Foaring Fork Transportation Authority has unveiled this design for its 14 new bus stations. RFTA rendering.

The Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports that the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority unveiled the general design of bus stations for 14 high-visibility stops along the Roaring Fork Valley’s spine on Tuesday.

RFTA will build the new stations as part of its $50 million expansion of the bus system that will be undertaken over the next three years. RFTA and its consultants will try to sell details of its plan to the public in a series of meetings starting in Glenwood Springs Feb. 16. Two meetings will be held in Aspen Feb. 17.

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According to a preliminary report released Monday, RFTA had 4.29 million riders last year compared to 4.85 million in 2008. The decline was steep because 2008 was a record year for RFTA and ridership in 2009 was probably affected by several factors related to the recession, RFTA Chief Executive Officer Dan Blankenship said.

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That money, through the federal Very Small Starts Program, would be dedicated to RFTA’s bus rapid transit expansion plan known as, also known informally as “RFTA on steroids.” RFTA already received an $810,000 grant in the 2010 appropriation bill.

Roaring Fork Valley voters have also approved bonding authority for up to $25 million for the BRT project, so close to $50 million appears to be secured. The project is envisioned to cost between $45 million and $50 million.

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RAFTA’s sales tax revenues will drop about 18 to 19 percent compared to 2008, according to CEO Dan Blankenship. The staff had previously forecast a drop of 17 to 18 percent.

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Garfield County on Monday rejected RFTA’s request to kick in $614,000 to the bus service’s 2010 budget, despite a threat that the Hogback service to the western parts of the county could be significantly trimmed back as a result.

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RFTA will get hit hardest by falling sales tax collections. Fares collections will also drop because of sagging ridership, according to the draft budget presented to the board of directors Thursday by Finance Director John Tangen and Chief Executive Officer Dan Blankenship.

“It’s been a difficult year because we had to ask everyone in the organization to make some sacrifices,” Blankenship said.

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