Vail's Bus System is Booming!
Why Aren't You On It!?
Bus ridership is experiencing a noticeable increase this season.
There has been a 6 percent increase in the number of people riding the Vail Transit buses between November and January compared to last season, while ECO Transit has seen an increase of 21 percent during this same period.
According to Vail Transit and Parking Manager Mike Rose, more people are parking in outlying free lots and taking advantage of the bus system.
Rose also believes that more town residents are using the bus instead of driving and parking in the structures because it saves money and has less of an impact on the environment.
In preparation for the winter season, Vail's parking program was updated to include new rates and fewer discounts to help redistribute preferred parking locations for visitors, residents and employees.
This included the addition of 150 free outlying parking spaces, increased transit service, construction worker vanpooling incentives and mid-season modifications for easier access to short-term parking spaces in the Village and LionsHead structures on busy days.
The programs were developed by the Vail Parking Task Force and endorsed by the Town Council.
The town bus system is considered to be the largest free public transportation system in the country. The fleet consists of 34 buses, 8 of which are hybrids. The buses run 8 routes throughout the town that include East Vail, West Vail, Lionsridge, Sandstone, Golf Course, Ford Park, and the Intown route running between Lionshead and Golden Peak.
The Vail Transit buses will transition to the spring schedule on April 20 as the 2008-09 ski season comes to an end. The first full day of free parking in the Vail Village and LionsHead parking structures is also April 20, to coincide with reductions in bus services.
For more information, contact Vail Transportation Manager Mike Rose at 479-2349 or go to www.vailgov.com.
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