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RFTA to look at April bus cuts

Scott Condon
The Aspen Times
Aspen, CO Colorado

CARBONDALE ” The Roaring Fork Valley’s bus service might be cut as soon as the April if sales tax revenues dive over the next couple of months.

Roaring Fork Transportation Authority CEO Dan Blankenship said Thursday he wants to avoid making service cuts before the end of ski season because ridership remains high this winter. It’s tough to cut the frequency of service when buses are filled to standing room only at heavy-commuting times, he told the agency’s board of directors. Blankenship advised waiting to make adjustments until April, when ridership demand tails off and RFTA typically lays off employees.

RFTA’s budget assumed sales tax revenues would be flat in 2009. Collections for November and December indicate that was too optimistic. Revenues are down about 10 percent, according to a memo Blankenship sent RFTA’s board.



The board directed Blankenship to prepare proposals for various service cuts for its retreat in March. The board and staff will re-examine sales tax revenues at that time and determine what cuts, if any, must be made.

See Friday’s Aspen Times for more details.