Intercity & Regional Bus Network Plan

Overview

This Plan is an update of the 2008 Plan.  Since the completion of the 2008 Plan, the Division of Transit and Rail was established within the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery (FASTER) Act passed proving state funding for regional and interregional transit services. There also have been a number of changes to the intercity and regional bus network including the addition of FLEX regional bus service between Fort Collins and Longmont and the elimination of FREX regional bus service between Colorado Springs and Denver. In addition, Regional Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on the Highway 82 corridor between Glenwood Springs and Aspen opened in September 2013.

This Plan update, completed in April 2014, focused on the next steps of refining a network plan for both intercity and regional bus routes and building a foundation to support financing and implementation of these services.  The Plan:

• Identified goals for the development of the intercity and regional bus networks.
• Identified station and connectivity needs.
• Defined preferred networks for intercity and regional bus services.
• Identified a phased implementation plan for the intercity and regional bus networks.
• Identified policy, performance, and financing issues associated with implementing the preferred networks.

Contact our Customer Service team in the footer below to access the Intercity and Regional Bus Network Plan.

Schedule

Definitions

There is some overlap between the terms intercity bus and regional bus and their definitions have changed over time.  Thirty years ago Greyhound and other carriers operated a comprehensive network of intercity services but today they focus only on connecting key cities.  Regional services have developed to provide connections that are no longer provided by private intercity carriers.

Intercity Bus Service is regularly scheduled bus service that connects two or more urban areas, and serves passengers traveling long distances.  It serves the general public, can transport passengers’ baggage, and makes meaningful connections with national intercity bus service to more distant points.  Intercity bus generally operates with only a few trips each day, but usually operates every day.  Greyhound is a major provider of intercity services.

Regional Bus Service also crosses jurisdictional lines, but may operate within rural regions or connect to an urban area.  Regional services are generally 20 - 60 miles in length.  Regional services are often geared around certain markets (e.g., workers or airport shuttles) and operate on schedules geared to these markets.  Regional services may also be designed to serve people who need to travel long distances to access government services, medical trips, or other destinations.  Some regional services operate only one to two trips each day while others have robust schedules.

Regional services in Colorado include many routes operated by RTD connecting suburban communities to the Denver CBD, services operated to resort communities, and services providing access to medical and other services.

Documents

A number of technical reports were developed during this Plan update. Links to these documents and the final document can be found by contacting the project team.

Public Involvement

The Study was initiated in December 2012 and is expected to be complete by March 2014.

• Executive Summary
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Existing Services
• Chapter 3 Population Characteristics and Need for Service
• Chapter 4 Goals and Service Standards
• Chapter 5 Network Development
• Chapter 6 Facilities
• Appendix A I-70 Mountain Corridor Analysis
• Appendix B Interregional Express Bus
• Appendix C Demand Estimation
• Appendix D Policy Context Update
• Appendix E Schedules
• Appendix F Technical Advisory Committee Minutes

Information on the Intercity and Regional Bus Network Plan was presented around the state as part of the development of the Regional Coordinated Transit & Human Services Plans. Staff collected any comments provided at the meetings to help inform development of the Plan.

In addition, two working groups were formed specifically for the study and met regularly throughout the process.  These groups helped guide the development of the plan, review recommendations, and act as liaisons back to their stakeholders.  Those groups were the Intercity Providers and the I-70 Transit Authority Group. The TRAC intercity and regional commuter bus subcommittee also provided insight throughout the process.  A newsletter was sent out in April 2013 at the start of the effort with information on the development of the Plan.

A subcommittee of intercity providers and agencies with intercity or regional stations will also provide comments.  The meetings are open to the public, with either an in-person or conference call option for listening.  Send an email to [email protected] for information on meeting dates, locations, and conference call numbers.