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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRFTA Revised Comments 10.24.2025 October 24, 2025 To: John Leybourne, Planner III, Garfield County Community Development From: Hannah Klausman, Regional Planning Director, RFTA RE: Harvest Roaring Fork PUD, Revised Comments RFTA has reviewed the Harvest Roaring Fork PUD response to RFTA comments and provides the following revised comments. The previous analysis and preliminary findings submitted in RFTA’s original referral letter remains. RFTA staff met with the developers on October 2, 2025 and discussed the RFTA recommendations related to BRT Service, underpass infrastructure improvements, and other outlined recommended improvements in the referral letter. In response to that meeting, RFTA provided the following prioritized list for improvements to the applicant via email: At this time RFTA is supportive of improvements to existing transit infrastructure to better serve the project, but is not supportive of service directly to the property (ie new bus stops or parking on the site). The initial concept layout of bus access direct to the property (utilizing Right in Right out and protected U-turn lefts for down valley buses to access the site and return to down valley route) is not in alignment with efficient service models. Without an underpass (which RFTA understands the geological constraints) service directly to the site is not seen as a viable option. RFTA’s priority for providing better service to this project is the following: 1. Expansion of Spring Valley to a BRT Station including an underpass. 2. Expansion of Spring Valley to a BRT station, utilizing existing at grade crosswalks of intersection. Both service expansions would require a long-term sustainable funding mechanism in order to support the increased transit service since the property is not located in a member jurisdiction. Possible project metro-district funding is an opportunity for review. Additionally, RFTA submits a revised information request as included below. 1. Additional Information Request To fully understand project impacts to transit ridership and trail use, RFTA requests a Multimodal Transportation Impact Analysis (MTIA) to examine the project’s impact on both the Rio Grande and local transit service. At this stage of zoning approval, a preliminary analysis based on the requested density is appropriate, with a full analysis completed prior to any subsequent applications for development approvals. The preliminary analysis would preferably be submitted with time for review and comment period from RFTA prior to the first public hearing for the projects zoning application. Hannah Klausman, AICP Regional Planning Director Roaring Fork Transportation Authority