After months of discussion, the Gunnison City Council decided not to move forward with the implementation of Rural Transportation Authority (RTA) impact fees on future developments at an Aug. 12 meeting.
The decision comes after the RTA board suggested local jurisdictions decide whether to implement RTA impact fees to support transit infrastructure and future developments, such as bus stops and park-and-ride lots.
Transit impact fees were first proposed by Crested Butte Mayor Ian Billick at a February 2025 RTA meeting, citing a growing need for transit upgrades amidst new North Valley housing developments such as Whetstone and Starview. Billick proposed a one-time charge on new developments, much like the fee home builders must pay to tap into a city’s pre-existing water or wastewater systems. The money would help the RTA accommodate the increased traffic and public transit demand.
At an Aug. 12 Gunnison City Council meeting, the council agreed that more details and legal analysis were needed before moving forward. Additionally, City Manager Amanda Wilson proposed that transit infrastructure could be better addressed through the city’s existing land development code.
“Another way to consider this is through our land development code — as we're contemplating off-site improvements associated with planned unit developments,” Wilson said. “They're not fees associated with individual building permits. They're more encompassing and then the developer is paying for it, not general taxes associated with that development.”
Airport summer growth sparks new master plan
At an RTA board meeting on Aug. 8, the board heard a report from Airport Director Rick Lamport about an upcoming master planning process.
This summer, the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC) reported record-breaking passenger numbers for June and July. June exceeded all-time highs by a large margin, while July exceeded 2022 numbers by a smaller number. Projected numbers are also surging, as GUC anticipates a 27% increase for August and a 29% increase for September.
In the wake of the strong numbers, Lamport said the airport has completed its major goals outlined in the current master plan, spurring on a new plan that will be coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA will approve a passenger forecast, which will in turn determine what the airport’s needs are before approving an airport layout plan. The entire process is likely to take 14-18 months.
“The forecast is one of the first steps, and already looking at our enplanements, we're way ahead of the forecast that was done in 2015,” Lamport said.
GUC also expanded flights to Illinois for the winter season. United is scheduled to operate two flights per week to Chicago beginning Dec. 19, with the exception of the four weeks in January. During the holiday season, inbound flights from Chicago will arrive Friday and Saturdays, and return on Saturday and Sunday. Flights will operate on the same pattern throughout February and March, and end on March 29.
Like airplane travelers, RTA bus ridership also rose in June, with the RTA reporting a 5.6% increase. The board submitted three grant applications that would expand and modernize the bus fleet. While waiting on the approval process, three new buses — funded by past grants — are on the assembly line in Winnipeg, Canada, and expected to arrive in the Gunnison Valley by early 2026.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)
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