Gilpin bus service stalled again

Lynn Volkens

2/9/2006 - Generally, the most effective and efficient bus route is a circuitous one, but the proposed Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Gilpin County and Black Hawk Transportation Authority (BHTA) seems to be stuck in a continuous loop. Following a Tuesday afternoon meeting of the BHTA, the IGA is parked, once again, on the table of Gilpin County Commissioners.

   BHTA operates the bus service that serves the casino communities of Black Hawk and Central City. In April 2005, Gilpin County Commissioners proposed extending a route to serve Gilpin County residents. Commissioners suggested stops as far north as Rollinsville and south to Gold Mountain Village Apartments. BHTA had obtained grant funding of $70,000 by September to explore the possibility and Gilpin County kicked in another $137,000 to launch a route that would include the apartment complex, Gilpin School, the Justice Center and Recreation Center. County Commissioners hoped also to include the Gilpin Public Library. However, BHTA said the library stop makes the route too long, is not communicable by radio, would be difficult for the bus to maneuver and doesn’t meet requirements of the American Disabilities Act. They asked the Commissioners to approve the IGA without the library, just to get the bus service started so that grant funding can be taken advantage of. With data on rider numbers, fares, costs and route effectiveness, more grant funding could then be sought at a later date to explore expanding the service, they said. Commissioners stalled, wanting to be able to provide the service to all County residents. They sent a counter-proposal back to BHTA including the library, Pete’s Beaver Park Inn and the Rollinsville Country Store as stops. On Tuesday BHTA put the brakes on the project.

   Noting that they had expended their budget for research and consulting on the extended service, Directors of the BHTA Board told County Commissioners Forrest Whitman, Jeanne Nicholson and Al Price to decide if they wanted on board or not. The IGA could proceed as is, they said, without the extended stops, but BHTA would not approve it as Commissioners had countered. Commissioners left the BHTA meeting with three bus service related items for their agenda at next Tuesday’s meeting: make a decision on whether or not to accept the original IGA, if so, determine whether they will offer the bus service to County residents at a fare or free (at least initially), and to consider exploration of extending the route further at a future date by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect. Commissioners expect to make their decision and final response to BHTA next Tuesday. Until then, no one outside of Black Hawk and Central City, will have a ticket to ride.