Pitkin County considers Buttermilk winter parking options as ski company offers $200,000 to keep lot free

Pitkin County commissioners on Oct. 7 discussed two options for winter parking management at the Buttermilk ski-area lot: instituting paid parking at about $15 per space per day, or accepting the ski company’s offer to contribute roughly $200,000 to keep parking free for the winter season while the county and partners work on a longer-term transportation demand management plan.

County staff described the paid-parking option as one that could generate “just north of $400,000” depending on actual rates and uptake and would underwrite lot management and additional shuttles; staff said summer paid parking generated about $14,000–$15,000. The alternative under discussion is managed free parking at Buttermilk with a contribution from the ski company to offset county revenue losses.

County staff member Brian Pettit said the paid-parking idea is intended to “manage transportation demand beyond where the free parking is at the intercept lot” and to use any parking revenue to “provide more incentive to get people out of their cars by having direct shuttles.” Pettit said the county and the ski company met multiple times but had not reached full agreement and were offering two options for the board to consider.

Jeff, a representative of the ski company, told commissioners that the ski company’s preference is to delay a change this winter and…