Headed to Estes? Bustang Service set to Start
If you are headed to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, another travel option is coming your way with the start of Bustang service later this month.
Beginning on Saturday, Aug. 24, and continuing each weekend (including Labor Day) through Sunday, Sept. 29, Bustang will travel twice a day between Denver’s Union Station and the Estes Park Visitor Center. Once in Estes Park, visitors can catch the free trolley to access a variety of locations in town, or catch a bus to the park & ride on the Bear Lake Corridor in RMNP. Visitors must purchase a park pass for entry into RMNP.
“We decided to pilot this program as part of our continuing effort to provide service to high demand recreational areas that have unmet transit needs,” said Colorado Department of Transportation Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “Providing travel alternatives to a popular tourist area helps us to enhance safety by reducing the number of vehicles coming in and out of the Estes Park area, helping us to enhance our Whole System – Whole Safety initiative.”
A roundtrip ticket is $10 per person.
“We're thrilled that people can now leave their cars behind and hop a bus to Estes Park, and even connect to Rocky Mountain National Park,” said Town of Estes Park Mayor Todd Jirsa. “This pilot program is fulfilling a long-term need, making travel more convenient and helping reduce traffic during a very busy time of year.”
SCHEDULE
Northbound Route 201 Route 203
DEPART Denver Union Station 7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m.
DEPART Westminster - U.S. 36 & Sheridan Boulevard 7:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m.
ARRIVE Estes Park Visitor Center 8:55 a.m. 9:55 a.m.
Southbound Route 200 Route 202
DEPART Estes Park Visitor Center 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m.
ARRIVE Westminster - U.S. 36 & Sheridan Boulevard 4:25 p.m. 6:25 p.m.
ARRIVE Denver Union Station 4:55 p.m. 6:55 p.m.
Schedule may vary depending on weather and road conditions
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://ridebustang.com/estes-park/ Please visit: https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/shuttle_bus_route.htm for additional information on the shuttle system to RMNP.
“This new service holds enormous potential for how people travel to some of our most cherished outdoor locations including Rocky Mountain National Park,” said Betsy Markey, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. “It helps fulfill our ‘Care for Colorado Principles’ and conservation ethics, and shows how local, state and federal entities can partner together to enhance the Colorado Experience.”
Ace Express Coaches of Golden contracts with CDOT to operate Bustang to Estes.
Bustang coaches are climate controlled, equipped with Wi-Fi, a restroom, USB and power outlets, comfortable seats, and wheelchair access.
WHOLE SYSTEM. WHOLE SAFETY.
To heighten safety awareness, CDOT recently announced its Whole System — Whole Safety initiative. This project takes a systematic statewide approach to safety combining the benefits of CDOT’s programs that address driving behaviors, our built environment and the organization's operations. The goal is to improve the safety of Colorado’s transportation network by reducing the rate and severity of crashes and improving the safety of all transportation modes. The program has one simple mission—to get everyone home safely.
ABOUT CDOT
CDOT has approximately 3,000 employees located at its Denver headquarters and in regional offices throughout Colorado, and manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway and 3,429 bridges. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of other agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also administers Bustang, the state-owned and operated interregional express service. Governor Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options
