Over the last several months, I have worked with my colleagues Kathleen Maeder and Quinn Raymond on transportation strategies for Crested Butte, Colorado that emphasize walking, biking, and transit. We prepared a report presenting our findings, drawing from research, case studies, and discussions with Crested Butte contacts. One strategy that has emerge from this process is implementing paid parking in downtown Crested Butte.
Implementing paid parking has the opportunity to generate significant revenue for Crested Butte and support transit services. Paid parking can be introduced in select downtown blocks with high visitation, such as Elk Avenue. Setting a consistent rate regardless of the day or season is equitable, would ease Crested Butte residents into the paid parking program, and would ensure the town’s transit fund is sufficiently appropriated. To build further community buy-in, parking could remain free for the first 30 minutes, or for nights, early mornings, Sundays, and holidays. Implementation of this strategy is estimated to be at least $100,000 for purchase and installation of parking meters. Assuming a baseline of 50% utilization on Elk Avenue for a day, paid parking on that street alone could generate over $3,000 per day (and over $1 million in a year)¹. For perspective, the 2024 Crested Butte Transit and Mobility Fund had a net deficit of $115,368² . Paid parking revenue would be invested in sustainable transit through expanded service.
Crested Butte is not alone with its push for more sustainable development and transportation. Communities across the American West, including those with a similar size to Crested Butte, are taking action to reimagine their relationship with parking. Aspen, Colorado has downtown paid parking which has been effective in maintaining traffic levels at roughly the same level as in 1993³⁴. Park City, Utah agreed to a partnership with the nearby Deer Valley Ski Resort for infrastructure improvements. Some components of the strategy include completion of a transportation and parking facility while also integrating lift infrastructure with U.S. Highway 40 to distribute resort access and parking more efficiently. In addition, a new Public Infrastructure District enables Park City’s investment in public infrastructure. Finally, day skier parking has been reduced by 20% due to Park City vacating a requested right of way on a local road⁵. These examples and Crested Butte’s illustrate the progress being made in towns’ relationship to parking and offer a path for other Western towns to follow.
1 Hernandez, J., Maeder, K., and Raymond, Q. 2025. Transportation Strategies for Crested Butte. Yale School of the Environment & Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative.
2 Crested Butte. 2024. Annual Budget 2024. https://www.crestedbutte-co.gov/…/2024_Budget_FINAL_reduced_size.pdf
3 City of Aspen. 2025. Downtown Core Parking. https://aspen.gov/1676/Downtown-Core-Parking
4 Destination Think. 2023. Aspen’s thinking ahead about travel, transit, and transportation. Destination Think. https://destinationthink.com/…/aspens-thinking-ahead…
5 TownLift. 2023. Park City and Deer Valley eye public-private partnership for Snow Park. TownLift. https://townlift.com/…/park-city-and-deer-valley…
References
City of Aspen. 2025. Downtown Core Parking. https://aspen.gov/1676/Downtown-Core-Parking
Crested Butte. 2024. Annual Budget 2024. https://www.crestedbutte-
co.gov/vertical/sites/%7B6058FFBB-CB06-4864-B42F-B476F794BE07%7D/uploads/2024_Budget_FINAL_reduced_size.pdf
Destination Think. 2023. Aspen’s thinking ahead about travel, transit, and transportation. Destination Think. https://destinationthink.com/blog/aspens-thinking-ahead-about-travel-transit-and-transportation/
Hernandez, J., Maeder, K., and Raymond, Q. 2025. Transportation Strategies for Crested Butte. Yale School of the Environment & Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative.
TownLift. 2023. Park City and Deer Valley eye public-private partnership for Snow Park. TownLift. https://townlift.com/2023/12/park-city-and-deer-valley-eye-public-private-partnership-for-snow-park/