The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) is finally ready to roll on its $46 million bus system expansion, but its ability to complete the project within budget and by Sept. 1, 2013, depends on local governments, the project leader said Thursday.
Mike Hermes said RFTA needs approvals from six municipal and county governments in the valley for 18 bus rapid transit (BRT) stations and park-and-rides planned from Glenwood Springs to Aspen. In short, the agency is getting a super-sized taste of what it is like to be a developer in the valley.
Unlike a private developer, RFTA is getting a streamlined process. Most of the local governments are reviewing the construction proposals under a “Location and Extent” process, often granted to public entities like schools.
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