The Clean Transit Enterprise board has approved its first grant aimed at expanding local transit services in Colorado. The Gunnison Valley Regional Transportation Authority (GVRTA) will receive $455,000 for Fiscal Year 2026, with expected annual funding between $550,000 and $625,000 in future years.
The funding comes from the Clean Transit Enterprise’s formula grant program, which was developed earlier this year. GVRTA participated as a stakeholder while the enterprise set criteria and published its Notice of Funding Availability last month.
With the grant, GVRTA plans to double peak frequency on its main commuter route connecting the City of Gunnison with Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte during non-winter months. This will allow buses to serve each stop every 15 minutes year-round. In a later phase, GVRTA will extend this 15-minute headway service throughout winter from early morning until late afternoon.
Shoshana Lew, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Transportation and Clean Transit Enterprise board member, stated: “Senate Bill 24-230 created a first of its kind revenue stream to support transit operations in rural and urban areas across the state. Thanks to this important new law, we are quickly seeing results for Coloradans. This first grant, which will double frequency on key commuter routes in the Gunnison area such as Gunnison, Crested Butte, and Mt. Crested Butte, shows how dollars are immediately being put to work in areas where transit successfully helps people get to their jobs, schools, businesses, and other destinations. I appreciate the hard work of the Clean Transit Enterprise staff in executing this program so efficiently.”
After legislation passed in 2024 established these programs, the enterprise developed goals and policies throughout 2025. Staff hosted virtual town halls with agencies statewide before finalizing eligibility requirements and an allocation formula for grants at the start of the current fiscal year on July 1. Letters of Intent were then solicited from agencies interested in initial funding rounds before releasing formal notices on July 17.
Scott Truex, Executive Director of GVRTA, said: “The Gunnison Valley RTA is excited to be able to expand our schedules through this partnership with the Clean Transit Enterprise board and staff. This increase in service will benefit our community by allowing better and more consistent access to jobs in our valley, and it would not have been possible without these new funds. CTE funds have flexibility that will enable us to purchase the vehicles we need to expand the service and then fund the cost of the expanded operations. We are very grateful for the support of the CTE and for this opportunity to better service the residents of our community.”
Cris Jones, Chair of the Clean Transit Enterprise Board added: “As Chair of the Clean Transit Enterprise Board, I’m proud that we are delivering on the promise of Senate Bill 24-230 so quickly. Even though we just launched this program, we are already getting resources into the hands of local transit providers like the Gunnison Valley RTA. This award shows how new investments can make an immediate difference for Coloradans — improving mobility, cutting emissions, and strengthening connections between communities. It’s an exciting first step in a long-term commitment to grow transit options across the state.”
