NEWS

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013  Media Contacts:  Mary Cobb, Via Mobility Services, 303-473-2882

Barb Halpin, Emergency Operations Center, 720-564-2935 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily)

Via Mobility Services provides flood victims with free transportation to Disaster Assistance Centers in Boulder County; Other options available for mountain residents

Increased traffic and the lack of transportation options in the mountains and foothills of Boulder County continues to be a problem for our residents and road & utility work crews. Similarly, residents impacted by the flood may have difficulty getting to one of the disaster assistance centers, either in Boulder or Longmont.

In order to alleviate some of the congestion and isolation issues of getting to and from Boulder from our mountain communities, and to assist residents getting to or from a disaster assistance center, VIA, RTD, City of Boulder and Boulder County are working together to provide accessible transportation options for plains and mountain residents affected by the flood.

Transportation to/from Disaster Assistance Centers and for basic needs

From Sept. 21 through Oct. 17, Boulder County’s nonprofit Via Mobility Services will provide flood victims with free on-demand transportation to Boulder County’s disaster assistance centers, as long as Via staff can safely reach the pickup locations. This free service will also be provided to the disaster assistance center in Estes Park. To schedule a ride, call 303-447-9636 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Via will also provide free on-demand transportation for any flood victim in its service area to access healthcare, food, employment, or other essential services to help stabilize their lives. Via can also provide information about mobility options and referral to other transportation resources that may be available in local communities. Call 303-447-2848 ext. 1014 or emailegallegos@nullviacolorado.org for more information.

Mountain community transportation updates

Beginning Monday, Sept. 23:

• The Climb bus will resume service with a modified route from Gold Hill Road through Sunshine Canyon Drive to the Boulder Transit Center. The Climb is operated by Via. Please see www.the-climb.org for additional route and schedule information.
• In collaboration with RTD and Boulder County, Via will also provide two mid-day routes from Boulder to Nederlandthrough Sunshine Canyon Drive using four-wheel-drive paratransit vehicles.
• RTD’s reconstituted large coach N route, will provide early morning and late afternoon between Nederland and Boulder via Highway 119 and Blackhawk. See www.viacolorado.org or www.rtd-denver.com for more information.

Via Mobility Services
Via is a private, nonprofit organization providing on-demand transportation, individual, and group travel training and mobility options information and referral. For more information, please visit www.viacolorado.org or call 303-447-2848.

—www.bouldercountyflood.org and www.boulderfloodinfo.net—