By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
Those residing along Interstate 76 on the Eastern Plains of Colorado are used to long commutes to Front Range destinations to meet their needs from shopping and groceries, to work and travel.
An announcement by the Colorado Department of Transportation has the potential to make the amenities of Denver feel a little closer. CDOT announced this month the addition of a Denver International Airport stop at Gate 1 of the DEN Hotel Transit Center — near the RTD’s A-Line train and other bus stops and with quick access to the main DIA terminal — by using the Bustang Outrider service from Sterling on a route which also includes service to Union Station.
“This is an important service to have, especially for those who don’t have vehicles,” Fort Morgan City Manager Brent Nation said. “Adding the DIA stop is huge. I believe they will see an uptick in use.”
Fort Morgan has little connectivity to anywhere else. The town of about 12,000, known as the Capitol of the Plains, has Amtrak service through the Fort Morgan Train Station across from City Hall, but the service is not necessarily conducive to a daily commute and not highly used. Until now, that left as the only option personal transportation to reach Denver. The Bustang Outrider line from Sterling to Denver, called DEN, is a joint effort of CDOT, DEN and the Northeast Colorado Association of Local Governments.
“The new stop at [DIA] fills a transportation gap for more than 400,000 northeast Colorado residents,” said Paul DesRocher, director of CDOT’s Division of Transit and Rail. “We’re excited about this partnership and that we can now provide an alternative way to travel to and from the airport.”
The service begins at the Logan County Courthouse in Sterling, known as the largest population town on the plains, including a stop at the East Morgan County Library (Brush), stops at Morgan Community College and the Northeast Colorado Health Department (Fort Morgan), and a stop at the I-76 rest area (Wiggins). Those residing from Julesburg south to Yuma and Wray to Burlington, and West to Akron and Last Chance should find one of the stops beneficial, Nation said. The Outrider arrives at the airport at 9:35 a.m. and departs to Sterling at 3:07 p.m. Departure times for each stop are available at the Bustang Outrider webpage.
Outrider
“Outrider’s new airport stop is a valuable resource for residents of Sterling and allows Northeast Coloradans to catch a flight without worrying about parking or driving,” said Sterling City Manager Kevin Blankenship. “This is an exciting service for the residents of Sterling.”
A resident of Julesburg in the furthest northeast corner of the state could travel about 50 minutes to Sterling and catch the Bustang Outrider to the airport, when previously the trip might have taken an additional three hours by personal vehicle. At the price point of $20 to complete the trip, the motorist will realize a fuel savings.
The service has already began, and Nation has seen the Bustang arriving in his morning commute.
“It seems like we’re always looking for more help to get our roads paved for smoother rides out here,” Nation said. “I think we spend a lot of time getting ourselves from Point A to Point B. When in rural America, that’s what you do, but this is important, too.”
Fort Morgan motorists do encounter some of the roughest stretches of highway in the state — auto alignment busters — on the way to Denver. One former state senator once called the road so rough “you better be wearing your spurs to hang on.” With the option of the Bustang Outrider, those days could potentially be over for some.
“I don’t think this solves everyone’s transportation needs,” Nation said. “I do think it is a good first step to allow us to figure out the next step.”
One-way trip prices along the route are:
- Logan County Courthouse to DEN: $20
- East Morgan County Library to DEN: $14
- Morgan Community College to DEN: $12
- Northeast Colorado Health Department to DEN: $12
- CDOT Rest Area (Wiggins) to DEN: $10
- Keenesburg Town Hall to DEN: $5
Seniors, ages 65 and older, and children, ages 2 to 11, along with persons with disabilities can ride the bus for half price. Children younger than age 2 and caretakers for individuals with disabilities ride free.
Bus amenities include USB ports, power outlets, Wi-Fi, bike racks and wheelchair lifts.
There is also service on the Sterling line from the Logan County Courthouse into Greeley.
An attempt to reach CDOT for more information was unsuccessful.