The Downtowner, the electric shuttle that offers rides in Aspen, has carried more than 11,635 passengers in more than 4,996 rides. There are a total of five vehicles. The first season was so successful that the City of Aspen is extending the service for another year, meaning it will go until Sept. 15, 2017.
Aspen Public Radio’s Barbara Platts took a ride in one with Mike Fisher, operations manager for the Downtowner and city parking director Mitch Osur.
The parking department plans to extend winter hours for the Downtowner, beginning at 8:30 a.m. so people can get to the slopes by the time the lifts open. Currently, the hours are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Over the summer months, the average wait time for the Downtowner was five minutes and 15 seconds. Osur said the goal is always to keep it within five minutes, however the app will notify the passenger about how long it will take when they book the ride.
