Where to ride free public transit this summer in Colorado

DENVER ( KDVR ) — Summer heat brings peak ozone season in Colorado — which means free public transit in some communities around the state.

Colorado lawmakers authorized a grant program to fund free fares during ozone season. This year, 13 Colorado communities are participating in the initiative to reduce ground-level ozone.

The Denver area is not among them. Despite increased ridership for the last two zero-fare summers, RTD opted out this year to instead continue free rides for people 19 and younger.

Below is a list of communities offering free fare for summer 2024, according to the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies. Unless otherwise noted, the free fares are funded through the state grant program and will be in effect through July and August.

Free public transit in Colorado for summer 2024

Pikes Peak region

• Mountain Metropolitan Transit : Colorado Springs, includes all MMT buses as well as Metro Mobility ADA paratransit services
• Fountain Municipal Transit

Mountain towns

• Archuleta County Mountain Express Transit : Includes Pagosa Springs bus route and services to Durango, Arboles and Aspen Springs
• Clear Creek RoundAbout : Service is always free, but the organization received a grant for marketing through the Zero Fare for Better Air initiative
• Durango Transit : According to the city, the program is funded not by the state ozone grant but by the city’s lodgers’ tax
• San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) : Norwood, Telluride, Rico and points in between
• Town of Estes Park

Northeastern Colorado

• Greeley Evans Transit : Includes Poudre Express, Paratransit and UCHealth Call-N-Ride
• Northeast Colorado Association of Local Governments (NECALG) : August only; includes services for Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma counties

Western Slope

• All Points Transit : Montrose
• Grand Valley Transit : Mesa County, includes all fixed-route and paratransit services

Southeastern Colorado

• Bent County/Golden Age Transportation Services (GATS) : Las Animas
• City of La Junta Transit
• Prowers Area Transit : Lamar
• SETran Regional Transit : Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero and Prowers counties

The Colorado Association of Transit Agencies will soon post more details about each zero-fare program on its website .

Bonus: Discounted Colorado mountain shuttle

Summer travelers can enjoy a discount on the state’s Pegasus shuttle van , which starts in Denver and includes stops in Idaho Springs, Frisco, Vail and Avon — all while using the Interstate 70 express lanes at no extra cost. Riders can get a 25% discount from July 13-31 with promo code JULY25 .

The Colorado Department of Transportation is also enhancing summer Bustang routes with expanded service and new coaches. The Bustang to Estes is also back this summer to bring travelers to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, and it will include two new stops in the Boulder area.

The Zero Fare for Better Air program first launched in August 2022 and expanded to include July last year.

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