GV Transit offers free evening rides

By Kathleen Goddeyne

Mesa County’s public transportation system, Grand Valley Transit (GVT), will be offering free evening bus rides on all evening busses after 7 p.m. Eight of the system’s 11 routes now operate until 10:15 p.m.

The routes unavailable in the evening are Route 1 for the Grand Junction Regional Airport area, Route 2 for the Patterson area, and Route 6 for the Orchard Mesa area. These busses run from 5:15 a.m. until 7:15 p.m.

Route 3 for the Orchard Avenue area, Route 4 for the Palisade area, Route 5 for the Midtown area, Route 7 for the Colorado Mesa University area, Route 8 for the Fruita area, Route 9 for the North Avenue area, Route 10 for the Clifton area, and Route 11 for the shopping mall all operate in the evening.

“This was one of the biggest changes we’ve seen in many years,” Todd Hollenbeck, Regional Transportation Planning Manager for Mesa County said. “People in the community were really clambering for bus service later into the evenings and now the extended hours give them much better access to get where they need to go, when they need to go there.”

To encourage GVT riders to use the evening bus schedule, the transit system is offering free rides on all routes with the exception of routes 1,2 and 6, which don’t run during the evening. The free rides will extend through the rest of July and all of August, ending on Sept. 1, 2012.

“This is such a huge improvement for our riders,” Steve Acquafresca, Mesa County Commissioner and Chair of the Grand Valley Regional Transportation Committee said. “Whether people use the bus to get to or from work, night classes, or the store, this is a great chance to try the evening bus routes out for free.”

Bus fare for a fixed single route, a fixed single route with a transfer, and dial a ride with a transfer are each $1.50. One-day passes are $3.75 per person. Monthly, 6 month, and annual passes are also available with prices differing for youth, seniors, and adults. GVT also offers a student semester pass for $60.

Riders with Medicare or Medicaid cards, disabled citizens, and seniors (age 65 and above) can ride for $0.75 Monday through Friday from 10:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and all day Saturday.

Passes for GVT can be purchased at the Grand Valley Transit Office at

525 South 6th St. in Grand Junction and all local City Market locations.

For more information about pricing, routes, and hours of the Grand Valley Transit, visit www.gvt.mesa
county.us.