Public intercity bus service in Colorado
Bustang Bustang bus headed northbound on I-25 approaching Larkspur, Colorado.
Parent Colorado Department of Transportation Commenced operation July 13, 2015[ 1] Locale Colorado Service type intercity transportation Alliance Greyhound Lines Destinations Denver , Colorado Springs , Fort Collins , Grand Junction , Durango , Gunnison , Alamosa , Pueblo , Lamar , Craig , Fairplay and others.Annual ridership 290,700[ 2] Operator
Ace Express Coaches (North, South, West)
SRDA (Outrider Lamar-Pueblo, Outrider Alamosa-Pueblo)
Southern Colorado Community Action Agency (Outrider Durango-Grand Junction)
Alpine Express (Outrider Gunnison-Denver)
Greyhound Lines (Outrider Craig-Denver)
Website ridebustang .com
Bustang is an intercity bus service in the U.S. state of Colorado . Service began in 2015 and originally traveled between Denver and Colorado Springs , Fort Collins , and Glenwood Springs . Service has since been expanded to connect Grand Junction , Durango , Gunnison , Alamosa , Pueblo , Fairplay and Lamar among others. It is Colorado's first state-run bus service.[ 3] Capital costs are paid for from various state and federal sources, and operating costs are covered 60% by fares.[ 4] In 2024, the system had a ridership of approximately 290,700.[ 2]
History
Bustang service began on July 13, 2015.[ 1] Service was originally provided along three lines: the West Line from Denver to Glenwood Springs along I-70 , the North Line from Denver to Fort Collins along I-25 , and the South Line from Denver to Colorado Springs also along I-25. The Colorado Department of Transportation estimated that there would be 87,376 passengers during the Bustang's first year of operation, however, ridership surpassed 100,000.[ 5] At first the buses ran only on weekdays, but weekend service was quickly added along the West Line to accommodate skiers and along the North Line through the "RamsRoute" program. RamsRoute was intended for students and only ran one round-trip bus per weekend. Regular weekend service to both Fort Collins and Colorado Springs was added in 2017.[ 6] First year revenue totaled over $1,000,000, which was enough to cover 38% of Bustang's costs.
In 2017, communities across Colorado began to lobby for expanded Bustang service.[ 7] This came after the second year ridership for the Bustang reached 156,000. In early 2018, service was added between Lamar and Pueblo along US 50 . The new program was dubbed "Outrider" and focuses on rural Colorado. The Outrider program was expanded in May by adding a line between Pueblo and Alamosa .[ 8] Later that summer the West Line was extended to Grand Junction, with hopes that the route would hit 15,000 annual passengers.[ 9] Two additional Outrider services began roughly at the same time. The first was between Durango and Grand Junction, and the second was between Denver and Gunnison .[ 10] In December 2018, an additional route between Colorado Springs and the Denver Tech Center was started.[ 11] Total ridership from July 2017 to June 2018 reached 194,064.[ 12]
In 2019, there was pressure to further expand capacity, but a shortage of drivers needed to be addressed.[ 13] The difficulty in finding new drivers has been attributed to low wages and to federally mandated drug tests. Ridership of the North, South, and West lines reached 238,252 for the 2018–2019 time period.[ 14] A new bus line dubbed "Snowstang" was announced in December 2019.[ 15] It is meant to ferry passengers from Denver to Arapahoe Basin, Loveland Ski Area and Steamboat Springs.
In 2021, a new route began service between Craig and Denver with stops at Steamboat Springs , Granby , Winter Park , and Idaho Springs and various locations in between.[ 16]
In 2023, a new route began operating between Trinidad and Pueblo, with stops in Colorado City , Walsenburg and Aguilar .[ 17]
On March 1, 2024, Bustang discontinued the Denver Tech Center route due to low ridership.[ 18]
Services
List of routes
The table below shows each Bustang route. Stops in italics are flag stops .
