New bus stops, route expansions and upgrades, the launch of a novel late night curb-to-curb service and free summer rides culminated last year in the most ridership Durango Transit’s had since 2017.
City data released on Saturday shows the city’s public bus system delivered 425,244 riders to their destinations in 2023.
That’s 95,501 more rides given than in the previous year.
Durango Transportation Director Sarah Hill said in September the summer free rides program last year was “an overwhelming success” and provided 123,507 free rides from June to August.
A city news release says the program “introduced many new riders to the convenience of Durango Transit service, and ridership remained on an upward trajectory after the free fare program was concluded.”
The summer program will return this upcoming June and last through August, thanks to a lodgers tax funding allocation approved by Durango City Council in October.
City Council approved $115,000 in funding to continue the program this year, in addition to funding for an e-bike rebate program that is expected to reopen applications in the spring and free summer employee parking downtown.
It’s clear other efforts to enhance the city’s public transportation have also been received well by residents.
In addition to the free rides program, the city attributes its year of success to the expansion of the U.S. Highway 160 route to include the Crestview neighborhood, route efficiencies implemented on the Three Springs route and new bus stops installed on Escalante Drive.
The city’s latest program, a late night on-demand ride service called DuranGO! was also noted in the news release.
In November, users of the app-based service, which operates 8 p.m. to midnight every day of the week, said the service is much needed in Durango where prominent cab or other ride share services are somewhat scarce.
Tom Richards, a daytime driver shift manager and nighttime microtransit driver, said then the program had nearly 100 passengers in its first week despite it being brand new and word of it hadn’t had much of a chance to spread.
The release references a 2023 rider satisfaction survey conducted in collaboration with a Fort Lewis College Sustainability By Design class, in which respondents reported a level of satisfaction of 8.3 out of 10, an increase from 7.89 out of 10 in 2022.
Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed said they don’t have personal vehicles and rely on public transportation, as The Durango Herald reported in November.
The release quotes one survey taker’s response saying Durango Transit has the best transit system they’ve ever used. The respondent said bus stops are frequent enough to get him or her where they need to go.
cburney@durangoherald.com
