The relatively remote location of the Yampa Valley within Northwest Colorado has historically posed numerous economic challenges. These challenges are related to 1) how to get people and goods to the Yampa Valley, and 2) how people and goods circulate once they arrive. Reliable air service is key to solving the first challenge. Improving mobility within the Yampa Valley is more complicated, with traffic volumes along US Highway 40 and State Highway 131 increasing steadily. The most serious congestion occurs on Lincoln Avenue/US 40 in downtown Steamboat Springs, which has a capacity of 30,000 vehicles per day. Given the location of the Yampa Valley Regional Airport relative to the Steamboat Ski Area, and increasing levels of Commuter traffic, improving circulation and reducing congestion is critical to the area's economic future.

In 1995, the Yampa Valley Multi-Modal Corridor Transportation Study identified numerous strategies for improving mobility within the Yampa Valley. Preferred approaches include measures to improve highway safety and upgrade transit operations, notably by introducing passenger rail and consolidating shuttle and taxi services.