CDOT Expanding Bustang™ to Central Rockies, Southwest Colorado

DENVER – Beginning this weekend, people living the Gunnison Valley and in southwestern Colorado will have a new way to travel to Denver, Grand Junction and other locations, including areas along the Front Range beginning next week. 

On Saturday, June 30, 2018, CDOT's existing Bustang service is expanding to serve the communities along US 160, Colorado 145, US 550 and US 50 between Durango and Grand Junction. 

The southwest Outrider™ service will run once a day in each direction: Durango to Grand Junction in the morning; Grand Junction to Durango in the afternoon, Monday through Sunday. Outrider will leave the Durango Transit Center at 7 a.m. and arrive at the Grand Junction Transit Center at 12:43 p.m. The return trip leaves Grand Junction at 1:45 p.m. and arrives in Durango at 7:44 p.m.  Stops along this route include Mancos, Cortez, Dolores, Rico, Telluride, Placerville, Ridgway, Montrose and Delta. The one-way fare between Grand Junction and Durango is $42.  

Gunnison’s Outrider service also will travel once a day in each direction--from the Econo Lodge in Gunnison at 6:15 a.m., with an arrival at Denver’s Union Station 10:50 a.m. It will leave Denver at 1:55 p.m., returning to Gunnison at 6:40 p.m.  It also will run seven days a week. Other stops along this route include Salida, Buena Vista (Johnson Village), Fairplay and Pine Junction. A one-way ticket between Gunnison and Denver is $40.

Outrider will provide the same reliable and convenient bus service that Bustang offers, with each coach equipped with a restroom, bike racks, free WiFi (where available), power outlets and USB ports. Each Outrider coach seats 38 and is handicap accessible.

"Launching Bustang introduced a new era for the state’s transportation system.  Expanding Bustang Outrider marks another crucial steps at creating the healthiest multi-modal transportation system in the country,” said CDOT Executive Director Michael Lewis.  “Linking rural areas of the state provides a vital service for those who need or want the amenities that are provided in the state’s larger communities." 

Bustang's current routes are between Colorado Springs and Denver, Fort Collins and Denver and Glenwood Springs and Denver. Bustang is beginning service to Grand Junction on Friday, June, 29. CDOT anticipates extending the Colorado Springs service to Pueblo in fall 2018. 

Current Outrider routes are running between Lamar and Pueblo and Alamosa and Pueblo. 

For more information on Outrider or Bustang, visit www.ridebustang.com