Fox21 in Colorado Springs reports that the Colorado Department of Transportation has recently been working on a study concerning the future of Powers Boulevard.
Things they have been looking at include ways to reduce current and future traffic congestion on Powers. One of the proposals includes turning the road into a freeway between Woodmen Road and the Colorado Springs Airport.
So far the process has included holding open houses, mailing newsletters, and having individual meetings with local residents.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has put 40 highway and airport projects totaling $136.8 million on its wish list for federal grants in 2011.
The Colorado Springs Business Journal reports that the city has sold nine surplus FREX buses to the York County Transportation Authority in Pennsylvania for a total of $1.44 million. The proceeds could be used to operate reduced FREX service for the rest of 2010.
Colorado Springs Press Release
Nine surplus FREX buses have been put up for sale a third time in an invitation for bid posted by the City of Colorado Springs late this afternoon. At least two out-of-state transit agencies have expressed interest in purchasing the buses. Consequently, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), who owns 80% of FREX buses, and the City of Colorado Springs, who owns the remaining 20%, agreed to post a third invitation for bid in an effort to generate operating funds for the service in 2010.
Mountain Metropolitan Transit is cautioning FREX riders to continue planning for service elimination after February 12th. “We are working within an extremely tight timeframe,” said Craig Blewitt, Interim Transit Services Division Manager. “FREX is currently operating on limited carryover funds from 2009. Unless we receive an iron-clad commitment that meets the minimum asking price, the last day of FREX service will continue to be February 12th as we have already informed the public.”
Interested parties have until 10:00am on February 8th to bid on the buses. If an acceptable bid is made, Colorado Springs City Council will have to make a final determination on February 9th during their formal session whether local proceeds from the sale may be used to sustain FREX service for the remainder of 2010. CDOT has already approved use of state proceeds to sustain the service for the rest of the year.
FREX is operated by the City of Colorado Springs, Transit Services Division/Mountain Metropolitan Transit. For more information, please visit www.FrontRangeExpress.com or call 719-636-FREX (3739) or 877-425-FREX (3739).
KKTV News reports that FREX service will be terminated February 15th because of a budget shortfall for Colorado Springs and reduced funding from the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA).
Here the offical press release:
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) approved a proposal to use the proceeds from the sale of up to nine surplus FREX buses for operating expenses in 2010. With the informal support of Colorado Springs City Council, an invitation for bid was posted in early January and closed today at 2:00 p.m. with no response.
As a result, FREX service is expected to discontinue in its entirety effective February 15th. “We are certainly disappointed in the result of the sale,” said Craig Blewitt, Interim Transit Services Division Manager. “FREX has been extremely successful in terms of average daily ridership and meeting its original objectives including reducing auto emissions and traffic congestion along the I-25 corridor and providing a viable transportation alternative between Colorado Springs and Denver, the state’s two largest employment markets.”
FREX tickets will be pulled from sale effective immediately, and passengers are reminded that existing tickets must be used by the termination of service on February 15th as there are no refunds, credits, or exchanges of FREX tickets.
FREX is operated by the City of Colorado Springs, Transit Services Division/Mountain Metropolitan Transit.
For more information, please visit www.FrontRangeExpress.com or call 719-636-FREX (3739) or 877-425-FREX (3739).
A new form of transportation could come to downtown Colorado Springs. Plans for an electric streetcar system are in the works, reports News Channel 13, KRDO-TV.
Organizers are hoping that a new system in would run with other vehicles in traffic lanes on Tejon, Cascade or Nevada. They would start in downtown Colorado Springs, but could extend as far north as Garden of the Gods and as far south as I-25.
Go to News Channel 13 to see the entire story. The news channel also has a video report you can see here.
KKTV News reports that the City of Colorado Springs says there aren’t enough staff members to manage planned transportation improvement projects, as a result of recent budget cuts. And that means for now, work on several capital projects approved by voters back in 2004 will have to be suspended.
The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that the FREX commuter bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver was tossed a lifesaver Thursday after nearly drowning in the flood of city budget cuts.
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s State Transportation Commission unanimously agreed to use the proceeds from the sale of five to nine of the FrontRange Express buses to keep the service running in 2010.
Go to the Colorado Springs Gazette to see the entire article.
The future of FREX commuter bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver will be decided later this week, News Channel 13 KRDO reports.
Funding for the Front Range Express is still needed for 2010. To keep the service running next year, at least five of the 19 FREX buses must be sold to cover the $1 million costs.
The Colorado Transportation Commission must approve the sale of anywhere between five and nine FREX buses to pay for 2010 service. When the buses were originally bought, 80 percent of the money came from state taxpayers, while 20 percent came from tax money from the Pikes Peak Regional Transportation Authority. If the commission approves the sale, it will contribute the state’s 80 percent to pay for the 2010 service.
The FREX commuter bus service between Colorado Springs and downtown Denver, another casualty in the city’s proposed 2010 budget, may pick up a lifeline, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports.
A “last-ditch effort” is under way to sell five surplus FrontRange Express buses to keep the service running next year, said Sherre Ritenour, the city’s transit services manager.
The bus service, which includes stops in Monument and Castle Rock, “is currently slated not to operate beginning Jan. 1 unless it’s funded by this very unique idea,” she said.
The state Transportation Commission will consider the proposal Thursday and decide whether to use the proceeds from the sale of the buses to fund FREX in 2010 or to redirect the money to other state projects, she said.
Go to the Colorado Springs Gazette to see the entire article.
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