Aug. 31 marked the last day of Durango’s fourth annual Free Fare Summer, a program in which residents and visitors can ride city buses free of charge.
This year’s program ran from June 1 through Aug. 31.
Durango Transportation Director Sarah Hill said city transit traveled a total of 152,108 miles and gave 135,909 rides – a 2% decrease from rides given in 2024.
Despite the small drop, ridership in the program was 119% higher than in the same time frame in 2021, the year the city still charged regular fare for rides throughout the summer, she said.
She said through 2025, average monthly ridership on city buses outside of summer is about 37,000 riders. By contrast, the average monthly ridership between June 1 and Aug. 31 is 45,000 riders.
“It’s been an awesome success,” she said.
DuranGO Outside, a new micro-transit pilot program, however, has not fared so well.
Hill said the pilot, introduced this summer, has so far failed to live up to hopes and expectations.
“There are some individuals that are accounting for the largest percentage of the ridership. They have figured out the system that works really well for them,” she said. “It’s helping them get around and making a big difference for them. But I don’t think we have a very high volume of riders.”
She said she suspects many people who would use the service haven’t heard of it, despite advertising at outdoor gear shops, hotels nonprofits and human service agencies.
“It really didn’t take off in the way that we expected. And I think that’s kind of the beauty of operating it as a pilot project,” she said.
The city had received feedback from residents saying they wish Durango Transit served trailheads, Lake Nighthorse and other hot outdoor spots. But when the city implemented rides just for that, not many people took advantage of them.
But the Durango Outside program hasn’t expired yet, she said. It will continue through September for $2 per ride.
The Michael and Elaine Moravan Foundation also granted the city $13,000 to continue funding its year-round free transit for residents of low-income households.
cburney@durangoherald.com
