GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo -- The demand for bus service between Glenwood Springs and Aspen has been steadily growing. For years, the Roaring Fork Transit Authority has been planning a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project for the Highway 82 corridor.

The section of Highway 82 between Aspen and Glenwood Springs is a busy, accident prone stretch of road.

"Many of the employees who work in the resort area, in Aspen and Snowmass, need to live in Basalt, El Jebel, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs and communities in the I-70 corridor," Roaring Fork Transit Authority CEO, Dan Blankenship says.

RFTA has been providing local bus service to communities in Garfield and Pitkin Counties for years. But, over the last decade, they have been working on plans to add a more efficient option for commuters traveling the Highway 82 corridor.

At one time they'd considered a rail project. After learning how costly that could be, they began investigating a Bus Rapid Transit project.

In many ways, buses on this line would function like a commuter train, quickly stopping at only a few designated stops right along the highway.

"We'd have stops along Highway 82 and we try to hit all the most densely populated areas of each town and where the most commuters will be," Project Manger, Michael Hermes explains.

After years of planning and coordination, the RFTA is only one step away from getting started on the project they are calling VelociRFTA.

"We're awaiting word from the Federal Transit Administration about the status for our grant for slightly under $25 million," Blankenship says.

The project is expected to cost about $46 million dollars. In 2008 voters approved a tax increase and bond to raise about half the money. The other $25 million is on a list of approved projects to be partially funded by the Federal Transportation Administration.

But, as Congress struggled earlier this year to create a budget for 2011, that agency took an $80 million dollar cut. Right now the RFTA is waiting to find out how much they will really get.

"We're very confident that the announcement will come in the next week or two about our grant and we have been assured that none of the cuts that the project would get would be very detrimental. The goal of the Federal Transportation Administration would be to make up that funding in subsequent years," Blankenship says.

Technology is greatly changing bus service. Eighteen new buses would be purchased for the VelociRFTA project. They would ride lower to the ground, making it easier for all passengers to get on and off.

The buses would also be equipped with GPS so the dispatchers know where the buses are at all times. Special tracking equipment can tell where the buses are, how far they are from their next stop and let passengers know when to expect their ride.

"Bus stops will have real time displays that will allow you to know when your bus is going to get there," RFTA Director of IT, Phillip Schultz explains.

Once up and running that information can even be tracked from a computer or a smart phone.

"Passenger will be able to, from their home, look on their computer or on their phone and find out when their bus will arrive," Schultz says.

New technology can also track the number of people who ride the bus at different times and where the most people get on or off. That will help RFTA tailor its service to meet demand.

RFTA is also finding other ways to speed up service for the VelociRFTA buses. Drivers can travel in existing bus/HOV lanes and exclusive bus lanes. They will also be able to use bypass lanes at congested intersections and have signal priority at certain stop lights.

Nine bus stops and shelters will be on the route including South Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Willits, El Jebel, Basalt, Brush Creek, Buttermilk, Aspen Airport Business Center and Rubey Park Transit Center.

Some of those already have stop-and-ride shelters. But, all of the stops will get new stations complete with ticket vending, enclose waiting areas, lighting and bicycle storage.

"They are designed to really stand out and be really safe, convenient and attractive to attract those people who don't normally ride the bus," Hermes says.

Once up the program gets going, VelociRFTA buses will run at least 14 hours each weekday during the peak seasons. At the busiest times of day the bus will visit each stop about every 10 minutes.

RFTA says passengers can expect an hour travel time between Glenwood Springs and Aspen. Not too much more than those who drive their own car. But without the headache of traffic and parking or the cost of buying expensive gasoline.

As soon as RFTA learns how much their federal grant will be, they can begin right-of- way acquisition for some of the bus stations and begin seeking bids from contractors.

RFTA hopes to start construction this fall and have everything done by fall of 2013. Blankenship says this project will create many jobs in the area. He also says if the program is a success, it could serve as a model for other communities.

RFTA is the second largest bus system in Colorado. If this project goes ahead as planned, it would be the first rural Bus Rapid Transit system in the country.

Stay tuned to KJCT News 8 for more on this project