Routt County, Steamboat Springs, Craig, Hayden, Oak Creek and Yampa will each hold two public hearings in March and April on the proposed Yampa Valley Regional Transportation Authority and its associated intergovernmental agreement.

The hearings will coincide with regular meetings of the six local governments involved in the proposed authority’s formation, offering the public a chance to provide feedback on the proposal.

“Through this proposed RTA, we can make great strides in shaping our community’s future — from increasing safety, reducing vehicles on our roads, helping our workforce, and overall improving the quality of life here in the Yampa Valley,” said Routt County Commissioner Sonja Macys in a joint statement.

Under state law, two or more local governments can collaborate to form a regional transportation authority, enhancing transit services for residents, businesses and visitors. Local employers and representatives from local governments and nonprofits are also actively participating in the process.

“This RTA would allow our region to improve its transportation systems, provide more bus and transit options, and eventually be a partner on the future of rail in our area,” said Steamboat Springs City Council member Michael Buccino in the statement.

Specific service goals being considered include increasing the frequency of buses on U.S. Highway 40 between Craig and Steamboat Springs, providing new bus routes to unserved areas like south Routt County and offering new ground transportation options to and from the Yampa Valley Regional Airport. 

For the public hearings schedule, visit tinyurl.com/RTAPublicHearings.

For more information on the proposed transportation authority, visit SteamboatSprings.net/RTA.