All's quiet on the western front regarding Ketchum's Transit Center but the scene's not yet deserted. What could be called the Amazing Shrinking Bus Hub may finally be located primarily at the Visitor's Center in Ketchum. Mountain Rides is currently negotiating with Ketchum's Urban Renewal Agency (KURA) for a home there.

The plan is a far cry from the original "downtown intermodal bus hub" that Mountain Rides publicly announced in late 2011. Although not previously vetted by the public, it quickly gained approval by Ketchum's City Council. The proposal followed a $200,000 grant awarded that fall to Mountain Rides by the Federal Transportation Agency for hub construction. Thus began what seemed to be the "project-chasing-money" dynamic that often happens in the Valley. 

The location for the transportation hub? Right smack in the middle of Ketchum's business heart at one of its prettiest, friendliest, and busiest intersections: Sun Valley Road and East Street (home of Barry Peterson's, Elephant's Perch, F-Stop at the time, and the Visitors Center). Mountain Rides' plan called for the hub to run south along both sides of East Street with parking for six buses, a turn-around at the south end, a passenger building with bathroom, bicycle stands, art installations, and islands for pedestrian crossings. (Mind you, Ketchum's 2006 Downtown Master Plan had a very different design for East Street calling for a "40-foot wide median park for strolling.") Building costs would be paid with the $200,000 FTA grant and 20% ($40,000) in local matching funds. Construction would start November, 2012. 

Businesses howled. Residents howled. Others couldn't grasp the idea since it was so bizarre. What about pollution from buses idling in front of open air restaurants? What about lost parking spaces? Why such an elaborate design? Why no public input? Why that particular spot? Was this just a way to spend found money?

Mountain Rides explained that it wanted to coordinate and centralize its six routes (including the Valley Route) to enable quick and safe passenger transfer from one bus to another. While some parking would be lost, there would be fewer cars. Businesses would benefit from the increased foot traffic of bus passengers. Ketchum would catch up to its competitors with hubs: Aspen, Park City, and Breckinridge.  

The howls were heard, however, and construction postponed. Mountain Rides had five more sites designed and scheduled three meetings for public input. Suffice it to say, despite ongoing opposition to the original location, it was the final choice.  

A lot of history has flowed under the bridge since. The design has been altered and shrunk several times into what might be called a mini-hub. As of September 2014, East Street would remain open and not be used as a de facto bus terminal. Crossing islands, the passenger building/bathroom, mid-street art installations and the bicycle stands are gone. Buses would park only on Sun Valley Road, three each at the Visitor Center and the Perch with an accompanying bus shelter. The hub would serve only Ketchum/Sun Valley routes; the Valley route would continue with its Main Street stops.

A potential new feature has been added, however: "bulb-outs" at the intersection's four corners to shorten pedestrian crossing time by a few seconds. Whether bulb-outs are built remains to be seen. More public hue and cry has pointed out they are bad for bikers, impossible for snow plows, and their curbs deteriorate more quickly. 

Two local bids for hub construction came in this past August at roughly $744,000 and $1,370,000, far above Mountain Rides' $365,000 allowance which, in itself, was a substantial increase over Mountain Rides' initially proposed 2011 cost of $240,000 for a far more extensive design. Construction was again postponed. 

As it stands now, Mountain Rides has said it will again go out for bids in February or March. The scope of the Request for Proposals seems indeterminate. Mountain Rides is currently negotiating a 15-year Easement and Use Agreement with the KURA for space in front of Starbucks for a bus shelter, benches, heater, lighting, and digital signage, as well as power from the building. Maintenance and costs for these amenities would be managed and paid for by Mountain Rides. How much more of the September 2014 design is intended is unclear.

To date, the KURA has spent $15,000 for design and engineering (compared to the 2011 quote of $6,500 to the City Council). Mountain Rides has a Ketchum promise for an additional $100,000: $30,000 for improvements to the Starbucks property, $50,000 for Sun Valley Road and East Ave intersection improvements, and $20,000 for street features such as bollards, concrete, trees and tree grates on the bulb-outs. As it has for three-and-a-half years, plans for the downtown intermodal bus hub will surely face more refinement. Stay tuned.

Until next week.....Jima Rice 

Note: Here's an image of Rubey Park, the transit hub for Aspen. Note the large parking area to the left of the passenger building. The hub is located at the base of Aspen Mountain in an open area with wide residential streets and lots of parking. It serves four mountains and a large passenger base along I-70 in Pitkin County - very different from our Valley.