Bustang
The Colorado Department of Transportation's Interregional Express bus service, branded as Bustang, is an intercity bus service in the state of Colorado. Operations are contracted to Ace Express Coaches, Alpine Express, Northeast Colorado Administration of Local Governments (NECALG), Puelbo Senior Resource Development Agency (SRDA), and Southern Colorado Community Action Agency (SoCoCAA).
There are multiple levels of service: Bustang are the original three lines serving Denver plus the route to Denver Tech Center. Branch lines serving smaller rural communities are branded as Bustang Outrider. Bustang buses are in an eyecatching purple and black livery, while Bustang Outrider buses are in a similar teal and black livery.
History
In response to Greyhound service cutbacks in the state, the Colorado Department of Transportation launched a new Interregional Express bus service. Three lines were part of the service launch: the North Line from Fort Collins to Denver, the West Line from Glenwood Springs to Denver, and the South Line from Colorado Springs to Denver. While service was originally commuter-focused and operated on weekdays only, weekend service was added to all three lines by 2017.
With ridership exceeding expectations, service was expanded starting in 2018.[1] The West Line was extended to Grand Junction in mid-2018. As well, new rural routes branded as Bustang Outrider were introduced: between Lamar, Puelbo and Alamosa in early 2018, and Gunnison-Denver in September 2018. The Durango-Grand Junction route operated by Road Runner Stage Lines was also rebranded and supplied with new vehicles in September 2018.[2] A fourth mainline route between Colorado Springs and the Denver Tech Center started in December 2018.[3]
A new "Snowstang" seasonal service began operation in December 2019, connecting Denver to ski resorts in Arapahoe Basin, Loveland Ski Area, and Steamboat Springs. Snowstang service operates on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from December to mid-April.[4] The initial operating season was cut short due to concerns over COVID-19. Service resumed for the 2021-22 winter season, with an additional route to Copper Mountain; and a fifth route to Breckenridge was added for the 2022-23 season.
A fourth branded service "Pegasus" was introduced in May 2022, to supplement the existing West Line service between Denver and Avon along the Interstate 70 corridor. Pegasus uses smaller 11-passenger vehicles that can provide more direct service to locations within communities, and can take advantage of the Express lanes along I-70 for a faster service.
Routes
All routes are opreated by Ace Express Coaches, except where noted.
- Bustang
- North Line: Fort Collins - Denver
- West Line: Grand Junction - Denver
- South Line: Colorado Springs - Denver
- Colorado Springs - Denver Tech Center
- Bustang Outrider
- Alamosa - Pueblo (operated by Pueblo SRDA)
- Craig - Denver
- Crested Butte - Gunnison - Denver (operated by Alpine Express)
- Durango - Grand Junction (operated by SoCoCAA)
- Lamar - Pueblo - Colorado Springs (operated by Pueblo SRDA)
- Sterling - Denver (Tuesday/Thursday; operated by NECALG)
- Sterling - Greeley (Monday/Wednesday/Friday; operated by NECALG)
- Telluride - Montrose - Grand Junction (operated by Alpine Express)
- Trinidad - Puelbo (operated by SCCOG)
- Pegasus
- Denver - Avon
- Special services
- RamsRoute (weekend service from Colorado State University to Denver)
- Broncos Bus (special Sunday trips from Fort Collins/Colorado Springs to Denver)
- Snowstang (weekend/holiday service from Denver to Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Loveland, Steamboat)
Fleet
| Fleet Number(s) |
Thumbnail | Build Date |
Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Livery | Operator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38000-38012 | 
|
2015 | MCI | D4500CL | Cummins ISX12 | Bustang | Ace Express Coaches | ||
| 38014-38016 | 2016 | MCI | D4500CL | Cummins ISX12 | Bustang | Ace Express Coaches | |||
| 38017-38020 | 2018 | MCI | D4500CL | Cummins ISX12 | Bustang Bustang Outrider Snowstang |
Ace Express Coaches Alpine Express (Crested Butte-Denver) |
|||
| 38021-38025 | 
|
2019 | MCI | D4500CL | Cummins ISX12 | Bustang Snowstang |
Ace Express Coaches | ||
| 38026-38030 | 
|
2023 | MCI | D45 CRT | Cummins X12 | Allison B500 | Bustang | Ace Express Coaches | |
| 38031-38050 | 2024 | MCI | D45 CRT | Cummins X12 | |||||
| 38100-38108 | 
|
2021 | Ford Nor-Cal Vans |
Transit 350XLT |
Pegasus | Ace Express Coaches | |||
| 38500, 38502-38505 |
|
2018 | Van Hool | CX35 | Cummins ISL9 Cummins L9 |
Allison B500R | Bustang Outrider | Alpine Express (Crested Butte-Denver) Puelbo SRDA (Lamar-Colorado Springs, Alamosa-Puelbo) SoCoCAA (Durango-Grand Junction) |
38501 retired. |
| 83016, 83024 | 
|
2020 | Van Hool | CX35 | Cummins L9 | Allison B500R | Bustang Outrider | Ace Express Coaches (Craig-Denver) |
|
| 139-140 | 
|
2021 | Ford Elkhart Coach |
E-450 EC II |
Bustang Outrider | NECALG (Stirling-Greeley/Denver) | Internally numbered 38511-38512. | ||
| 604, #? | 2020 | Van Hool | CX35 | Cummins L9 | Allison B500R | Bustang Outrider | Alpine Express (Telluride-Grand Junction) |
| |
| 38973 | 2019 | Van Hool | CX35 | Cummins L9 | Allison B500R | Bustang Outrider | SoCoCAA (Durango-Grand Junction) | Purchased as replacement for 38501. |
External links
References
- ↑ Bustang Exceeds Ridership, Revenue Projections as it Hits 3-Year Anniversary, Colorado Department of Transportation, published July 13, 2018.
- ↑ Road Runner bus line to join state network, Pine River Times, published January 2, 2018.
- ↑ Bustang Set to Bridge the Gap, Bustang, published December 13, 2018.
- ↑ CDOT Launching Snowstang Service between Denver and Ski Resorts, Bustang, published December 10, 2019.