Sick of white-knuckle drives down I-76 just to catch a plane? Riders in Sterling and across northeastern Colorado are about to get a break. Starting next Saturday, Bustang's Sterling–Denver Outrider will shift from a weekday-only schedule to seven-day service, turning what used to be a Monday-through-Friday run into a daily connection that hits Denver International Airport and downtown Denver. Officials say the change is meant to make airport trips and regional commutes easier without forcing people to drive to Peña Boulevard or shell out for long-term parking.
What’s Changing and When
The Colorado Department of Transportation outlined the update on its Bustang service changes page, and Bustang spotlighted the move on Facebook on Wednesday. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Sterling–Denver route will now operate every day of the week, including Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, while the Sterling–Greeley route has been discontinued due to low ridership. The agency framed the swap as a response to how people are actually traveling and as a chance to strengthen connections to Denver’s transit network and airport; Bustang also shared the announcement on Facebook.
Stops, Schedule and Amenities
The Outrider will continue to stop in Sterling, Brush, Fort Morgan, a Wiggins rest area, and Keenesburg before pulling into the Denver International Airport Transit Center, then finishing its run at Denver Union Station. Timetables on the route page list a morning departure from Sterling at around 7:00 a.m., an arrival at DEN just after 9:30 a.m., and an arrival at Union Station at about 10:20 a.m. Coaches come equipped with Wi-Fi, power outlets, bike racks, and wheelchair lifts, according to RideBustang.
Fares and Who Benefits
Fares vary depending on where riders get on board. CDOT’s earlier announcement listed sample fares such as about $20 from Sterling to DEN, with lower fares from Brush and Fort Morgan, and discounts for seniors and riders with disabilities. "The new stop at DEN fills a transportation gap for more than 400,000 northeast Colorado residents," Paul DesRocher, director of CDOT’s Division of Transit and Rail, said in that release, and DEN officials told CDOT they welcomed the added transit connection, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
How to Ride
Riders can buy tickets, check full schedules, and sign up for service alerts at RideBustang or through the Outrider mobile app. For real-time updates on coach assignments and those new weekend runs, travelers can also sign up for Bustang alerts or follow Bustang on social media.
