RTA to buy land on Highway 50 for ‘improved’ bus stop

The Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority (RTA) is purchasing land on Highway 50 that will serve as a scaled-down version of the transit center the RTA proposed last year.

Last week, the organization signed a contract to purchase the vacant lot at the corner of Highway 50 and Pine Street, next to Safeway, for $800,000. The organization plans to build an “enhanced” bus stop on the property near where the existing bus stop is located. The end product will be similar to the Crested Butte 4-Way northbound bus stop, with additional office space for RTA administration and dispatch. The RTA plans to begin construction within the next two years.

Although some members were concerned about the price, which approached $1 million for an empty lot, the RTA board unanimously approved the purchase at a regular meeting Friday, June 28. The RTA has been working with the City of Gunnison to select a site and will meet with the City Council on July 9 to begin the planning process. Closing is scheduled for July 15.

“The location is perfect,” said Janet Farmer, board chair. “It’s a lot of money, but I think in the long run it’s going to make us money and allow us to provide services.”

The RTA had originally chosen the southeast side of the Gunnison Rec Center as the “preferred” location for a $3.5 million transit center — a centrally located bus stop that would have had restrooms and shelters, offices and space for passengers to connect to other transit lines like the Bustang. Spurred by loud community opposition, the city of Gunnison nixed the proposal last spring. Residents worried about increased traffic, lost land and limited parking. In November, the Gunnison transit center was put on hold.

But as the RTA worked on its new strategic plan, designed to assess transit needs and refine bus routes, officials realized there were only a few vacant lots available along Interstate 50. The RTA had also received a $1 million grant from the state that it intended to use to build a transit center that would likely expire.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) informed the RTA that it could use the land purchase price as a local match for the project. That means if the RTA can build the bus stop for $1 million or less, the land purchase would be the only money spent, RTA Director Scott Truex said in a memo to the board. The grant money became available this month.

Despite the initial cost, Crested Butte Mayor and Board Member Ian Billick said he supports the contract.

“I can’t imagine it’s going to cost less,” Billick said. “So if we need a facility, I don’t think we have any interest in waiting, either in terms of location or cost.”

At about 1,200 square feet, the building will be half the size of the transit center originally planned to be located in front of the recreation center. While similar in design, the main difference at the Highway 50 location is that there will be less space for parking. The RTA also considered properties near the Gunnison County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Sinclair gas station.

The city’s current zoning allows the RTA to build an upgraded bus stop with restrooms and offices. Adjustments will need to be made to allow the organization to introduce other bus routes, such as the Bustang, in the future — a feature of many other transit hubs. The city is actively updating its land-use rules, so this discussion will continue as more details of the project emerge.

Based on the results of an ongoing RTA survey, as well as recent open houses in Gunnison and Crested Butte, some of the community’s top criteria for a transit center location were that it be close to a grocery store, the highway and downtown Gunnison and have minimal impact on residential areas. Residents also wanted real-time information about when buses were arriving at the staging area.

Amenities the RTA considers “must-haves” include restrooms, a passenger waiting area and space for multiple buses to stop near the building. The council, working with the city council, will also consider space for a food vendor (similar to the hot dog stand often parked at the 4-Way), an information desk, Wi-Fi and phone charging points.

(Bella Biondini can be reached at 970.641.1414 or [email protected].)