Ray K. Erku/The Aspen Times
For Aspen native Dan Glidden, the Winter X Games in Aspen has always been more than just an event — it’s been a spectacle.
2002 marked the first year X Games came to Aspen at Buttermilk Mountain. He had already been serving with the Aspen Police Department for nearly 12 years by that point. He would eventually retire in 2015, but within 13 years of covering the X Games, he said the one thing that remained consistent year to year was it always found a way to grow in size.
“I was overwhelmed, not so much by the work, just the size,” he said. “It’s not that we hadn’t had other events in the valley, but just the size of X Games, the sheer number of people. I mean I grew up in Aspen, so I’m ‘small town,’ I was always just astonished. Every year, it was just like, ‘Whoa.’ It was something to see.”
This year’s X Games are coming back to town from Friday through Sunday, and along with it comes the traffic locals have come to know and love. That’s why, as always, APD, the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) are encouraging everyone to take advantage of bus systems whether traveling from within or outside of the valley.
Pitkin County Chief Deputy of Operations Parker Lathrop said while heavy traffic is always anticipated, one difference from previous years is that X Games will no longer be featuring large concerts, which is expected to reduce congestion to an extent. That said, planning on using Roaring Fork Valley Transit to the bus stop in front of Buttermilk will be the best plan of action, though parking will still be offered within designated areas for those set on driving. For any locals who are needing to commute through the area over the weekend, he said staying aware of the busier times will help avoid longer delays.
“We don’t tend to see too much arrival all at once, but when the games start to let out kind of around 10 p.m. to 11 on a Friday and Saturday night and then 8:30 p.m. to 9 on Sunday, know that there’s going to be a lot of people leaving, and we’re gonna start seeing quite a bit more traffic headed downvalley, so just just know that that’s going on,” he said. “And also, it’s important to stay focused on the car in front of you instead of the bright lights up on the hill. We always tend to have a few fender benders from people who get sidetracked by the very bright lights.”
CDOT Communications Manager Elise Thatcher said for those planning to attend X Games, in addition to expecting heavy traffic along Colorado Highway 82 from Glenwood Springs to Aspen, attendees should check information provided by X Games over what to expect when arriving at the event and where to park. Additionally, she said it’s important for travelers coming from outside of the valley to understand that Bustang won’t drop off at the Buttermilk stop in Aspen, so a transfer from Bustang to RFTA in Glenwood Springs will be required.
“Travelers can go by Bustang to the West Glenwood transit station; at that location, they can travel on RFTA up to X Games,” she said. “Using public transit means attendees can enjoy the event without worrying about parking and heavy traffic.”
In preparation for longer bus lines, RFTA has teamed up with Hermes Worldwide Inc. to provide additional back ups as needed. Communications Manager Jamie Tatsuno said that backup resources are also being scheduled through RFTA maintenance facilities, especially through the Glenwood Springs facility, to allow for continuous shuttles from Brush Creek Park and Ride, downtown Aspen and Snowmass Village, as well as provide more connectivity with Bustang services.
“I think our bus tracker at myrfta.com is really important,” she said. “It’s a really great resource for riders. And then we also have our RFTA mobile tickets for people coming from downvalley – not just the Aspen/Snowmass travelers, but people don’t have to find a cash or a ticket vending machine. They can utilize our RFTA mobile tickets to buy bus tickets to get up to the Brush Creek Park and Ride or the Buttermilk venue.”
For more information about X Games, visit xgames.com. For information regarding RFTA and routes, visit rfta.com/routes/velocirfta-brt. Lastly, for information about Bustang and other ways to connect with RFTA from the Front Range, you can do so at colorado.gov/governor/news/11381-governor-polis-and-cdot-announce-first-its-kind-partnership-between-x-games-aspen-and.
To reach Jonson Kuhn, email him at jk***@as********.com.
