Free Golden-to-Morrison shuttle launches on May 23. Jeffco celebrating Westracks' launch with giveaways, activities at shuttle stops. * corinne westeman, [email protected] * May 12, 2026 updated May 13, 2026. After years of planning, starting May 23, Jeffco residents will have a new way to reach their favorite parks and museums. Jefferson County and its partners are launching the free Westracks shuttle that will convey people between the RTD station at the Jefferson County Government Center and various parks and museums in the Golden and Morrison areas. The free shuttle will run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends and holidays this summer, starting May 23 and running through Labor Day on Sept. 7. No tickets or reservations are required. The Westracks shuttles are wheelchair accessible, and well-behaved, leashed dogs are allowed. Bicycles are also allowed, but the shuttle only has space for two bikes, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Shuttles will arrive every 15 minutes at each of the six stops. They are, from north to south: Officials have clarified that, while there will be a stop at Red Rocks Park, the shuttle will not run during evening hours this summer; people can't use the Westracks shuttle to get back from a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Jeffco Open Space recently confirmed it'll be celebrating the shuttle launch from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 23 at any Westracks stop. There will be giveaways, food, music, scavenger hunts and other activities. The opening also coincides with Dinosaur Ridge's new Deep Time Detour at the Discovery Center. The museum was scheduled to host a ribbon-cutting with local chambers of commerce on May 18. (Editor's note: Check TheGoldenTranscript.com or the May 28 print edition for more coverage on the new exhibit.) Solving the parking problem. The Westracks shuttle has been in development for years, and the county hosted a Sept. 20 demonstration event for local officials and members of the media. Westracks will operate for the next three summers, costing $1.05 million total, officials have previously stated. Eighty percent of that is covered by an RTD grant, while Jeffco and its partners are paying various amounts to cover the 20% match. Jeffco Commissioner Andy Kerr and other officials have explained how millions of people visit the Morrison area every year, with Red Rocks alone drawing more than 3 million annually. And summertime is the area's busiest season. Thus, six entities came together to offer a free shuttle service to help alleviate traffic and parking congestion. They are RTD, the City and County of Denver, Jefferson County, the Town of Morrison, Friends of Dinosaur Ridge and GreenLatinos Colorado. The partners have contracted with facilities management company Aramark to operate it this summer, Jeffco confirmed in a May 8 press release. Officials said that, based on data, feedback and demand in 2026, the routes and schedules could be altered in 2027 or 2028. "This project is about more than just transportation - it's about making our incredible natural resources accessible to everyone, reducing traffic and emissions, and supporting local economies," Kerr said in the press release. "We're proud of the collaborative work that brought us here and thrilled to begin service." Additionally, the Jeffco Government Center is also a stop for the free Golden-area Ore Cart shuttle, which is a collaboration between the City of Golden and Colorado School of Mines. It has multiple routes and stops across the city, including downtown Golden and the Mines campus. Thus, between the RTD system, and the Ore Cart and Westracks shuttles, people across the Denver, Golden and Morrison areas will be able to access the others for little to no cost. "Access to our region's most iconic landscapes shouldn't depend on owning a vehicle or winning a battle for parking," JCOS Director Aaron Roth said in the press release. "I'm excited that the Westracks shuttle makes our parks available to all without traffic jams."

April proclaimed Child Abuse Prevention Month in Jefferson County. BROOKVILLE - Recognizing the need to protect children, the Jefferson County Commissioners have proclaimed April to be Child Abuse Prevention Month in the county. Cass Burkett, executive director and forensic interviewer at the Western PA Cares for Kids advocacy center in Roseville, spoke briefly about child abuse in Jefferson County at last week's meeting of the commissioners. "I am very grateful you don't have to know some of the darkness of my world," Burkett said, noting that 94 children were served at the center last year. Services included forensic interviews and medical evaluations. In the interviews, "a forensic interviewer has a conversation with a child in a way that is developmentally friendly for them," Burkett said. For medical evaluations they are taken to "a very child friendly exam room so they can feel safe. Our goals is to put children at the center of our process so they don't feel like they are being pushed to the side during one of the worst times of their life." She said a goal of the advocacy center is to raise awareness and promote child abuse prevention. "We do that by serving the children. Prevention starts with education - to teachers, community members and children. It is hard to prevent what you don't know about and our goal is to educate children in a child-friendly way." Knowing that "no single agency can meet all the needs of a child, we work with Children and Youth Services, law enforcement, victim services agencies and mental health therapists to provide the best response for children," she said. The advocacy center is nonprofit, "funded entirely by community donations and government grants," she said. "Donations help provide essential resources such as school supplies and backpacks." In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, everyone is encouraged to wear blue on Friday, April 3 and to show support for children by displaying blue pinwheels "that show the joy and whimsy of being a child." Burkett said, "Child abuse prevention is a year-long effort. Bad things exist in the dark, so we want to shine light on it. With our community support we can be a voice for our children and we want to make every month a month of protection." Other business - The commissioners appointed Sarah Gallagher of Brookville to the Jefferson County Planning Commission. Her term will expire Dec. 31. - Approved for payment were invoices in the amount of $807,196.82 and payroll in the amount of $322,237.81. - All county offices will be closed Friday, April 3 in observance of Good Friday. The next regular meeting of the Jefferson County commissioners will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 14 in the conference room at Jefferson Place. More news. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Latest e-edition. Mobile app.