Route Name
Service
Northern/Western Terminus
Stops en route
Southern/Eastern Terminus
Frequency
Seasonality
Launch
Ridership (2022)
References
North Line
Bustang
Fort Collins
Loveland , Berthoud , Firestone /Longmont
Denver Union Station
12 times daily (weekdays) 6 times daily (weekend)
Year-round
July 13, 2015
48,652
[ 1] [ 19] [ 20]
West Line
Bustang
Glenwood Springs or Grand Junction [ a]
Parachute , Rifle , Glenwood Springs , Eagle , Avon , Vail , Frisco , Idaho Springs , Federal Center station
Denver Union Station
15 times daily
Year-round
July 13, 2015
84,352
[ 1] [ 21] [ 20]
South Line
Bustang
Denver Union Station
Colorado station , Sky Ridge station , Monument
Colorado Springs
12 times daily (weekdays) 6 times daily (weekend)
Year-round
July 13, 2015
35,068
[ 1] [ 22] [ 20]
Denver–Avon
Pegasus
Avon
Vail , Frisco , Idaho Springs , Federal Center station
Denver Union Station
6 times daily (weekdays) 10 times daily (weekend)[ b]
Year-round
May 27, 2022
7,832
[ 23] [ 24] [ 20]
Alamosa–Pueblo
Outrider
Alamosa
Alamosa East , Moffat , Poncha Springs , Salida , Cotopaxi , Penrose , Pueblo West
Pueblo
Daily
Year-round
May 1, 2018
3,010
[ 8] [ 25] [ 20]
Craig–Denver
Outrider
Craig
Hayden , Milner , Steamboat Springs , Muddy Pass , Kremmling , Parshall , Hot Sulphur Springs , Granby , Tabernash , Fraser , Winter Park , Empire , Idaho Springs , Federal Center station
Denver Union Station
Daily
Year-round
January 1, 2021
8,184
[ 16] [ 26] [ 20]
Crested Butte–Denver
Outrider
Crested Butte
Almont , Gunnison , Monarch Mountain , Salida , Buena Vista , Fairplay , Pine Junction
Denver Union Station
Daily
Monarch Mountain served December–April
June 30, 2018
14,669
[ 10] [ 27] [ 20]
Durango–Grand Junction
Outrider
Grand Junction Regional Airport
Downtown Grand Junction , Delta , Olathe , Montrose , Ridgway , Placerville , Telluride , Rico , Dolores , Cortez , Mancos , Durango
Bayfield
Daily
Year-round
June 30, 2018
4,486
[ 10] [ 28] [ 20]
Lamar–Colorado Springs
Outrider
Colorado Springs
Fountain , Pueblo , Fowler , Manzanola , Rocky Ford , Swink , La Junta , Las Animas , Fort Lyon
Lamar
Daily
Year-round
January 2, 2018
3,398
[ 29] [ 30] [ 20]
Sterling–Denver
Outrider
Denver Union Station
Denver Airport station , Keenesburg , Wiggins , Fort Morgan , Brush ,
Sterling
Five times weekly
Year-round
November 1, 2022
7
[ 31] [ 32] [ 20]
Sterling–Greeley
Outrider
Greeley
Kersey , Wiggins , Fort Morgan , Brush
Sterling
Three times weekly
Year-round
November 2, 2022
6
[ 31] [ 33] [ 20]
Trinidad–Pueblo
Outrider
Pueblo
Colorado City , Walsenburg , Aguilar
Trinidad
Twice daily (weekdays)
Year-round
March 23, 2023
—[ c]
[ 17] [ 34] [ 20]
RamsRoute
Seasonal Services
Fort Collins
Colorado State University , Loveland , Berthoud , Firestone /Longmont , Westminster , Denver Union Station
Arapahoe at Village Center station
Weekly
CSU Fall and Spring semesters
September 11, 2015
—[ d]
[ 35] [ 36] [ 20]
Bustang to Broncos
Seasonal Services
Fort Collins
Loveland
Empower Field at Mile High
Daily (Denver Broncos home games)
NFL season
October 9, 2016
—[ e]
[ 37] [ 38] [ 20]
Bustang to Broncos–South
Seasonal Services
Empower Field at Mile High
Monument
Colorado Springs
