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Summit Stage cutbacks approved

K.J. HASCALL
summit daily news
Summit County, CO Colorado

The Summit County comissioners on Tuesday approved cutting back the Summit Stage services from two buses an hour to one on several routes effective July 27.

To combat rising fuel costs, the Stage will reduce service to its Frisco-to-Breckenridge, Keystone-to-Silverthorne, Silverthorne, Boreas Pass and Wildernest routes between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

During the peak hours, 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be two buses an hour.



The reduced service will continue through Dec. 7.

“This isn’t something we’re going to be able to tolerate during the winter schedule,” Summit Stage Director John Jones said at the commissioners meeting. “We may have to consider using this as a summer schedule next year.”



Other options to keep costs down include raising the county sales tax a quarter of a percent; charging a fare; joining with Eagle County in a regional transit authority.

Jones checked prices with three fare-box companies and found it would could cost about $14,000 per bus.

“You can’t just cut the top off a coffee can and bungee it to the back of the seat,” Jones said.

Fare systems would have to include a variety of payment options ” cash, credit card, tokens, smart cards ” and Jones emphasized that if the Stage did begin charging a fare, there would be no going back to free rides.

“There’s only one advantage ” that you get a little dough,” commissioner Bob French said, “and the disadvantages are all over the map.”

K.J. Hascall can be contacted at (970) 668-4653, or at khascall@summitdaily.com.


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