New Purple Bus Line for Meadowridge to Winter Park Resort next season!

On July 28, 2011, I received letter from C.A. Lane, Assistant General Manager of Winter Park Resort, informing us that The Lift Red & Purple shuttle routes were being discontinued for the 2011-12 ski season.

In it, he suggested that a coalition of those concerned could develop a funding plan that would take advantage of Winter Park Resort’s existing contract with our transportation provider, First Transit.News of this actually broke in the Sky Hi Daily News the day before I got the letter and included a couple of quotes from me expressing my (negative) opinion regarding this cancellation. 

I followed up with a Letter To The Editor voicing my opinion of the decision and the need to find a short-term solution for next season and address a long-term solution for a publicly funded valley-wide transportation system. 

On August 10, 2011: I went before the Chamber of Commerce Board requesting their commitment and assistance in giving direction and actively participating in the discussion to find short- and long-term solutions. There was quite a time lapse between this Board meeting and action to address the issue, but finally on October 3, 2011 at the Fraser Town Hall, there was the first meeting held among what could be deemed a Working Party of interested and affected parties, where the cancelled bus service was discussed, a target service of a combined Red & Purple day route with continuation of the Purple night route broached, and a potential funding requirement of $145,000 hypothesized. 

Working within these parameters, Jon de Vos of Allegiant Management and I, for the management company-HOA side of things, were to approach our own HOA’s, the property managers of others or if self-managed try and contact the Board President and pitch a commitment level of support which together with other hoped for contributions would meet the financial target. 

Over the next two weeks, a flurry of activity commenced with countless phone calls and e-mails explaining the problem to all property managers and affected HOA’s, the course of action decided on to find a solution, and requests for commitments at a prescribed level. Overall, the responses were overwhelmingly favorable, and the key Associations in the impact zone stepped up to the plate and pledge their support. 

On October 17, 2011, a Working Party Meeting #2 was held at Fraser Town Hall. The original $145,000 total cost originally floated had been amended to $136,000 based on slight amendments to service deemed necessary. It was revealed that with funding amounts from specific HOA’s, Town of Fraser and Grand County roughly split 50/50 - sufficient monies had been pledged to provide the fixed core service for next season (see below) although there was still a slight shortfall to make up the (deemed necessary) additional bus service during peak time periods, defined as weekends and holidays. 

On October 18, 2011, I received confirmation that another HOA had committed and this together with additional monies pledged from CMC and Allegiant and a guarantee from within the coalition to bridge the gap should no further funds be forthcoming, we have 100% of the cost of service covered. We are still in the process of soliciting HOA’s, on the route, who are currently not contributing, to join the program. While official The Lift stops will not be posted outside any of the Winter Park condo complexes, First Transit will not deny their rider’s service but will attempt to educate them of the need to readdress their board’s negative decision perhaps by way of a flyer or other short letter to pass on to the Board. 

Similarly, we may investigate a bus pass system for residences on the route and that avail themselves of the service, but are not within an HOA. This has been out of necessity probably due to time constraints â" a relatively unconventional, unorthodox way of trying to solve this problem. It is by no means perfect and there are bound to be detractors. However, the respective financial commitments have been made with the requisite authority at Board or municipal level and the general level of support and participation has been overwhelmingly positive. Attention now turns to the effort in finding a desired the long-term solution by way of public transit system for the valley.

Details of Service:

• Day shuttle will be a New Purple line, effectively a combined route of areas previously serviced by both Red & Purple lines in 2010-11.
• Day shuttle, on entering USA Hwy 40 from CR 8, will then take a direct non-stop shot to the Winter Park ski area (with the exception of dropping off people in Fraser or Winter Park). Night shuttle will replicate service to areas provided by the night Purple line in 2010-11.
• Night shuttle will replicate service to areas provided by the night Purple line in 2010-11.

Days of Operation:

• Buses will operate for the 159 days of the 2011-12 ski season, commencing Wednesday November 16, 2011 through Sunday April 22, 2012.

• Additional bus service to cope with Peak demand time periods will on an as required basis to cover most Saturdays and Sundays, except November 19-20 and April 21-22 (42 days) as well as the following Holidays (12 days):

- Christmas Week: December 26-30, 2011; MLK Day: January 16, 2012; President’s Day: February 201, 2012; Main Spring Break Week: March 12-16, 2012.