Aspen ponders fare-free transit service

Aspen City Council is reviewing a proposed pilot program that would make most Roaring Fork Transportation Authority services fare-free for a limited period in fall.

While no formal decisions were made during a Monday work session, Council members were asked to weigh in on whether the city should contribute financially to offset the projected revenue loss from waiving fares.

The proposed pilot, scheduled for Sept. 22 through Nov. 23, would eliminate fares on nearly all regional RFTA routes, including the VelociRFTA BRT, Valley/Local, and Grand Hogback lines. The Maroon Bells shuttle is the only major route excluded. RFTA projects that the 62-day fare-free period would result in approximately $550,000 in lost revenue.

During an April 10 RFTA Board of Directors meeting, which included Aspen City Council representatives, the board formally endorsed the pilot and directed staff to seek funding commitments. Without financial support secured by May 15, RFTA indicated the program could be postponed until spring 2026. 

Councilmember Bill Guth, who sits on the RFTA board, strongly supports the initiative.

“This is exactly why I was interested in serving on the RFTA board,” Guth told The Aspen Times on Monday before the meeting. “I think the intent of this trial is to increase ridership, but a high-level service needs to be provided in order to make this work. Just because it’s free doesn’t mean more people will take the bus.”

Guth acknowledged that some challenges still need to be addressed before the pilot can launch. 

“During the RFTA Board of Directors meeting, people were concerned that RFTA’s greenhouse gas emissions would increase as a result of increased ridership,” he said. “I said that, ‘Guys, you have this all wrong.’ The very nature of mass transportation is that it is beneficial to greenhouse gases, so who cares what RFTA’s greenhouse gases are?”

RFTA CEO Kurt Ravenschlag echoed enthusiasm for the pilot. 

“We’re excited about the possibility of launching a zero-fare trial this fall to explore how removing fare barriers could increase access and ridership across our system,” he said. “While this is still in the early stages, we see real potential to strengthen community connections and make transit more accessible for everyone. Of course, there are important considerations around funding, operations, and overall system and rider impacts.”

The fare-free pilot supports the shared goals of Aspen and RFTA to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by shifting more commuters away from personal vehicles. Aspen already offers fare-free local transit, including fixed-route buses and micro-transit, and has partnered in the past with WE-cycle and regional employers to lower transit costs.

If Aspen were to contribute in proportion to the number of trips that begin or end within city limits, its share would be about $225,500 — roughly 41% of the total cost. While that amount is not currently budgeted, staff indicated it could be addressed through a supplemental request in the fall. The Elected Officials Transportation Committee is also being considered as a potential funding partner.

City finance staff cautioned that while the transportation fund remains healthy, it faces long-term financial pressures. These include significant investments in electric buses and new services anticipated with the Lumberyard housing development, beginning as early as 2028. 

Aspen Mayor Rachel Richards during Monday’s meeting expressed concern about whether RFTA will be equipped to meet the increased demand a fare-free system might create. 

“It may sound like a small number at first, but that number will continue to climb, and means RFTA will not have the type of money it has had in the past, which would be used to upgrade equipment and replace older equipment,” she said. 

Richards also suggested implementing a fare-free pass system to track user data.

“I would like to see some sort of a fare-free pass, so we can track who is using it, who is an increased rider, and be able to reach out to these users afterwards, to see if we can help with a reduced fare for a winter pass,” she said.

Council member Sam Rose expressed broader support for RFTA and encouraged a regional outlook, especially when it comes to addressing workforce housing. 

“RFTA and this tool of public transportation is so valuable for so many issues we have going on in the valley,” he said. “This is money well spent, and if we can help RFTA with other things like housing bus drivers, and what they need to be fully functional, fast, safe, and reliable, with less standing room, that is something that I would be very interested in.”

All Council members voiced support for the pilot in concept and agreed it aligns with Aspen’s climate and mobility goals. However, they stressed that financial clarity and regional coordination are critical before committing city dollars. 

A findings report evaluating the program’s impact, based on ridership and capacity comparisons between fall 2024 and fall 2025, is expected in early 2026. Preliminary research suggests the pilot could lead to a 40% increase in ridership, mirroring gains seen in similar programs, such as in Vail, where zero-fare transit led to a 38% rise in average monthly ridership.