Regional Transit Official Clarifies Details of Proposed Rico Shuttle

Arranging for a regular shuttle from Rico to Telluride may be more complex than originally thought, but officials are still optimistic. On Monday, Rico Town Manager Kari Distefano had told KSJD that the San Miguel Authority on Regional Transit (SMART) board approved a pilot program to launch a round-trip shuttle from Telluride to Rico. But SMART interim executive director Amy Levek has now clarified that while the board expressed its interest in a pilot program, the shuttle has not yet been formally approved by the board. They are still working on further details on shuttle management, and will follow up at their meeting next Thursday. Levek emphasized that all parties want to make a shuttle happen, and they still hope to begin the service by the end of November.