ASPEN, Colo.—The Roaring Fork Transportation Agency is seeking a local tax increase and federal grants totaling $61 million to buy buses, upgrade stations and make other improvements.
RFTA serves towns from Aspen on the east to Rifle on the west. It says ridership is growing as gas prices and the harsh 2007-08 winter prompted more commuters to take the bus.
RFTA says it exceeded 4 million riders for the first time last year and expects more than 4.6 million this year.
Voters in Pitkin and Eagle counties and the towns of Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Glenwood Springs, New Castle and Carbondale will be asked to approve a 0.4 percent sales tax increase on Nov. 4 to finance $40 million in bonds.
RFTA is also seeking a $21.3 million federal grant.
