Steamboat Pilot & Today

Thursday marked the first day of Greyhound Lines' cooperative effort with the city of Steamboat Springs at the Stockbridge Multimodal Transportation Center.

The city transit facility is now also an official stop for the Greyhound bus, with two daily departures to Denver and Salt Lake City. Previously, the center had served primarily as a turnaround for city buses and a remote parking lot during special events.

For the first time, the transit center will be staffed, Laurie DeBowes said. She will serve as ticket and freight agent for Greyhound, while performing normal duties for Steamboat Springs Transit. The bus line will compensate the city for a portion of DeBowes' salary.

The transit center will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Jeny Nathan, an administrative assistant for Steamboat Springs Transit, will oversee the operation from the city's end. She said a Greyhound stop at Stockbridge makes sense on several levels.

"People leaving town for a week will be able to park their cars for free," she pointed out. Visitors arriving in Steamboat will be able to hop a free-to-rider SST bus to reach a lodging property or call for taxi pickup.

Mike Timlin, district manager for Greyhound, predicted the cooperative effort will result in improved passenger service.

"The new facility in Steamboat Springs is an excellent example of how different modes of transportation can work together to provide a seamless travel experience for our customers," Timlin said.

Nathan said the Greyhound bus will continue to make a food stop at Taco Bell in Central Park Plaza. The new telephone number for bus ticketing and freight information is 870-0504.

-- To reach Tom Ross call 871-4205

or e-mail tross@steamboatpilot.com