially entering Aspen. Getting people out of their cars and onto buses is the goal of transportation systems and transportation committees everywhere. I know that the rush hour leaving Aspen is no longer backed up to the Jerome. Heck, the line barely gets past the Hickory House these days. Some may blame this lack of traffic on the recession, but I can just as easily place it on the free bus.
Why would the EOTC want to take a successful policy away? The excuse will be that Aspen needs it for the so-called Entrance to Aspen. The debate over how to get into Aspen has gone on for at least three decades and has never been resolved. Saving for that day when a proven solution is in front of the EOTC is counterproductive.
In my opinion ,there are other motives behind potentially pulling funding for the free service. There seems to be a little animosity between the various organizations that control the upper valley. These dysfunctional relationships permeate all aspects of upper valley power structures, but that's another column. The Snowmass/Aspen problems go way back, but the most recent irritant is the Base Village.
Snowmass officials ramrodded the Base down the throats of all of us, including the other local governments. Denials of the impacts of the Base were common and there was no room for discussion as we rushed headlong into construction. One of those impacts was to RFTA.
Because of the arrogance of Snowmass officials, some on the EOTC board feel that Snowmass should pay for the impacts from its own coffers rather than the half-cent tax. We must move beyond this bickering. Just as I have to accept the Base in all its monstrous ordinariness, the EOTC must accept that it is here, too.
Aspen, Snowmass and Pitkin County are joined at the hip in symbiotic oneness. One can't exist without the other, though sometimes I think Aspen would like to try. Aspen's guests need to use the bus to access the easier runs of Snowmass mountain. Snowmass' guests need to use the bus to access the variety of restaurants and shopping that Aspen has to offer.
When you think about it the sales tax leakage that the Base was supposed to stop is exacerbated by the free bus service and Aspen is the prime beneficiary. We have to realize that our guests are going into Aspen no matter what we charge for the bus – fewer will use the bus, but they'll still go. Our guests will rent a car; the locals, who can least afford it, will go ahead and pay.
It is important that upper valley governments work together for our common good. We all are responsible for impacts to each other. Pitkin County allows 15,000 square feet McMansions that impact the entire valley. Aspen has two huge hotels and a third on the way, not to mention large employee housing projects generating traffic. Snowmass built half a base area that will generate hundreds of bus trips if it is ever finished. All upper valley governments are guilty of perpetuating growth and we all need each other to support what we have wrought.
Call your county representatives that have come out for dropping the free service. Rachel Richards and Jack Hatfield need to know what you think. While you're at it, call Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland and let him know how you feel. He probably won't care since you're from Snowmass, but tell him you feel joined at the hip in symbiotic oneness.
Everyone in this village should be calling these guys to express how important this issue is to Snowmass. From the employees to the lodges to the retailers, everyone should realize that keeping this policy in place is as important as any issue we face at this time.
Johnny's kid's book, First Tracks, is available online at amazon.com and www.ptopress.com. E-mail: snomasokist@msn.com
