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).
DRCOG Press Release
In light of the recent announcement of discontinuation of the Front Range Commuter Express (FREX) service, workers commuting between Colorado Springs and Denver may think they have no other choice but to get back into a car. Not so, says a representative of the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) “Getting into a vanpool is an excellent alternative for former FREX users to share expenses, make new friends and keep the stress-free commute they enjoy,” says Linda Dowlen, manager of DRCOG’s RideArrangers program.
Vanpools are a good choice for groups of commuters who live and work near each other and travel more than 15 miles to work one-way. Passengers share the ride and pay a low monthly fare to the designated driver in a minivan seating up to six, or a full-size van seating up to 12. The Vanpool program is a partnership between DRCOG and the Regional Transportation District (RTD). DRCOG also offers a free matching service for people commuting into or out of the Denver metro area interested in starting carpools using their own vehicles.
For more information on vanpools or FREE carpool matching services please visit www.drcog.org and click on RideArrangers. For more information please call 303-458-POOL.
DRCOG’s RideArrangers helps businesses and individuals avoid traffic congestion and reduce pollution by promoting and providing transportation options. RideArrangers is a partner with Metro Rides of Colorado Springs and VanGo of Fort Collins in the Front Range Vanpool Services program, helping long-distance commuters reach their destinations.
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).
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.
FrontRange Express (FREX), a commuter bus service that provides transportation between Denver and Colorado Springs, could come to an end thanks to budget cuts in Colorado Springs, CBS4Denver reports.
The city of Colorado Springs, which created and manages FREX, is threatening to terminate the program due to “unprecedented budget shortfalls.” City officials say service past Jan. 1 is doubtful.
FREX makes stops in Castle Rock and Monument. Castle Rock will likely follow Colorado Springs’ lead and eliminate FREX’s funding as well. City officials say their priority has to be core services, such as police and fire.
Go to CBS4Denver to see the entire item, or watch the report here.
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