Garfield County residents west of Rifle have a new option for public transportation, the Parachute Area Transit System, or PATS. KDNK’s Lucas Turner has the details.
It’s called the Parachute Area Transit System or PATS for short, and its implementation fills a gap in an otherwise robust public transportation system in Garfield County.
Consisting of two buses, PATS connects Parachute and Battlement Mesa to Rifle, and vice versa, allowing riders to connect with the western-most stops on Rifle’s Hogback Route and head east towards Glenwood Springs or even Aspen.
The new service was made possible in part by Garfield County Commissioners, who approved more than 270 thousand dollars towards the project’s development earlier this year.
The bus service offers a discounted monthly pass, a 10-ride punch pass and per ride fare. Seniors, students and veterans have discounted fares, and kids ages six and younger ride for free. You can find more about the Parachute Area Transit System at townofparachute.colorado.gov/parachute-area-transit-system