Bustang
| Company type | Government-operated |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | July 13, 2015 in Colorado, United States |
| Headquarters | Colorado , United States |
Area served | Colorado |
| Products | Intercity bus services |
| Owner | Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) |
| Website | ridebustang |
Bustang represents Colorado's government-operated intercity bus network, inaugurated in 2015. Originally linking Denver with Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Glenwood Springs, the system has since broadened its reach to include Grand Junction, Durango, Gunnison, Alamosa, Pueblo, Fairplay, and Lamar. Its funding is sourced from both state and federal contributions, with fare revenues covering roughly 60% of operational expenses. In 2024, Bustang served close to 290,700 passengers.
History
The Bustang service commenced on July 13, 2015, featuring three initial routes: the West Line connecting Denver to Glenwood Springs via I-70; the North Line running from Denver to Fort Collins along I-25; and the South Line linking Denver to Colorado Springs also via I-25. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) had forecasted a first-year ridership of 87,376; however, actual passenger numbers surpassed 100,000. Initially operating only on weekdays, weekend services were soon introduced on the West Line catering to skiers and on the North Line through the "RamsRoute" initiative for students. By 2017, weekend operations expanded regularly to Fort Collins and Colorado Springs. Revenue in the inaugural year exceeded $1 million, accounting for 38% of total operating costs.
Growing demand in 2017 led various communities across Colorado to advocate for service expansion as ridership reached 156,000. Early in 2018, the "Outrider" program was launched to serve rural regions with routes such as Lamar to Pueblo along US 50 and later extending from Pueblo to Alamosa. The West Line was extended to Grand Junction aiming for an annual ridership of 15,000. Additional Outrider routes connected Durango with Grand Junction and Denver with Gunnison. December 2018 saw the introduction of a route between Colorado Springs and the Denver Tech Center. Between July 2017 and June 2018, ridership climbed to 194,064.
By 2019, increased demand strained available capacity amid a shortage of drivers attributed to low wages and federal drug testing mandates. Ridership across the North, South, and West lines grew to 238,252 during 2018–2019. In December of that year, Bustang launched "Snowstang," a seasonal service linking Denver with ski resorts including Arapahoe Basin, Loveland Ski Area, and Steamboat Springs.
A new route inaugurated in 2021 connected Craig to Denver with stops at Steamboat Springs, Granby, Winter Park, Idaho Springs among others. In 2023, an additional Outrider route began operating between Trinidad and Pueblo with stops at Colorado City, Walsenburg, and Aguilar.
On March 1, 2024, Bustang ceased operations on the Denver Tech Center route due to insufficient ridership.
List of routes
The following table outlines Bustang’s routes; italicized entries denote flag stops.
- Ridership data unavailable for routes initiated after 2022.
Seasonal Routes
| Route Name | Service | Northern/Western Terminus | Stops en route | Southern/Eastern Terminus | Frequency | Seasonality | Launch | Ridership (2022) |
|---|
| Route Name | Service Type | Northern/Western Endpoint | Intermediate Stops | Southern/Eastern Endpoint | Frequency | Operating Period | Inception Date | 2022 Ridership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RamsRoute | Seasonal | Fort Collins | Colorado State University, Loveland, Berthoud, Firestone / Longmont, Westminster, Denver Union Station | Arapahoe at Village Center station | Weekly | CSU Fall and Spring semesters | 2015-09-11 | — |
| Bustang to Broncos | Seasonal | Fort Collins | Loveland | Empower Field at Mile High | Daily (Denver Broncos home games) | NFL season | 2016-10-09 | — |
| Bustang to Broncos–South | Seasonal | Empower Field at Mile High | Monument | Colorado Springs | Daily (Denver Broncos home games) | NFL season | 2016-10-09 | — |
| Bustang to Estes | Seasonal | Rocky Mountain National Park | Estes Park, Lyons, Boulder, Broomfield, Westminster | Denver Union Station | Twice daily (weekends) | May–October | 2019-08-24 | — |
Snowstang ski area shuttle services operate on weekends from December through May:
| Arapahoe Basin | Snowstang | Golden, Federal Center station | Weekends (daily) | 524 |
| Copper Mountain | Snowstang | Golden, Federal Center station | Weekends (daily) | 883 |
| Loveland Ski Area | Snowstang | Golden, Federal Center station | Weekends (daily) | 623 |
| Steamboat Springs | Snowstang | Golden, Federal Center station | Weekends (daily) | 170 |
| Breckenridge | Snowstang | Golden, Federal Center station | Weekends (daily) | 818 |
Retired Routes
| Route Name | Service Type | Northern/Western Terminus | Stops Along Route | Southern/Eastern Terminus | Frequency | Operating Season | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Tech Center | Bustang | Belleview station | Various stops within Denver Tech Center, Arapahoe at Village Center station, Monument | Colorado Springs | Weekdays (daily) | Year-round service | 2018-12-17 | 2024-03-01 |
| Telluride–Grand Junction | Outrider | Grand Junction Regional Airport | Downtown Grand Junction, Delta, Olathe, Montrose, Ridgway, Placerville | Montrose or Telluride* (*One daily trip runs between Montrose garage and Telluride) | Twice daily (weekdays) | Year-round service | 2018-06-30 | 2025-02-01 |
Accidents and Incidents
On July 17, 2023, a Bustang South Line bus failed to stop at a red light in downtown Colorado Springs and collided with an SUV, which subsequently overturned. The driver of the SUV experienced minor injuries; none of the passengers aboard the bus were hurt. The bus sustained only slight damage.
See also
External links
- Official site
- Bustang information on CODOT.gov
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