Thanks to Bustang, an interregional bus service that began July 13, commuters can relax in reclining, high-back chairs or choose to plug their devices into outlets and utilize wifi for the 69-mile trip between Colorado's two largest cities.
about 145 riders per day took the route between the two cities in November," writes Stephen Hobbs for The Gazette. "That's a [three-fold] increase from the first seven days of the service, when about 43 riders took it between Colorado Springs and Denver per day."
The CDOT-run buses make seven round trips between Colorado Springs and Denver each weekday. Bustang also takes riders to Denver from Glenwood Springs and Fort Collins. The vehicles seat 50 riders, have restrooms, wireless Internet, electrical outlets and are wheelchair-accessible.
According to the CDOT Interregional Express [IX] Bus Fact Sheet [PDF], prepared before service began—even before it was named Bustang, "the bus service connect(s) commuters along the I-25 Front Range and I-70 Mountain Corridors."
On Sept. 18, an insightful letter to the editor on Bustang service was published by The Gazette (and thoughtfully linked in the article). "Colorado Springs has produced few new higher level jobs in the past decade," writes Colorado Springs resident Margaret Henkens. "Thus, transportation to Denver is even more important, "
Ms. Henkens letter deals with the need for improved signage and lighting at park-and-ride facilities. Transit planners may find her suggestions helpful.
Park and imagine the bus is not there and then look around for where the bus may be pulling up for you to get on or for someone you're picking up to get off. If it is not dark, or raining, imagine the problems that exist if that were the case.
Unfortunately the Bustang website was not operating on January 1, so I could not check fares and trip times. The CDOT fact sheet indicates the one-way fare for the Colorado Springs to Denver Union Station trip would be $12
FULL STORY: Bustang ridership has more than tripled in five months
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