The Town of Vail will recognize National Public Works Week from May 17 - 23 by celebrating the professionals who focus on the infrastructure, facilities and services that are vital to the high quality of life for town residents, as well as to the guest experience.

The Town of Vail’s Public Works Department is comprised of nine divisions representing approximately 50% of the Town of Vail’s workforce. Functions include Administration; Art in Public Places; Engineering and Construction Inspection; Facility Maintenance; Fleet Maintenance; Parks and Open Space; Streets; Transit; and Parking. The department maintains 32 miles of town roads and 44 cul-de-sacs, 11 miles of frontage roads, and 14 miles of recreation paths and sidewalks. The town owns and operates three parking structures and six parking lots. Vail Transit is one of the largest free bus systems in the country with 2.8 million riders per year, running from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day. The Art in Public Places program includes more than 70 works in its public art collection. There are eight neighborhood parks and two community parks – most of which include custom-designed playgrounds – and five pocket parks in Vail, as well as over 650 acres of open space. During the holidays, the department hangs over 390 wreaths, 163 rolls of 75 ft. garland and nearly 26.5 miles of light strings.

On Wednesday, May 20, all Town of Vail Public Works staff members will be treated to lunch. This invitation includes all town bus drivers and will require a brief suspension of transit services for approximately 2.5 hours in the middle of the day. Departures from the Vail Transportation Center will be adjusted as follows:

• West Vail Green - The 11:20 a.m. trip will be the last West Vail Green run until 2 p.m. The noon, 12:40 p.m. and 1:20 p.m. trips will be canceled.
• West Vail Red - The 11 a.m. trip will be the last West Vail Red run until 1:40 p.m. The 11:40 a.m., 12:20 p.m. and 1 p.m. trips will be canceled.
• East Vail - The 11:30 a.m. trip will be the last East Vail run until 2 p.m. The noon, 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. trips will be canceled.
• Golf Course - The 11:10 a.m. trip will be the last Golf Course run until 2:10 p.m. The 12:10 p.m. and 1:10 p.m. trips will be canceled.
• Sandstone - The 11:40 a.m. trip will be the last Sandstone run until 1:40 p.m. The 12:40 p.m. trip will be canceled.

In addition, intown bus service will be suspended between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Those who will be adversely affected by the outlying route cancelations due to work, appointments or other obligations are asked to call 970-479-2174 at least 24 hours in advance so the town can help arrange for transportation.

Public Works and Transportation Director Tom Kassmel says this will mark the first time in the town’s history that transit schedules will be adjusted to allow the entire department to gather at the same time. “We want to recognize our drivers as an integral part of the Public Works team, especially as we are about to launch the largest ever increase to the town’s summer transit service,” Kassmel said. The enhanced summer schedule will go into effect on June 8, with additional details to come.

Observed annually during the third week of May, National Public Works Week began in 1960 as a public education initiative by the American Public Works Association, highlighting the essential contributions of public works to strong, thriving communities. For more information, contact Kassmel at tkassmel@vail.gov.