County signs letter supporting Parachute’s Clean Transit Enterprise application to expand service to Rifle

The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a letter of support for the Town of Parachute’s Clean Transit Enterprise (CTE) application to expand local transit service.

Vinnie Tomasulo presented the application to the board and said the CTE funding opportunity — described at the meeting as the Senate Bill Local Transit Operations Program — supports applicants that propose to expand service beyond current operations. Tomasulo said the town is seeking funds to expand Parachute Area Transit service toward Rifle and to pilot on‑demand service, and that the town is considering contracting operation and trip-planning technology from a third party, described in the presentation as the Downtowner.

The nut graf: County staff and the applicant told commissioners the grant is designed to fund expansion-level work rather than day‑to‑day operations; Parachute officials said the requested funding would allow a pilot that collects ridership data and improves route efficiency.

Tomasulo said the town would leverage existing town transit infrastructure, including buses and fueling, and would use the grant to secure additional service and technology that could provide on‑demand trips that are not currently available. Commissioners asked about contract length and whether the project would replace the existing Parachute service — Tomasulo said it would “include what currently is Pat's” and be an expansion that uses existing town assets.

The board approved the letter of support and allowed the chair to sign, without an identified county financial commitment at the meeting. Staff will transmit the signed letter to the Town of Parachute for inclusion with its CTE application.