Parachute Area Transit System (PATS) and representatives from the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA/RAVTA) discussed transit service and funding in western Garfield County during the Aug. 19 work session.

Travis (Parachute) said PATS has provided about 31,500 rides since coming into service and continues to connect Parachute, Battlement Mesa and Mesa to Rifle and Glenwood Springs. He said PATS's most popular stops are the Rifle Park-and-Ride and connections to regional transit. "Our most popular stops and drop off locations as well as pickup locations continues to be the Rifle Park And Ride," he said.

RFTA representatives said the Hogback route (the bus route connecting Rifle and Glenwood Springs) carries about 260 daily boardings originating outside RFTA's jurisdiction in Silt and Rifle and that those trips represent more than half of Hogback ridership. RFTA told commissioners a 2025 onboard survey found lower satisfaction on the Hogback relative to other services (54% vs. 80%), which RFTA said was largely due to limited service availability in Silt and Rifle and latent demand for more service.

Both PATS and RFTA discussed federal and state grant timelines and said fleet replacement relies on competitive federal grants; one replacement grant (for two PATS buses) was awarded but delivery timing may slip by roughly a year. Officials said PATS and RFTA are evaluating partnerships with third-party on-demand providers to expand flexible options, but noted on-demand service is more expensive. Commissioners acknowledged transit's role in moving workers and riders across long commuting distances; no county funding decisions were made at the session.