A new Grand Valley Transit route will stay in operation thanks to fees collected by the state of Colorado on oil and gas extraction, Mesa County said in a news release. Senate Bill 24-230, Oil & Gas Production Fees, passed in 2024 to bolster funds for transportation around Colorado.

Mesa County is eligible for $232,505 in funding, which will be used to maintain GVT Route 12, the news release said. That was a pilot route connecting the West Transfer Facility on 24 1/2 Road to Stocker Stadium and 29 Road. Now, it will stay in operation as long as production-free funds are available.

An additional grant from SB24-230 funds, which all go through the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Clean Transit Enterprise, was approved to add a new bus to the GVT fleet. At the same Mesa County Commission meeting, commissioners approved the acceptance of a $860,891 grant to purchase a transit bus. That figure may not be the final cost of the vehicle, but itis the amount applied for and secured for expanding the fleet.

Grand Valley Transit will offer free trips on all fixed-routes and paratransit during the month of August this year.

Find information on all GVT routes at www.mesacounty.us/gvt/routes-and-schedules/detailed-route-information.