It’s official: The big purple bus is now serving the south I-25 corridor!
Bustang, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s popular interregional express bus service recently launched a new service line from south Denver to Colorado Springs, with 16 stops between Arapahoe Road / Yosemite Street and the RTD Light Rail Belleview Station, including the Denver Tech Center.
The new route is now running four times per day during the week – twice in the morning from Colorado Springs to the DTC and twice in the afternoon from the DTC to Colorado Springs, according to CDOT.
A one-way ticket for the south Denver stretch is $9.
“In addition to helping reduce traffic on I-25, the route will provide service for people from the Colorado Springs area who have been seeking more direct access to their place of employment in the DTC,” CDOT Director of Transit and Rail, David Krutsinger, said in a statement announcing the new line “And with a couple of stops at light rail stations, it’ll provide additional options for people who want to travel to other parts of the Denver Metropolitan Area.”
From Fort Collins to Pueblo, from Durango to Grand Junction, and from Gunnison to Lamar, Bustang is CDOT’s answer to intra-Colorado transportation, connecting the state’s major population and employment centers and integrating with local transit systems in all the areas it serves. Launched in 2015, Bustang has seen a 300 percent increase in ridership since launch, has transported more than 450,000 in that time and now offers 365-day service on most lines.
As of 2018, ridership is averaging 17,000 passengers per month.
This is big news for commuters in the Denver south region, as well as those who work in the surrounding area, and it couldn’t come at a better time.
The Denver south region is one of the largest employment centers along the Front Range, and it is seeing growing commuter traffic along I-25 as a result. Adding a new public transportation option to help alleviate these issues, while also helping workers in the more rural parts of Douglas County and points south get to work in south Denver, is welcome news to both employers and employees alike.
Add us at the Denver South Economic Development Partnership to that list as well.
Why the outpouring of love? Because Bustang is more than just another regional bus line.
It’s comfortable
Each Bustang bus offers a range of unique commuter amenities including WiFi internet access, 110-volt power outlets in each seat, USB charging stations for mobile devices, bike racks, bathrooms and wheelchair accessibility.
It’s tech-centric
Ticketing on Bustang is easy and secure too, thanks to the system’s mobile ticketing and Software-as-a-Service fare collection via the Masterpass and Apple Pay digital payment services. Using the free app, riders can pre-purchase tickets up to six months in advance of their planned trip right from their phone, storing them in a digital wallet and scanning right onto the bus when they’re ready to go. This avoids the hassle and waste of printing out a paper ticket.
It’s economical
According to CDOT, the average Denver south commuter can save up to $9,000 per year in commuting costs just by ditching their car and taking Bustang instead. That includes everything from fuel costs, to parking, to wear and tear and wasted time on the road.
For more information about the new south Denver Bustang transport line and ticket prices, visit RideBustang.com.
