Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Transit Options in Southwest Colorado

Transportation Providers in SW Colorado: Click to enlarge
The five counties in the southwest corner of Colorado cover over 5,000 square miles. It is estimated that at least 85-90% of all ground travel occurs in personal and business vehicles. Some trips are by bike and foot. Other trips though make use of various transit options.

For commuting to work, the percentage of workers in some of the major cities and towns in the region report the following:
  • 6-13% carpool
  • 3-8% walk to work
  • 0-9% say that they use other means (probably mostly by bike) 
  • 4-14% work at home
  • 0-2% currently use public transit
The public transit options available to you depend on your location and circumstances. The map above gives an overview of public transit providers in the region and their current service areas (click it to enlarge).

City of Durango 
There are a number of bus and trolley routes that reach most of the commercial  and residential sections of the city. There is also on-demand transit service available for those unable to use the buses and those looking for a safe and convenient way home late night on the weekends. For more details, contact Durango Transit Dispatch at 970-259-5438.


Archuleta and Montezuma Counties
There is also transit service available to the general public which can pick-up and drop-off passengers where they need to go. (In Archuleta, contact Mountain Express at 264-2250; in Montezuma County, contact MoCo Public Transportation at 970-564-2273.)

Tribal Reservations
Road Runner Transit provides both fixed route and on–demand service in Ignacio, around the Southern Ute Reservation and between Ignacio and Bayfield, Durango and Aztec, New Mexico (Call 970-563-4545). The Ute Mountain Ute Tribal government also provides several forms of targeted transit service.

Other
Most of the counties provide transit services to the elderly and disabled either directly or with the assistance of community non-profit organizations. There are also a range of private providers of transit services.

While all these transit options are important and helpful to have, it must be acknowledged that there is still a high degree of unmet needs. Two transit studies have estimated that 84-95%  of the needs of those requiring transportation assistance in Southwest Colorado go unmet. Many live in communities with limited or no public transit options. Even within areas with transit services, their service areas and schedules do not fully meet the needs of everyone. Many would also like a reliable and affordable alternative means to travel between cities within the region for work, medical services, shopping and other reasons or to get in and out of the region.

To address more of the unmet needs, the region can do several things, including striving to improve program efficiencies and exploring greater coordination. The Southwest Colorado Regional Transit Coordinating Council is an association of local organizations that has been  meeting since the fall of 2010 to try to identify ways to improve the number and the accessibility of transit options to citizens in the region. The work of the Council is supported by the Southwest Colorado Council of Governments and CDOT.

Among the items on the Council action plan is a comprehensive guide to existing regional transit options which will be published at the Council of Governments website in the near future (you can also get information about upcoming Transit Council meetings or read minutes of past meetings there).

One exciting recent initiative is an effort to restore bus service between Durango and Grand Junction, replacing the Greyhound bus service which was discontinued in the fall of 2011. The staff at Road Runner Transit has put in a grant proposal with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) that, if funded, would re-start this service in spring 2013. A decision on the grant request is expected later this summer or fall. It is proposed that this service would run one round-trip daily from Durango to Cortez then north thru Montrose and on to Grand Junction 7 days a week. At Grand Junction riders would be able to connect with Greyhound Service to Denver, Salt Lake City and beyond.

Another current opportunity, if you live and work in Durango, is to receive custom-tailored travel training about available transit options for yourself and your co-workers or employees or your community group at your site thru a new program organized by Durango Transit.  You can contact Deven Meininger at meiningerdm@ci.durango.co.us or call  970-375-4901 to explore the possibility of such a presentation being made to your group.

Communications have also begun with veterans support organizations to try to improve transit options for both veterans and the general community. One idea being researched is the possibility of established some form of coordinated point of contact for receiving information about available transit services. Several other communities in Colorado are establishing what is called a “one call / one click center” with state and federal funding. The Council is in touch with those community organizations to learn what they are doing and we may have an opportunity to pursue similar grant funding of such a communications center in the future if there is sufficient support among the region’s transit providers and local governments.

You can reach out to your local government and transit providers for more transit information and, if you desire, to make your voice heard in favor of improved transit services options for yourself, your family and your  community. Strong public input about and support for targeted transit solutions could help improve personal mobility, which would improve the quality of life of many and in turn help the economy.

About the Author
John Ehmann is the Special Projects Coordinator with the Southwest Colorado Council of Governments. If you would like to share any of your transit concerns and ideas or get more information about current transit options, please call John Ehmann at 970-247-9621 or send an email.



Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Progress in 2011

Amazing infographics from our past Intern Lily Oswald!




















































Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Home Prescription Program (HomeRx) Launched with Home Energy Makeover Contest

4CORE is pleased to announce an innovative new program for La Plata County homeowners interested in saving energy and lowering their utility bills. Building on the success of 4CORE’s existing weatherization assistance program for low- income housing, the HomeRx program is a fee-based program for local homeowners who don’t qualify for weatherization assistance, but are interested in investing in home energy efficiency measures. HomeRx is an investment that pays for itself by saving homeowners money on rising utility bills and improving health, safety and quality of life for occupants.

In addition to saving money on utility bills, HomeRx works to address health and safety issues present in many local homes and buildings. Since 2008, 4CORE has weatherized 528 homes through the organization’s low-income assistance program. In doing so, 4CORE was able to identify and address health and safety risks found in over 80-percent of these homes.

4CORE will administer the fee-based HomeRx program by working with local contractors to identify areas for improvement based on individual needs, including air and gas leaks, furnace and appliance replacement, and other energy saving measures.

To help raise awareness of the new HomeRx program, 4CORE is hosting the HomeRx Energy Makeover Contest. La Plata County homeowners are eligible to compete for prizes, including the grand prize HomeRx Energy Makeover, valued at $1,500. One second prize winner will receive a whole house assessment valued at $600 and two additional winners win "walk through" assessments. Winning contestants will be selected at random and the grand prize winner will be chosen by a panel of judges based on the home’s annual utility bills, potential energy savings, and other factors. Visit the 4CORE website or Facebook page to register for the contest, deadline June 29, 2012.

In addition, HomeRx promotes local contractors and partners by creating job opportunities and ensuring the highest quality standards. HomeRx also links homeowners with financing options, including loans through local lending institutions, rebates and other incentives.

 “Our weatherization assistance program has been a tremendous success and we’ve noticed a great deal of interest in home upgrades from the community,” noted Gregg Dubit, Executive Director for 4CORE. “This response led us to launch HomeRx for those who don’t meet the qualifications of the low income program, but who are still interested in the innumerable benefits of home energy improvements.” Dubit added.

4CORE would also like to thank its partners and supporters of the HomeRx program, including WeatherCo, Energy Check LLC,  ProBuild, Treehouse Communications, Annadel Building Solutions LLC, Verified Green and 810 Pixels.

4CORE is actively seeking additional sponsors to enhance prize packages for the HomeRx Makeover. For additional information, please contact 4CORE at info@fourcore.org or (970)259-1916.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

4CORE and Housing Solutions Awarded Weatherization Funds from LPEA and Tri-State


Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) and Housing Solutions for the Southwest(HSSW) announce being the recipient of a $25,000 Special Projects grant from La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) for low income weatherization projects in 2012. Tri-State Generation and Transmission will match the grant up to $20,000, and all funding will be used to weatherize homes for qualifying residents within LPEA’s service territory (La Plata and Archuleta Counties).

“Our board of directors believes firmly in weatherization to help our members save energy and dollars,” said LPEA CEO, Greg Munro. “These funds were granted from Unclaimed Capital Credits, the patronage capital accrued for members who may have moved and we are unable to find. It was money due back to members, so our board always wants to use it to benefit the members. The monies do not come from our regular operating budget.”

The joint request is the result of ongoing collaboration and partnership between 4CORE and HSSW since 2009. HSSW has provided weatherization services in Southwest Colorado in excess of 30 years, while 4CORE was formed in 2008, and brought the administration of weatherization back to the region from the Housing Resource Center in Grand Junction in 2009 as a sub grantee to the 
Governor’s Energy Office.

Weatherization services provide energy saving measures to improve the quality of life, health and safety for residents, including insulation, air sealing, furnace upgrades, window and door replacement, and other efficiency upgrades. Improving low income housing through weatherization provides long-term energy and cost savings, enhances health, safety and property values for the region, and invests in local communities and future generations throughout Southwest Colorado. Improving energy performance can not only cut utility bills by 30-percent, but many of the buildings are old and also pose serious health and safety risks for residents.

“4CORE and HSSW thank LPEA and Tri-State for their continued support of weatherization for low income housing,” said Gregg Dubit, executive director with 4CORE. “As federal funding has decreased for 4CORE weatherization projects in 2012, local support is critical.”

Marcy McKeon with HSSW echoed Dubit’s statement. “In addition to excess energy consumption and exorbitant costs, over 80-percent of the homes we audit for energy performance pose serious health and safety risks for residents, including gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning and fire hazards,” added McKeon.