Grand - Jackson Transit Advisory Committee (TAC)
 

Memos/Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          January 20, 2000

PRESS RELEASE/PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ___________________________________

TAC GETS CDOT GRANT, APPRECIATES COMMUNITY SUPPORT

        On January 11^th, 2000 the Transit Advisory Committee (TAC) received word from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) that $15,000 in transit planning grant funds had been awarded to Grand and Jackson Counties pending approval of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).   Sue Ann Fitch, Chair of the TAC, said that the award of all the funds requested undoubtedly shows CDOT’s recognition of broad community support of this regional planning effort.   Numerous Grand and Jackson County towns (including Granby, most recently), the Counties and three private entities (WPRA, SilverCreek/Berthoud and YMCA/Snow Mountain Ranch) have already committed $47,065 to the ongoing effort to study transportation needs and issues in the two counties and propose solutions.   The funds raised by the communities will be used to cover the cost of an expert transportation consultant (expected to by hired by Feb.1), while the CDOT funds will be used to defray some of the in-county costs and labor expected to be incurred helping the consultant in preparation of comprehensive short- and long-term transportation development programs.  Earlier grants awarded to both counties from NorthWest Colorado Council of Governments, $3,000 each, will be used to offset public survey and GIS expenses.

            At the first meeting of the TAC’s Existing Transit Provider Subcommittee on January 5, 2000 there was lengthy discussion of addressing Jackson County’s underemployment and Grand County’s lack-of-employee issues by creating a daily employee shuttle service from Walden to Granby/Winter Park.  Jackson County’s new shuttle service, Sage Grouse Tours, along with SilverCreek/Berthoud  and Winter Park ski areas’ transit operators are discussing this possibility.  Persons interested are encouraged to contact: Jim Gerton at SilverCreek or Steve Saffle at Ryder Transportation for more information.

Finally, Fitch expressed the thanks of the Counties and the TAC members to Pat Howlett and Winter Park Web for generously offering to design and host a TAC website without cost.  It is hoped the website will be up and available for public input on transit issues by mid-February.  At the site the TAC expects to post meeting notices, draft transportation plan documents and public surveys.  This contribution along with the abundant governmental, business and other individual  contributions of time, manpower and money create the promise of a truly “community-based” examination of transit issues and solutions for Grand and Jackson Counties. Thank you to all!                         

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For further information contact: Sue Ann Fitch, Chair, Transit Advisory Committee; esmerelda1@hotmail.com, 970.627.9210 

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