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.
How to weigh on on this proposal:
— If you want to comment on this proposal, you can send your comments via email the Grand Junction Regional Airport Board by sending an email to the Board Clerk at boardclerk@gjairport.com;
— Or email the City of Grand Junction’s representative on the Airport Board, Chris West, at cwest@gjairport.com,
— Or attend a meeting of the Airport Board and sign up to speak in the public comment period. The public can attend Airport Board meetings in person or electronically, The Airport Board typically meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Their next meeting is Tuesday January 20, at 11:30 a.m., in the 3rd floor conference room at the Airport. Public comments usually the 5th item on the agenda, after the call to order, pledge, approval of agenda and commissioner comments. To attend the meeting electronically email boardclerk@gjairport.com for the electronic meeting link. Here are the guidelines from their website about how to arrange to speak at their meetings:
“The Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority welcomes respectful public comments at its meetings. The Citizens Comment section is open to all individuals that would like to comment. If you wish to speak under the Citizens Comment portion of the agenda, please e-mail your comment to the Board Clerk (boardclerk@gjairport.com) 15 minutes prior to the meeting. Comments not related to specific agenda items will be addressed during the citizen comment section of the agenda. Citizen comments related to a specific action item will be addressed during the discussion of that action item. The Board Chair will indicate when you may come forward and comment. Please state your name for the record. Presentations are limited to three minutes and yielding time to others is not permitted. Speakers are to address the Chair, not each other or the audience, and are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. The use of abusive or profane language shall not be allowed. No debate or argument between speakers and/or members of the audience shall be permitted.”
–You can also leave a phone comment for the board by calling (970) 244-9100.
This plan to relocate that far seems deaf to current standards for mobility challenged people.
I am 73 with some vision issues, and ride BUSTANG to get to Denver and back to visit my son and grandson, or since I still work part-time, to some Denver work events. Very disappointing that the airport will choose to make people with mobility issues, or other issues around driving, bear the burden of airport CAR congestion instead of creating changes that have the drivers bearing the burden. On BUSTANG, we usually all have some kind of luggage to deal with too. That is so AMERICAN, as we are so car-centric. I hoped for better from my “small town” in managing growing pains – hoped they would not pick the vulnerable population to bear the burdens.
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?