Daily (Denver Broncos home games)
NFL season
October 9, 2016
—[ e]
[ 37] [ 38] [ 20]
Bustang to Estes
Seasonal Services
Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park , Lyons , Boulder , Broomfield , Westminster
Denver Union Station
Twice daily (weekends)
May–October
August 24, 2019
—[ f]
[ 39] [ 40] [ 20]
Arapahoe Basin
Snowstang
Arapahoe Basin
Golden , Federal Center station
Denver Union Station
Daily (weekends)
December–May
December 14, 2019
524[ g]
[ 15] [ 41] [ 20]
Copper Mountain
Snowstang
Copper Mountain
Golden , Federal Center station
Denver Union Station
Daily (weekends)
December–May
December 11, 2021
883[ g]
[ 15] [ 42] [ 20]
Loveland Ski Area
Snowstang
Loveland Ski Area
Golden , Federal Center station
Denver Union Station
Daily (weekends)
December–May
December 14, 2019
623[ g]
[ 15] [ 43] [ 20]
Steamboat Springs
Snowstang
Steamboat Springs
Golden , Federal Center station
Denver Union Station
Daily (weekends)
December–May
December 14, 2019
170[ g]
[ 15] [ 44] [ 20]
Breckenridge
Snowstang
Breckenridge
Golden , Federal Center station
Denver Union Station
Daily (weekends)
December–May
December 17, 2022
818[ g]
[ 15] [ 45] [ 20]
^ Fifteen trips daily run to Glenwood Springs, and six trips run to Grand Junction.
^ For the Denver–Avon route, "weekdays" refers to Monday–Thursday, and "weekends" refers to Friday–Sunday.
^ Ridership for the Trinidad–Pueblo route is not available because it was launched after 2022.
^ Ridership data for the RamsRoute is not available.
^ a b While ridership numbers for the individual Bustang to Broncos routes are not available, the combined ridership for both routes was 1,965 in 2022.
^ Ridership data for Bustang to Estes is not available.
^ a b c d e Ridership numbers for Snowstang routes are for December 2022–January 2023.
Discontinued routes
Route Name
Service
Northern/Western Terminus
Stops en route
Southern/Eastern Terminus
Frequency
Seasonality
Launch
Discontinued
References
Denver Tech Center
Bustang
Belleview station
Various stops in the Denver Tech Center , Arapahoe at Village Center station , Monument
Colorado Springs
Daily (weekdays)
Year-round
December 17, 2018
March 1, 2024
[ 11] [ 46] [ 18]
Telluride–Grand Junction
Outrider
Grand Junction Regional Airport
Downtown Grand Junction , Delta , Olathe , Montrose , Ridgway , Placerville
Montrose or Telluride [ a]
Twice daily (weekdays)
Year-round
June 30, 2018
February 1, 2025
[ 10] [ 47] [ 20]
Accidents and incidents
On July 17, 2023, the driver of a Bustang coach operating on the South Line ran a red light in downtown Colorado Springs and struck an SUV, causing it to roll over. The driver of the SUV escaped with only minor injuries, and everyone aboard the bus was uninjured. The coach sustained minor damage.[ 48] [ 49]
See also
Notes
^ One trip each day runs between the garage at Montrose and Telluride.
References
^ a b c d e Whaley, Monte (April 15, 2015). "CDOT's statewide Bustang service to start July 13" . The Denver Post .
^ a b "BRT + Bustang Overview TLRC 7.23.24" (PDF) .
^ "DOT Announces Service Start Date for Bustang™" . CDOT . April 15, 2015.
^ Hill, Jim (2019-06-25). "A Former Critic Gets On The Bus" . Colorado Public Radio . Retrieved 2024-06-22 .
