Resort should pay the lion’s share

In case you weren’t aware, just as the select board was about to adopt next year’s proposed budget, the association sent word that it would no longer help fund the shuttle. (Stowe Area Association has since agreed to pay half of its $16,000 share for the next two years.)

I am a firm believer in public transportation and wish we had more of it. But who directly benefits from the Mountain Road shuttle? The international students who work at the lodge, tourists staying at inns along the route going to Stowe Mountain Resort to ski, guests at Stowe Mountain Lodge who prefer not to drive to the village, and employees of various inns. Residents and second-home owners who don’t live along the shuttle route have very little direct benefit from the shuttle, though I believe most look favorably on the service.

According to the Stowe Reporter, the shuttle service costs $310,000, of which state and federal taxes pay more than two-thirds, Stowe Mountain Resort pays $50,000, the town government pays $31,700 and Stowe Area members (plus two nonmember lodges) pay $16,000.

I firmly believe that Stowe Mountain Resort should pay the lion’s share; every rider on that bus is either one of its guests or an employee. Because of the lack of parking at Spruce this winter, I am quite sure chaos would ensue without the bus service. It is also a tremendous asset for the inns along the route, as their guests can suit up at their hotel and be dropped at the slopes free of charge.

I love the Mountain and I am very happy that our tourists can have this great experience, but I don’t think town residents need to further subsidize the shuttle. I encourage Stowe Area Association to look at other ways to fund its portion of the shuttle if its members are complaining. If two nonmember inns are willing to pay, perhaps other inns that benefit would also be willing to pay to keep the service.

My understanding is that the Act 250 agreement requires the Stowe Mountain Resort to provide shuttle service. What are those requirements specifically? What does the contract with Green Mountain Transit Authority say?

Stowe residents already pay more than our fair share through our federal, state and property taxes. The shuttle is a service that benefits Stowe Mountain Resort and Stowe Area Association more than Stowe taxpayers. Maybe Stowe Mountain Resort should shoulder a larger part of the cost. Maybe other inns along the route should contribute.

I think Stowe Area Association should explore these possibilities if it is unhappy with its share of the cost. If not, use it as the competitive advantage that it is and realize that, at $12 per room per year, the Mountain Shuttle is a pretty cost-effective marketing tool.

Marina Meerburg

Stowe