Eagle Valley Transportation Authority
Who We Are
We believe every journey should be an empowering and gratifying experience. As a user-friendly multi modal transportation authority, EVTA invites you to navigate Eagle County safely, easily and affordably. Our lively crew of experts drive home the benefits of public transportation with consistently reliable, light hearted and rewarding service that unites us.
Hey there, fellow riders! Ready for some summer fun without worrying about parking or paying fares? Buckle up (well, maybe not really, because it's transit, but you get the idea)!
EVTA & ECO Transit are spreading the joy with fare-free rides on selected routes.
Hop aboard the joy ride on Highway 6, Minturn, and the Valley route from Dotsero to Eagle & Vail – it's like your ticket to a summer escapade!
But hold onto your sunhats (or shades), If your journey happens to swing by Gypsum or Leadville, just remember to have your fares ready for those stops as they are still required for any trips involving Gypsum and Leadville...It's all part of the adventure!
Visit https://evta.colorado.gov/ for additional information.
ABOUT THE EVTA:
Quick Facts
- Our goal goal is to enhance regional collaboration and cost-sharing, improve transportation and transit systems, and better address the needs of the region’s workforce, employers, residents and visitors.
- The Eagle Valley Transportation Authority (EVTA) was approved in November 2022 by voters in unincorporated Eagle County, the towns of Avon, Eagle, Minturn, Red Cliff and Vail, and Beaver Creek Metro District.
- Creation of the EVTA also authorized a half-penny sales tax specifically to fund operations of future services.
- Voters in the town of Gypsum did not approve the EVTA, so the new tax will not be collected in that jurisdiction. Gypsum may consider membership in the EVTA at a later time.
Services
- EVTA will support regional transit services, primarily services that connect one or more of the member jurisdictions.
- ECO Transit, as the county’s current regional transportation provider, will form the backbone of the EVTA service. For the immediate future, current ECO Transit services and routes will be maintained using existing funding from a previous voter-approved half-penny sales tax that is collected County-wide.
- ECO Transit services will not be impacted to communities—including Gypsum, Leadville and Lake County—that are not currently EVTA member jurisdictions.
- EVTA and ECO Transit have begun the process of transferring existing ECO Transit operations, equipment and funding into the new authority. This process is scheduled to be complete in 2024
- New funding generated by the EVTA’s sales tax will be earmarked for the enhancements highlighted in the proposal approved by voters. This will include:
- Fare-free transit service to reduce traffic congestion and parking demands from Edwards to Vail, including Avon, Beaver Creek, Minturn and Eagle-Vail.
- New limited-stop express service at peak workforce commute hours.
- Year-round, lower cost flights at Eagle County Airport to help provide more options for local residents and to support the valley’s economy.
- Longer term enhancements for the EVTA will include:
- Zero-emissions conversion of ECO Transit’s Highway 6 bus service to help meet the region’s shared climate goals.
- Improved transit facilities, including affordable workforce housing for transit employees.
- Regionwide, long-term planning to address transportation needs 20 to 30 years in the future.
- Local services such as local bus services in Avon, Beaver Creek and Vail will continue to be operated by those communities and will not immediately become part of the EVTA.
- Local transit providers will benefit from membership in the EVTA by sharing technical expertise, project management and maintenance resources; coordinating technology and equipment purchases; accessing state and federal grant funding; and leveraging regional route realignments to reduce redundancy and free up local funding for other purposes