The Rifle City Council recently approved a funding package that will keep the RFTA Hogback bus service operating into the future.
The Hogback has been servicing the communities of New Castle, Silt and Rifle since the early 2000s, busing over 100,000 riders annually into Glenwood Springs. However, recent funding cuts by RFTA led Garfield County as well as Silt and Rifle to find new funding solutions. Rifle City manager Patrick Waller said this led to the city council approving a plan that doubles Rifle’s Hogback contribution next year.
"Basically a resolution that would authorize, subject to budget considerations, an increase of $40,000, which is a doubling of our contribution to RFTA to support keeping the Hogback service open. So that is what Rifle is doing."
This will bring Rifle’s contribution to RFTA for the Hogback service up to $80,000 in 2027. That amount will then rise to $100,000 for 2028 and up to $130,000 in 2029.
Waller said that this is still only a temporary solution.
"I think it’s a good temporary solution where our council landed. Ultimately when it’s funded out of the general fund, it’s always challenging. It’s competing with a number of other priorities, but i think it’s a good short-term solution to keep those buses running."
Now that this funding has been found for the next few years of Hogback service, Waller said it’s time to start looking to the future for more permanent funding solutions.
"So there are two processes running. One, RFTA has a master planning process. I believe they’re also looking into the Colorado River Valley as to what the future looks like there. There’s also another grant that the Western Garfield County Northwest Council of Governments has applied for to look at possible transit solutions moving forward. So, some planning and analysis to see what happens after the temporary solution here."
The final steps for the 3-year temporary funding solution now move on to the Garfield County Board.
"They are looking at the funding proposal from their end. The resolution has been approved by the City of Rifle, RFTA and the Town of Silt, and Garfield County will be voting on it later this month."
Silt’s contributions to the Hogback service will be increasing over the next three years as well, although not to the same extent as Rifle. Of the approximately 100,000 riders that use the Hogback each year, around 75 percent of them come from Rifle.