^ Proctor, Cathy (July 12, 2016). "Bustang, Colorado's statewide bus service, gallops to big rider numbers" . Denver Business Journal . Retrieved 26 November 2019 .
^ Stice, Alice (September 4, 2017). "Bustang fills demand for weekend route" . Coloradoan .
^ Kovaleski, Jennifer (October 27, 2017). "Local officials want CDOT's Bustang bus service expanded" . The Denver Channel . Retrieved 26 November 2019 .
^ a b Heide, Ruth (May 2, 2018). "New bus line begins service" . Alamosa News.
^ Ashby, Charles (June 29, 2018). "Bustang service to Grand Junction begins today" . The Daily Sentinel .
^ a b c d Aguilar, John (June 28, 2018). "Bustang to launch new long-haul bus service this weekend between Grand Junction, Durango" . The Denver Post.
^ a b Case, Angela (December 13, 2018). "Bustang adds service between Colorado Springs and Denver Tech Center" . Fox21News.
^ "Preformence Plan" (PDF) . Colorado Department of Transportation . CDOT.
^ Aguilar, John (February 24, 2019). "Bustang popularity continues to climb in Colorado as driver shortage intensifies" . The Denver Post .
^ Curley, Caitlin (August 15, 2019). "Bustang route from Denver to Estes Park to begin this month" . Gazette.
^ a b c d e f Woodruff, Chase (December 4, 2019). "Polis, CDOT Unveil "Snowstang" Bus, an Answer to I-70 Ski Traffic" . Westworld.
^ a b "New Service connecting Craig and Denver" . Ride Bustang . CDOT. December 23, 2020.
^ a b Bartolo, James (March 23, 2023). "CDOT launches Trinidad to Pueblo Bustang Outrider route with a month of free rides" . The Pueblo Chieftain . Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023 .
^ a b Hulting, Aidan; Soukup, Abby (February 21, 2024). "Bustang to discontinue route between Denver Tech Center and Colorado Springs on March 1" . Denver7 . Retrieved March 5, 2024 .
^ "North Line Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Phillips, Jennifer. "Bustang Family of Services Update" (PDF) . Colorado Department of Transportation . Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "West Line Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "South Line Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ Murray, Jon (May 13, 2022). "Launch of I-70 "Pegasus" service will test Coloradans' appetite for mountain transit — and willingness to ride it" . Denver Post . Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Denver – Avon Schedules" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Alamosa – Pueblo Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Craig – Denver Schedules" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Crested Butte – Denver Schedules" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Durango – Grand Junction Schedules" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "CDOT Expanding Bustang™ to Southeast Colorado" . Colorado Department of Transportation. December 27, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Lamar – Colorado Springs Schedules" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ a b "Bustang Outrider now serving northeastern Colorado" . Colorado Department of Transportation. November 1, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Sterling – Denver Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Sterling – Greeley Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Trinidad – Pueblo Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ de la Rosa, Katie (September 2, 2015). "Bustang to launch CSU weekend service to Denver" . Coloradoan . Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "RamsRoute Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ a b "Bustang® to Broncos Service begins Sunday" . Colorado Department of Transportation. October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ a b "Game Day Schedules" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ Blumhardt, Miles (July 29, 2019). "Bustang coming to Estes Park, more Colorado ski slopes" . Coloradoan . Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Bustang to Estes Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Arapahoe Basin Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Copper Mountain Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Loveland Ski Area Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Steamboat Springs Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Breckenridge Schedule" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Denver Tech Center (DTC) Schedules" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ "Telluride – Grand Junction Schedules" . Colorado Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ Van Dyne, Jessica (July 17, 2023). "Bustang bus blows red light, causes crash in Colorado Springs: Police" . The Gazette . Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
^ Grewe, Lindsey; Hansen, Spencer (July 17, 2023). "Bus driver cited after causing crash in downtown Colorado Springs" . KKTV . Retrieved October 2, 2023 .
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Bustang .
Statewide Denver Front Range Outstate Former