The Uncompahgre Valley Alliance scored a big win this week when the Montrose City Council approved a $55,000 allocation to All Points Transit using revenue generated from the city’s voter-approved hotel and lodging tax increase. That tax increase was made possible by the efforts of our Alliance, which exerted a major canvassing effort to make sure voters understood what the tax increase would pay for. On Election Night, the measure passed by a mere 242 votes, a testament to the effect of our Alliance’s work.
Unfortunately, while the measure was being created, none of the revenue expected to be collected from the tax increase was slated for public transportation. Our Alliance immediately went to work to remedy that by urging the City Council to amend the measure to include public transportation. Alliance members Kendra Stucki, Harley Whomble, and Lisa Thomas made the case, and the Council agreed on the spot. Ultimately, it was agreed that public transportation would get 5% of the revenues.
It was also Uncompahgre Valley Alliance who brought the issue to All Points Transit. “It never would have happened if it hadn’t been for the Uncompahgre Valley Alliance,” said Gary Clark, Director of All Points Transit in a May interview on WKRP Montrose. “Those guys brought it to our attention, frankly. They helped us through the whole process. They were really good advocates for us, so I really appreciated everything they did for us.”
This new allocation is hugely important to Montrose residents, since the city’s rural transit system is facing dire state funding cuts.
We know demand for public transportation options has grown in Montrose at the same time that funding has been evaporating. All Points Transit has operated public transportation routes throughout Montrose, Delta, Ouray, and San Miguel counties, but this new allocation will be exclusively used for services operating within Montrose.
You can find more information on this allocation in the Montrose Business Times.
We want to thank and honor the Alliance members who have worked on this issue with us. It’s thanks to their tireless and passionate efforts that the entire city of Montrose is going to benefit. And we’re not done yet! Keep your eyes on Uncompahgre Valley Alliance as we continue to deliver real solutions to community problems!
