Three Reasons We Support a Yampa Valley RTA

Friends of YVRTA believes the formation of a local RTA is essential to our community's sustainability, vitality, and quality of life. Here's a few reasons why:

1) Workforce & Accessibility

A regional transportation authority connects local people to local opportunities.

By increasing the investment in transportation options, an RTA connects housing options across the valley (from Craig to Oak Creek) to locals' workplaces in Steamboat Springs or elsewhere. This improves economic vitality and quality of life in our community by:

• Addressing critical workforce shortages for Yampa Valley business owners
• Limiting the disruptions of hazardous weather conditions
• Reducing employee turnover and recruitment costs by increasing employees' options

An RTA also increases overall accessibility for all residents and visitors because:

• Youth gain independence to safely access jobs and activities
• Seniors maintain mobility and dignity with options that allow them to travel on their own
• Workers can travel much easier and safer between affordable housing areas and high-cost areas
• Visitors travel safely in unfamiliar winter weather conditions

2) Traffic & Safety

Offering alternative modes of transportation through an RTA alleviates the pressure on our region's roads and traffic by:

• Reducing the number cars on the road
• Limiting the need for expensive highway expansion projects
• Creating a fiscally responsible solution to transportation challenges

3) Proven Success Stories in Colorado

There are a handful of success stories in other Colorado mountain regions that prove the viability of an RTA. Examples for us to follow include:

• Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (Aspen/Glenwood Springs area)
• Gunnison Valley RTA
• Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority
• San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation (Telluride area)
• South Platte Valley RTA
• Eagle Valley

Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) ridership data tells us:

• RTA use increased from 4.1 million rides in 2011 to 5.5 million rides in 2018, or 30% growth in 7 years
• VelociRFTA Bus Rapid Transit dramatically increased ridership

Join us in supporting the YVRTA today!