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Chaffee County presses CDOT for data after request for $143,000 local match for second Outrider route
Summary
County staff briefed commissioners on a Colorado Department of Transportation request for a $143,000 local match to underwrite a second intercity bus route; commissioners asked for more granular ridership and origin‑destination data and directed staff to continue negotiations with CDOT.
County staff briefed the Chaffee County Board of Commissioners Nov. 12 on a request from the Colorado Department of Transportation for local cost‑share support of roughly $143,000 to help underwrite a second Outrider intercity bus route serving Chaffee and Gunnison counties.
Staff (identified in the transcript as Beth) said CDOT reported about a 900‑person ridership increase — roughly a 25% increase over a comparable prior period — after adding the second route and asked the county for more granular origin‑destination and boarding data to determine who benefits and whether the local subsidy is justified. Staff also said Gunnison Valley Regional Transportation Authority has approved a placeholder for the same amount and that CDOT derived the request by taking total route cost, deducting farebox revenues and proposing a 50/50 split between the state and local jurisdictions.
Commissioners generally expressed support for transit but questioned whether Chaffee County should be the first jurisdiction to adopt this cost‑sharing approach and asked staff to negotiate better terms and to provide more detailed ridership and demographic data, including whether riders are local residents, tourists, commuters or weekend visitors. Commissioners also asked staff to explore alternate timing for any subsidy, for example aligning subsidy start with the state fiscal year (July 1) rather than the county calendar (Jan. 1), and to pursue reservation systems or other measures that would clarify who uses the service.
Staff said CDOT indicated the requested cost‑share would need to be in effect by Jan. 1, 2026 for CDOT's calendar planning, and staff will return with more detailed data and scenarios for commissioners to consider.
Why it matters: The request would represent a new model of state–local cost sharing for rural intercity transit, with potential local budget impacts and benefits for vehicle‑miles‑reduced and tourist access to the valley. Commissioners requested additional evidence to weigh local priorities against limited county budget capacity.
