By Shannon Lukens.

 

A second shuttle service will be allowed to serve Yampa Valley Regional Airport with Go Alpine, pending final approval from the Public Utilities Commission. Ski Town Transportation filed for authorization to also serve the local airport. The Public Utilities Commission heard their request and had a hearing in Steamboat Springs this week. The pending agreement says Ski Town Transportation will have the same authority at the airport as Go Alpine. Nick Wozniak owns Ski Town Transportation and he said they filed the application because there was a need for additional service at the local airport.

“It’s a great thing for the community, just having another option at the Hayden Yampa Valley Airport, and shuttle service to Steamboat and Craig. We did this for the community because we thought the community needed and deserved another option.”

Wozniak adds that they are currently serving shuttle service on a temporary license. The hearing this week was for permanent authority.

Go Alpine was purchased by a company called Destination Systems in late 2019. Their Colorado headquarters are in Montrose. Also, with Southwest Airlines now flying in and out of the airport in Hayden, the need for shuttles went up. In 2019, there were 103,000 enplanements with 150,000 last year, and 200,000 expected to fly in and out of the local airport this year.

 

Here is a press release issued from Go Alpine on Wednesday.

GO Alpine Reaches Agreement With Ski Town, Supporting Second PUC Licensed Carrier at Yampa Valley Airport

 

Steamboat, CO (September 14, 2022) – Go Alpine and its parent company Destination Systems (formerly CO West Transportation) have come to an agreement with Ski Town Transportation, supporting the operator’s application to the Public Utilities Commission for a second ground transportation license in the area and the ability to take walk-up passengers at the Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN).

 

Previously, GO Alpine was the only PUC licensed carrier able to take walk-ups in the area, although the company frequently flexed that restriction in conjunction with airport operations when demand arose.

 

“Our core priority is to work with and effectively serve the needs of the airport and the larger community, to provide that vital transportation link in support of locals, guests and area businesses,” said Destination Systems owner and CEO Landon Ogilvie.

 

Enplanements at HDN have spiked in recent years, due in large part to the addition of Southwest Airlines, with annual enplanements jumping from 103,000 in 2019 to 150,000 in 2021, and forecasts putting that number near 200,000 for the current year. Winter (Dec-Apr) enplanements went from approximately 85,000 in 2018-19 and 2020-21 (75,000 in 2019-20), to 140,000 in 2021-22.

 

Corresponding to that increase, GO Alpine transported a record 70,000-plus passengers last Winter 2021-22. However, the near doubling of winter air traffic, compounded by challenges due to COVID affecting operations from airlines to the smallest service providers, surely stressed ground transportation at HDN.

 

“With the substantial increase in seats and passengers, and considering the concerns from the airport, city officials, and area partners, we are glad to welcome and collaborate with Ski Town to collectively add additional walk-up service at the HDN airport,” continued Ogilvie. “As the area’s largest carrier, we look forward to adding our broader resources and working together with Ski Town and other operators at the airport to make sure the destination’s transportation needs are met on a daily basis.”

 

Destination Systems acquired Go Alpine in late 2019 just prior to the pandemic, and many planned changes and improvements are just now coming into effect. A major company announcement is set for this October.

 

To book reservations for Steamboat or any Destination Systems locations, please visit www.goalpine.com, or call 970-879-2800 or nationally 800-822-4844.