The Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority (GJRAA) is considering moving the public transportation bus stops, where people get on and off Grand Valley Transit and Bustang buses, from its current location about 100 feet west of the terminal to a location ten times further away, approximately 1,000 feet or 3-4 city blocks southeast of the terminal, near the mounted fighter jets.
Public transportation users, and especially those who are mobility-challenged, are deeply concerned about the proposed change, and are trying to bring it to the public’s attention.
The Airport Authority included a line item in their 2026 budget proposal dedicating $200,000 to relocating the bus stops, citing a need to relieve traffic congestion at the airport. (pdf)
Grand Junction area resident Jack Byrom, who uses a wheelchair, made the above video to show exactly how far the proposed new public transportation stops would be from the terminal, and how difficult they will be to access, especially for handicapped people, if this proposal comes to fruition. It seems the Airport Authority Board failed to consider the increased difficulty the move will pose for people hauling luggage, strollers or other items, and what accessing the new stops would be like for people in extremely hot or inclement weather like rain, sleet or snow.
The members of the Airport Authority Board seem to understand that relocating the bus stops will cause more difficulty for users of public transportation, but they seem to think those difficulties can be solved simply by providing more signage and lighting to guide people to the new transportation stop:
But the proposal seems tone-deaf and completely without regard to the difficulty it would pose for disabled and mobility-challenged citizens due to the sheer distance from the terminal, let alone the difficulties that would be posed by making the trek in extreme weather.
Before deciding on this change, members of the Airport Board should take a turn trying to make the trek between their newly-proposed but stop site and the terminal in a wheelchair or using a walker, while also hauling at least one piece of luggage with them, to get an idea how the proposed change will affect people in the real world.
The Gj Airport Boards proposal to solving the traffic congestion by moving the bus stop 1000 Ft. reflects car centered mentality. Those riding the Bustang are alleviating congestion by that very act. The line of cars that form in front of the terminal can be alleviated by
1- opening a short term (cell lots) parking section in the current parking lot or adjacent to it
2- creating multiple parallel lanes ( like all city airports do): a-for public transport (buses ) , b- for taxis and hotel transport , c-for private cars.
Time for the GJ airport board to stop acting like they have never traveled through other airports. The $200k fix will go 5 years before another solution needs to be found.
Blatant discrimination.
How low things continue to go.
This sounds like a class action ADA lawsuit in the making.
It’s a no-brainer if it gets that far. Didn’t the extremely well-paid airport manager or CEO or whatever her title is read the proposal in her own budget?