Bobby O'Toole

Bobby O'Toole, operations director for Alpine Taxi, said his staff has learned to cope with disrupted airline schedules.

"We've learned to adapt if noting else," O'Toole said.

"On the routes they're cutting, I believe the first thing people will do is call Alpine Taxi," said Bobby O'Toole, the company's director of operations.He said he planned to attend the meeting with city officials."When you go on vacation, your time is very valuable."

While still looking for a few positions, O'Toole said Alpine Taxi is not having similar problems hiring enough drivers for the winter season.He said the company held a job fair in October and has been padding its schedule in recent months.

"I would say we're probably a little bit ahead of the curve right now," O'Toole said.

O'Toole guessed that the city might have a harder time finding employees because their schedule is not as flexible.Also, although Alpine Taxi does not pay as much as the city, there is the potential to earn tips.

"I think our schedule is a little more flexible," O'Toole said.

Alpine Taxi driver manager Bobby O'Toole is suffering from the same hiring and certification challenges.

"To say the least, it's a thorn in our side," he said.

As the director of operations for Alpine Taxi, Bobby O'Toole has a good sense of what his drivers are dealing with.

"I think there is a problem, one, with people who are not familiar with the road, two, who aren't familiar with the conditions; and three, people who are swiveling their heads, looking everywhere but where they are going," O'Toole said.

The company will have as many as 20 drivers on the roads and expects to make about 500 taxi runs -- the number it made last New Year's Eve, said Bobby O'Toole, driver manager at Alpine Taxi.

"It definitely is the busiest night of the year for us," O'Toole said.

Alpine Taxi offers local taxi service throughout New Year's Eve.Customers can make a reservation until 11 p.m. to be picked up.To get a taxi ride after that, people should call Alpine Taxi when they are ready to be picked up, and they will be picked up on a first-come, first-served basis.

Alpine Taxi aims to get people within 30 minutes of their calls or sooner, O'Toole said.

Bobby O'Toole, director of operations for Alpine Taxi, and his colleagues are faced with a challenge.Their fleet of taxis will provide ground transportation to the majority of airline passengers arriving this week as they continue their journey 25 miles east to their vacation lodging.

"We've been planning for this day all summer," O'Toole said."As soon as it starts snowing, we know Dec. 26 is gong to be busy.We'll have 80 vehicles, all on the road doing something."

On Tuesday and Wednesday, O'Toole said, Alpine will send vans with ski racks to the airport in waves of 15 to 17 at a time.
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O'Toole said his company understands Wirth's customer service message.
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"We're almost like ambassadors for the resort," O'Toole said.

"This is the busiest evening of the year," said Bobby O'Toole, director of operations for Alpine Taxi.The company will have 20 drivers on the road and will operate two dispatch channels.

"The key to the evening is to see the humor in it," O'Toole said."There are so many people trying to go so many different directions, everyone needs to realize there are only so many ways to get there."

The only public transportation available New Year's Eve is Alpine Taxi and free city buses.

"We're doing the best we can, but New Year's Day is also extremely busy for us," O'Toole said.

Alpine Taxi does not accept reservations for after midnight.The key to making sure you can get a taxi is to call at least a half hour to 45 minutes in advance, O'Toole said.

It's also important to be outside and waiting for the taxi when it arrives.If the driver pulls up and hears that the person who called is in the back of the bar playing pool, "we go on to the next person that's ready," O'Toole said.

On any other night, Steamboat Springs Transit runs two buses after midnight.