ASPEN —Aspen Skiing Co. and the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority are working on a contract for free bus service to the ski areas, which would cost Skico $6.51 million.
The prior five-year skier-shuttle contract expired in July. Skico and RFTA are negotiating a three-year contract with an option for an additional three years, according to RFTA Chief Executive Officer Dan Blankenship.
The contract is for shuttles in the upper valley that deliver skiers and snowboarders to Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. Skico has contracted with RFTA and its predecessor for the service for the past 29 years.
Skico paid an average of about $2.84 million annually during the five years of its old contract, Blankenship said. The annual payments by Skico under the new contract would be less because of various changing variables, he said. For example, RFTA will provide free skier-shuttle service with 22 rather than 23 buses this season because of reduced demand for service to Buttermilk. Two buses, rather than three, will serve Buttermilk. The frequency of service will be reduced from every 10 minutes to every 15.
Read more about the contract.
