Additional ECO Transit bus routes begin December 30
Eagle Valley Transportation Authority working with ECO Transit to continue winter service enhancements
The Eagle Valley Transportation Authority and ECO Transit are working together to roll out more buses on both U.S. Highway 6 and valley winter routes beginning Saturday, Dec. 30. The additional buses will increase access to public transportation, a key strategic priority of the EVTA and ECO Transit.
Valley Express route increased service:
- Two morning peak buses — a 6:40 a.m. bus leaving from Eagle Valley High School, stopping at the Chambers Park-n-Ride at 6:55 and then continuing to the Vail Transportation Center; and a 7:55 a.m. express from Chambers Park-n-Ride directly to the Vail Transportation Center
- Valley West Express will also have an additional peak afternoon bus — called a shadow bus — available when needed to alleviate overcrowding
Highway 6 route increased service
- Two morning peak buses — a 6:30 a.m. express bus from Edwards to Vail, and a 6:18 a.m. bus between Edwards, Avon, EagleVail and Vail
- Two afternoon peak buses — a 4:10 p.m. peak express bus from Vail to Edwards, and a 4:20 p.m. bus between Vail, EagleVail, Avon and Edwards
- In addition to the new departure times, both the morning and afternoon routes will have shadow buses — one available in the morning and two in the afternoon — available to assist with overcrowding when needed
The additional services are also available online at EagleCounty.us/BusSchedules.
“We’re pleased to continue our work of increasing access to public transportation through service enhancements,” said Larry Tenenholz, acting director of ECO Transit, in a news release. “We will continue our systematical approach to these types of improvements based on data, community feedback and ensuring we have the staff and buses to deliver on the improvements.”
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When the ECO Transit winter service schedule launched in November, riders were greeted by three important service enhancements: A 25% reduction in standard ECO Transit fares, fare-free service on the Vail-Beaver Creek Express and more buses on the Highway 6 route, ECO’s busiest service.
The most visible piece of these enhancements is the free service on the Vail-Beaver Creek Express. Through a partnership with transit provider SP+, ECO Transit and the Eagle Valley Transportation Authority were able to launch this service that connects ECO’s two busiest stops — the Vail Transportation Center and Avon Station — with the employment and activity centers of Beaver Creek Village and Lionshead Village.
From preliminary numbers, the ridership of the Vail-Beaver Creek Express is exceeding expectations. Staff are currently working to launch a short survey to learn more about who is riding the route and their satisfaction now that it is free and more frequent.
“It’s the EVTA’s goal that these buses will continue to increase ridership and reduce traffic during the winter season. We hope that our riders find these service improvements beneficial and that all of these services — from the Vail-Beaver Creek Express to the Valley Route — will allow EVTA to continue expanding transit options across the Valley to fulfill our promise to voters when they approved this new transportation agency,” said Amy Phillips, Eagle Valley Transportation Authority board chair and mayor of Avon.
