Initial Email:

In anticipation of Town of Estes Park receiving 2023 CMAQ funds this summer, they are drafting an RFP for a regional transportation service Pilot program between EP, Loveland and Longmont during the summer season. Does anyone have any sample or example documents that they could share that may help Estes Park in putting together the RFP?

Responses (x2):

Scott Truex, Gunnison Valley RTA

I don’t know if this will be helpful, but we are in the middle of an RFP for our commuter bus service.

You can access our documents here:  https://www.gunnisonvalleyrta.com/rfp-2025-01/

Alex Hyde-Wright, Boulder County

Boulder County currently operates two seasonal shuttles that we contract out for:

  • Hessie Shuttle: provides service between Town of Nederland and Hessie Trailhead (Indian Peaks Wilderness Access). Service every 15-20 min all day Fri/Sat/Sun/hol from Mem Day weekend-early Oct. RTD operates connecting bus service between Boulder and Nederland
  • Eldo Shuttle: provides service between Boulder-Superior-Eldorado Canyon State Park, and a couple other trailheads along the way. Service every 20 min all day Sat/Sun/hol Mem-Labor Day weekends.

We also contract out for a commuter bus route (Lyons Flyer) and an on-demand transit service (Ride Free Lafayette).

For all of these services, we contract out for turn-key service (contractor provides vehicles, drivers, dispatch, vehicle maintenance, fuel, etc.).  We have cost proposals submitted as all-inclusive hourly service rates (for in-service/revenue hours).  Our current costs are $115-130/ service hour. Our contractors are using cutaways for all of these services, with 12-24 seats.

I’ve attached the latest RFPs we’ve released for each service. [Documents attached to original email]

Some potential operators you may want to reach out to:

  • Via Mobility Services (operates Eldo, Lyons Flyer, Ride Free Lafayette for Boulder County)

o    Robert Gray [email protected]

o    Lisa Bitzer [email protected]

o    Bill Patterson [email protected]

  • Ride With Via(operates RIDE Longmont on-demand service for Longmont)

o    Brian Nelson [email protected]

  • SP+(operates seasonal shuttles for Eldora Ski Resort)

o    Michael Neisser; [email protected]

o    Kyle Robinson; [email protected]

  • Ace Express(operates a lot of Bustang service for CDOT)

o    Shawn Davis [email protected]

  • AEX(operates services in Colorado, primarily on western slop)

o    Landon Ogilvie [email protected]

  • Green Ride (operates Hessie for Boulder County)

o    Ross Alexander [email protected]

Something else to keep in mind: the City of Ft Collins operates the FLEX bus between Ft Collins-Loveland-Longmont-Boulder, which does provide some service between Longmont and Loveland Mon-Sat (no FLEX service on Sundays).