Public Input sought on proposed New Bus Route

TRINIDAD — The Colorado Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on its planned Bustang Outrider service between Trinidad and Pueblo, scheduled to begin in summer 2021. 

An online survey is available for residents along the proposed route to provide feedback on potential bus stops, schedules, and other aspects of the service.  The survey is available here through Oct. 31: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Trinidad-Pueblo.

“We want to hear directly from those who plan to use these routes to make sure we’re providing the best service possible and helping to improve transportation connections across the state,” said CDOT’s Director of the Division of Transit and Rail David Krutsinger. “The feedback we receive will give us the vital information we need to plan these routes in a way that it meets the needs of our rural communities.”

In addition to the Trinidad-Pueblo route, CDOT is proposing three other routes for implementation in 2021: Craig-Denver (early 2021), Telluride-Grand Junction, and Sterling-Greeley (both summer 2021). Virtual public meetings were held in July and August for all four of the proposed routes to collect input from community members. The online survey is designed to complement the virtual meetings.

COVID-19

CDOT is instituting an extensive effort to ensure public health and safety onboard all its buses, including mandating the use of Personal Protective Equipment, individual temperature checks, air filter upgrades, Ultraviolet lights for sanitization, and limited seating. Bus contractors are following and complying by the guidelines endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

ABOUT BUSTANG OUTRIDER

Launched in 2018, Bustang Outrider is Colorado's rural regional bus network. Outrider — a branch of CDOT's larger Bustang bus system — provides regional transportation to rural residents for daily travel, including medical, education, and shopping needs. The Outrider bus system connects to long haul transportation providers for interstate and extended statewide travel. Outrider currently operates four routes: Lamar-Colorado Springs (weekdays); Alamosa-Pueblo (daily service); Gunnison-Denver (daily service); and Durango-Grand Junction (daily service).