What does Durango Transit run?
Durango Transit is a city service, and it's the main way to get around without a car. The fixed-route buses run seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., all year (City of Durango). The hub is the Transit Center at 250 W. 8th Street. The city's routes page lists six lines:
- Main Avenue Trolley
- Fort Lewis
- Fort Lewis Express
- Walmart
- Mercy / Three Springs
- Crestview / 160 West
The trolley gets the attention downtown. Every 20 minutes from 7 a.m., it leaves the Transit Center, rolls up Main Avenue and turns around at North Animas View Drive. Last trip out: 8:40 p.m. Hop off at Durango High School, the Rec Center or North City Market.
Heading to the hospital? Mercy / Three Springs became its own route (Route 5). The city's transit page says it runs every 30 minutes, and the first trip leaves Mercy at 7:08 a.m. Route 3 (Walmart) runs between the Transit Center and Walmart at :00 and :30 past the hour. The two routes meet at Walmart for a timed transfer. The last bus from Walmart out to Three Springs leaves at 8:15 p.m. The last departure from Mercy back toward town is 8:38 p.m.
How much does the bus cost?
One dollar for a regular ride, and half that for seniors. The city's rates page lists these fares:
| Fare | Price |
|---|---|
| Regular fare, one trip | $1.00 |
| Senior (60+) or person with a disability | $0.50 |
| Day pass | $3.00 |
| Week pass | $10.00 |
| Regular monthly pass | $30.00 |
| Low-income monthly pass | $20.00 |
| Children 5 and under | Free |
Cash fares need exact change. Passes are sold at the Transit Center window, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fort Lewis College students ride the fixed routes free with a sticker on their Skycard or an active phone pass. The city also runs a low-income pass program, and one application covers the whole household (City of Durango). Fares can change without notice, so check before you budget.
Is there a bus in the evening?
Yes, but it's a different animal. After the fixed routes quit, DuranGO! microtransit takes over from 5 p.m. to midnight, seven days a week. It's curb to curb and on demand. You book a ride in the DuranGO! app, and a red bus comes to you. There's no phone booking.
The fare is $2.00 a ride, or $1.00 for people with disabilities and seniors 60 and older. It's card only, with no cash. The service area is inside Durango city limits, and drivers don't take tips.
When does Durango Transit not run?
Six days a year. The city's no-service list is New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Monday federal holidays, like Presidents Day and Labor Day, regular service runs while Fort Lewis College is in session, though the Transit Center itself is closed.
Can you take a bus to the airport or to other towns?
Not to the airport. The city says Durango Transit doesn't serve the airport. Our answers on Durango's airport and taxis and rideshare cover the options. For Purgatory, the city points riders to the resort's own transportation page.
Need to leave town? Bustang's Outrider line between Durango and Grand Junction picks up at the Transit Center (Bustang). It also calls at Bayfield, Mancos, Cortez, Telluride and Montrose. Days and times live on Bustang's site, so look there before you plan around it.
Is there door-to-door service?
Yes, with a catch: you have to qualify. Seniors and people with disabilities can ride the Opportunity Bus, the city's paratransit van, which comes to your door. Call the transit office at 970-259-5438 to ask how it works. That number also answers route questions.
What can't you bring on a Durango bus?
More than you'd guess in a river town. The city's rider rules say any water craft must be deflated before boarding. Pets are out too, though service animals can ride. Food and drink have to stay in closed containers. And propane tanks of any size, car batteries and oversized items are on the banned list.
How do you plan a trip?
The city's transit page has a Find My Bus tracker and a Riders Guide with a system map. Between them you can see where a bus is and what time it should reach your stop. Those tools beat guessing from a printed schedule, especially after a snowstorm.