.jpg;w=960)
Boulder County is looking at all options to revive area transit services after the county took control of over $34 million in federal funding from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.
The Colorado Department of Transportation last week threatened to withhold the federal funds unless the Regional Transportation District restored three popular commuter bus routes in Boulder County including the Longmont Express.
The Flatiron Flyer 4, Flatiron Flyer 2 and the Longmont Express route (LX1 and LX2) were suspended during the COVID pandemic.
Boulder County officials and RTD requested this week that CDOT turn the $34 million over to the county to use for transit services. “Boulder County will work with local communities as well as with RTD, CDOT and the Federal Transit Administration … to develop a program of local and regional transit service delivery strategies,” according to an Oct. 26 letter from the Boulder County Commissioners.
With the money in hand, the county “will be working with all agency partners to determine strategies for restoring regional and local transit services,” Kathleen Bracke, deputy director, community planning and permitting — transportation planning, for Boulder County, said via email.
Bracke did not indicate if the three original routes would be restored.
“What’s important is that approach is that it provides flexibility and opportunity for partnerships, and to be able to make sure that the dollars that are intended for these geographic areas are put to use for restoring transit in these specific areas,” Bracke told Colorado Public Radio.
The Federal Transit Administration will have the final say on where the funding will be distributed, officials say.
