VIA says Estes-area rides topped 2,500 in 2025 and are on pace to rise this year

VIA Mobility Services told the Estes Park Town Board on Tuesday that it provided more than 2,500 rides in Estes Park in 2025 and is on track to deliver nearly 300 more trips this year if current demand continues.

Adriana Torres, VIA's operations manager, said the nonprofit provides free transportation in Estes Park for registered riders, with trips available through a mobile app or by phone. Riders can register by calling VIA, a process Torres said takes about 10 minutes. She said the service now also includes a 24/7 AI phone agent, Alex, which can schedule and cancel rides, confirm booked trips and provide estimated arrival times.

Deputy General Manager Dena Boutwell said VIA is a 47-year-old nonprofit transit provider that serves Estes Park and Drake and offers a range of transportation services, including paratransit, fixed-route transit, microtransit and contract shuttles. Boutwell said the organization has nearly 300 employees and emphasized its emergency response capacity, saying the town can draw on VIA's drivers, vehicles and facilities when needed.

Torres said VIA's local service is funded through town support, Larimer County AAA and Federal Transit Administration Section 5311 money. In response to a question about common destinations, VIA representatives said many riders use the service for the hospital, King Soopers, the YMCA and physical therapy appointments, underscoring its role in helping residents reach medical care and daily needs.

Mayor Gary Hall thanked VIA for what he called "tremendous service," saying the community benefits greatly from it. Trustee Bill Brown asked whether riders can use the service for medical appointments outside the Estes Park and Drake service area, and VIA representatives said they currently cannot provide trips to places such as Lyons, Longmont or Boulder, describing that foothills connection as an ongoing funding gap.