FREX gets funding boost

The Strategic Transit Task Force, an ad-hoc group of the Colorado Transportation Commission, recommended approval of an $8 million proposal to expand and solidify the ongoing operation of the Front Range Express (FREX). The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) would pay $6.32 million for the FREX service with the balance of $1.68 million coming from the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA). The money will go towards the purchase of 16 new buses that will provide commuter service along the I-25 corridor, between Fountain, Colorado Springs, Monument, Castle Rock and the Denver Metro area. Since FREX is currently a pilot project scheduled to end in December, the City of Colorado Springs, Transit Services Division (TSD) and the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) have been strong advocates for state funding and jointly submitted the proposal to the Task Force.

The Transportation Commission established the Task Force to allocate ten percent of Senate Bill 97-001 funds towards transit projects that serve a “strategic corridor” such as I-25. Official approval of the funding is expected to be made by the Transportation Commission next month.

Wayne Williams, El Paso County Commissioner, PPACG Board Chairman and member of the Strategic Transit Task Force, expressed gratitude to the Task Force for its six months of work to identify strategic transit projects such as FREX. “I applaud the work of the Task Force and its recognition of a truly multi-regional transit project. The FREX service met the primary stated goal of the Task Force of relieving congestion on state highways like I-25 and connecting major activity centers that the Colorado Springs and Denver metro areas represent.”

PPACG Executive Director Rob MacDonald credited the success of FREX funding to a regional approach to solving local issues. “The FREX service enabled under this recommendation benefits transportation users in Fountain, Colorado Springs, Monument, Castle Rock, Douglas and El Paso Counties along the FREX route.”

FREX is the first and only intercity commuter service connecting the Pikes Peak Region with the Denver metro area, providing a previously unavailable transit link between the two largest employment markets in Colorado. After only 20 months of service, FREX has surpassed initial ridership projections, with approximately 625 one-way trips per day—a significant step towards reducing traffic along the congested I-25 corridor and improving mobility options and air quality. The new bus fleet will provide express commuter service five days per week (M-F) from 3:45 am to 9:45 pm.

A federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program is currently funding the FREX pilot project through December 2006. TSD has approached the local entities that FREX serves for operating funds in order to make FREX a viable service in 2007.

Operating funds from local entities along the Front Range are required on an annual basis to allow FREX to continue beyond 2007. Due to the prohibitive maintenance and increased fuel costs of the existing, older buses, TSD must have new vehicles for the FREX service to continue in 2007 and beyond.

Sherre Ritenour, Transit Services Division Manager, stated, “FREX provides an invaluable public transportation connection between the Colorado Springs and Denver metro areas. It has far surpassed our expectations and we are pleased to be able to continue transit service to front range commuters.”

TSD, the parent organization of Mountain Metropolitan Transit, provides fixed-route, paratransit and demonstration commuter transit service. The primary service area for fixed-route and paratransit service is the Pikes Peak Region. Fixed-route and paratransit service are provided seven days per week, with 30-minute peak hour service on major routes. For more information, please visit <www.springsgov.com/transit>

The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) is a voluntary organization that works to expand cooperation among the region’s local governments to address public challenges. Participating members include the general purpose governments of El Paso County, Park County, Teller County, Alma, Calhan, Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek, Fairplay, Fountain, Green Mountain Falls, Manitou Springs, Monument, Palmer Lake, Victor and Woodland Park. For more information, please visit <www.ppacg.org>

[ Back ]