Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Executive Director Shoshana Lew marked the 10-year anniversary of Bustang, the state’s interregional passenger express bus service. The celebration highlighted Bustang’s growth in connecting major population centers, employment hubs, local and national transit systems, as well as mountain and plains regions across Colorado.
“This milestone marks ten years of a successful service that Coloradans continue choosing,” said Governor Polis. “Over the past decade, Bustang has significantly increased ridership and grown its reach— providing access to an expanding range of popular destinations that serve both residents and visitors. This past year, Bustang served almost four times its initial customer base — helping to reduce traffic congestion, especially in busy areas like the I-70 mountain corridor — with a cleaner alternative.”
Bustang launched on July 13, 2015, with three routes linking Denver to Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, and Glenwood Springs. In its first year, it recorded 103,000 riders. Now operating along 20 routes statewide, Bustang has boarded nearly 2.1 million passengers over ten years. Annual ridership has more than tripled since inception, reaching 351,000 passenger trips in the most recent twelve-month period.
To accommodate this demand, CDOT has built mobility hubs along major corridors to help connect riders with amenities and onward travel options.
“As we mark this milestone, it’s important to look at the range of riders who benefit from the service Bustang provides — ranging from commuters on the I-25 corridor who can take advantage of improved infrastructure that adds efficiency to their commutes, to travelers along I-70 seeking a safe alternative to traversing the mountains in the snow,” said Shoshana Lew. “Bustang is a national model for how transit can work across urban and rural areas, and provide consumers with more choices.”
In response to increasing demand for public transportation options across Colorado’s growing population centers and tourist destinations (https://www.codot.gov/programs/transitandrail/bustang), CDOT expanded Bustang’s fleet by adding 25 new coaches in 2025—doubling its size. These new buses feature updated accessibility features and amenities. Service frequency was also increased: daily runs on I-25 North and South Lines rose from six to twelve each day; I-70 West Line runs increased from four to fifteen per day.
Bustang also extended service coverage by introducing additional round trips between Crested Butte and Denver and launching Denver International Airport service for Sterling-Denver route passengers.
To improve convenience for users in Northern Colorado (https://www.codot.gov/programs/transitandrail/mobility-hubs), CDOT collaborated with local partners to build three mobility hubs along I-25. These facilities are intended to make regional bus services more accessible while helping ease traffic congestion by promoting public transit use.
Photos from today’s event will be available on the Bustang 10 Year Anniversary album after 5 p.m.
