Basalt Connect expands service to reduce single-occupancy vehicles 

Basalt has expanded its Basalt Connect offerings to include Crown Mountain, Summit Vista and Emma. 

The rideshare service that the town employs to encourage residents and visitors to consider alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel will now connect riders to areas previously unserviced by both Basalt Connect and Roaring Fork Transportation Authority buses. 

“The executive director at Crown Mountain had asked for service to expand there when we were looking at a possible expansion,” Basalt Town Manager Gloria Kaasch-Bueger said. “Then, there is the affordable housing complex at Summit Vista, and then Emma is on the way, so it made sense for us to be able to service those residents as well.”

Eagle County’s Health Aging Center in El Jebel that neighbors Crown Mountain Park is a location that will now have “curb to curb” service, meaning seniors will not have to do any significant walking to get to the Healthy Aging center at Crown Mountain Park once dropped off. 

Before this expansion, the Basalt Connect dropped senior users off at the City Market, which was around a quarter-mile walk. The El Jebel RFTA stop is closer but still requires a bit of walking to connect seniors to the Eagle County Healthy Aging Center.

“Some of our seniors can’t walk from the City Market,” Mandi Dicamillo, Eagle County Healthy Aging coordinator, said. “Getting dropped off at the curb will help them access services.” 

The expansion was approved without increased cost to the town and does not require additional drivers or vans. 

Riders utilizing the expanded service area will begin and end their rides at a transit stop in Crown Mountain, Summit Vista and Emma, except for trips to the City Market. According to the town, this is to allow a continued funding partnership with RFTA.

In April, prior to the expansion, Basalt Connect vans drove more than 2,000 rides from around 400 different accounts, according to data shared with The Aspen Times by the town. 

Along with the service area expansion, Basalt’s Town Council approved expanded service hours in June, July and August, which will allow riders to access Basalt Connect vans from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Other times of the year, the service runs from 7 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 10 p.m.

“This expansion reflects our commitment to listening to our community’s needs and working closely with our microtransit partners to take meaningful action to expand additional transportation choices beyond car trips,” Basalt Mayor David Knight said. 

According to Knight, Basalt Connect has historically operated within town limits.

“We recognize there are community benefits, such as reduced congestion and increased convenience, when we look for opportunities beyond boundaries on a map,” he continued. 

More information on the Basalt Connect service can be found at basalt.net/basaltconnect.