Search

COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Information on Parking & Transportation | Campus COVID-19 Updates

Bus Route Information

Buff Bus

Campus Routes

Our Buff Buses move thousands of students, faculty and staff around campus each day.

Hop bus

City Routes

A variety of local transit routes connect campus with key Boulder locations.

flatiron flyer

Regional Routes

RTD offers bus and rail transit service to DIA, Denver, and surrounding cities in Colorado.

Buff Bus Service During COVID-19

Sitting on the bus with masks COVID-19 protocols of physical distancing will reduce Buff Bus capacity to approximately 20 percent of normal operating passenger counts. The Transportation Services team is planning to increase Buff Bus services for the fall semester, but the amount of increase to the service level is limited due to the number of buses available in our fleet and the number of drivers we are able to keep on staff.

Buff Bus users should plan ahead and expect times where buses will reach passenger capacity and they will have to wait for the next available bus. Students should also explore alternate modes of travel, such as walking and biking.

Our Buff Bus campus shuttle system is an essential service and will continue to operate in support of the campus community. Face coverings are required when riding on the Buff Bus. Passenger capacity on buses will be limited to support physical distancing protocols (capacity is posted on each bus).

Transportation Options

ADA Accessible Transportation

Buff Bus Campus Routes Information and Schedules

Fall 2020 Schedules

(effective Monday, August 24)

Williams Village Limited (Monday - Friday)

RIDER ALERT:

Temporary Operations: Williams Village Limited buses will resume (limited) service on Monday August 17. Fall Semester service begins Monday, August 24.

The Williams Village Limited bus route operates Monday - Friday throughout the fall and spring semesters when classes are in session. There is no summer service. The route runs clockwise with stops at Williams Village, Engineering Center, C4C, Physics, Math and Colorado/30th Southside.

Schedule (beginning Monday, August 24)

Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: no service

Williams Village/Bear Creek (Saturday/Sunday)

RIDER ALERT:

Temporary Operations: Fall Semester bus service begins Monday, August 24.

The Williams Village/Bear Creek bus route operates on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the fall and spring semesters when classes are in session. There is no summer service. The route runs clockwise with stops at Bear Creek, Williams Village, Engineering Center, C4C, Music (weekends only), Physics, Math and Colorado/30th Southside.

Schedule (beginning Monday, August 24)

Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 a.m - 11:00 p.m.

Bear Creek Express (Monday - Friday)

RIDER ALERT:

Temporary Operations: Bear Creek Express will resume service on Monday, August 24.

The Bear Creek Express bus route operates Monday - Friday throughout the fall and spring semesters when classes are in session. There is no summer service. The route runs out and back from Bear Creek directly to UMC/Case with no other stops.

Schedule (beginning Monday, August 24)

Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: no service

Stampede (Monday - Friday)

RIDER ALERT:

Temporary Operations: The Stampede buses are operating on a modified schedule (details below).

The Stampede bus route connects Main Campus to the Discovery Drive area of East Campus.

Schedule (beginning Monday, August 24)

Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (every 15 minutes).
Saturday and Sunday: no service

Marine Street Express (Monday - Friday)

RIDER ALERT:

Temporary Operations: The Marine Street Express bus will resume service on Monday, August 24.

The Marine Street Express is a campus shuttle route connecting the Marine Street and Exposition Drive areas of East Campus to Main Campus. This express route serves two stops along Marine Street, one at the CINC building on Exposition Drive, and three on Main Campus: the Engineering Center/Lot 436, the Center for Community (C4C) and 18th Street (just south of Euclid Ave).

Schedule (beginning Monday, August 24)

Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (every 45 minutes).
Saturday and Sunday: no service

The HOP (City of Boulder)

The HOP bus route is a bi-directional loop that connects campus with downtown Boulder and the 29th Street Mall. For bus stop locations and details, visit the City of Boulder's website, or download the Transit app.

Norlin Express (only during finals week)

RIDER ALERT:

Norlin Express only runs during finals.

Norlin Express is continuous loop from Bear Creek Apartments/Williams Village to Colorado Avenue/18^th Street (Norlin Library drop off/pick up location) every 20 minutes from midnight – 2:00 a.m.

Safety on Buff Buses

Our Transportation Services staff is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and aligning protocols with our Regional Transportation District (RTD).

Buff Bus drivers and support staff are taking several measures to keep our riders safe. Passenger capacity is limited to approximately 20 percent of normal passenger counts (capacity posted on each bus) to support physical distancing protocols. Buff Bus employees are maintaining daily bus cleaning and sanitation procedures with a combination of hand cleaning and use of electrostatic disinfecting fogging units. Hand sanitizer stations will be available on the buses for our passengers. Since ridership capacity will be limited on each bus, signs will be placed on seating that is not available for use. We need cooperation from all riders to help keep our buses safe. Riders are asked to complete the Daily Health Questionnaire & Illness Reporting Form before riding the bus. Riders will be required to wear a face covering/mask and practice physical distancing. There will be no standing on the bus. If all available seats are filled, please wait for the next available bus.

Buff Bus Frequently Asked Questions

On the day you lost the item, you may check with any Buff Bus driver to see if the item has been turned in. Found items are turned into Transportation Services' main office at 3205 Marine St. at the end of each day. Call us at 303-735-6244. Found items will be kept for 30 days, after which all unclaimed items will be donated or discarded.

No alcohol, smoking, drugs or illegal activities
No pets, bicycles or flammables
Drivers will not stop at unauthorized locations
For your safety, do not chase after the bus
Be courteous to the drivers and other passengers
Listen to the drivers
Stay behind the yellow standing line
Allow passengers to unload before boarding
Use trash receptacles

Buff Buses are available for charter to CU affiliated groups and non-profits. All Buff Buses are ADA compliant and rental rates include a professional driver. There are three bus sizes available to accommodate from 22-59 passengers. For information on who is eligible to charter a Buff Bus and rental rates, please visit our Buff Bus Charter webpage.

The buses will continue to operate during inclement weather, however, severe weather conditions that cause the university to close, may impact Buff Bus service. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination as road conditions and traffic may make the ride take longer than usual. Under certain conditions the Buff Bus may need to take alternate routes. Download the Transit app to stay updated on delays and reroutes.

There is no Buff Bus service on Labor Day, fall break, winter break, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, spring break and summer break. The Marine Street Express and Stampede run through summer break. Real-time Buff Bus tracking for all routes is available via the Transit app.

City Routes: Getting Around Boulder

A variety of local transit routes connect campus with key Boulder locations. For hours, schedules and route details, visit the City of Boulder website or use RTD’s Trip Planner to plan your commute.

Key Bus Routes

HOP - Twenty Ninth Street Retail District, Downtown, and University Hill
SKIP - Broadway Avenue
JUMP - Arapahoe Avenue
BOUND - 30th Street
DASH - Table Mesa Drive / South Boulder

Don’t see a route for you? See the Boulder County Transit Map, or the City of Boulder Transit Map for more options.

Regional Routes: Getting In and Out of Town

To Denver

The Flatiron Flyer (FF) is RTD’s Bus Rapid Transit service along Highway 36. It includes six route options. For specific routes, schedules and details, visit the Flatiron Flyer webpage.

Flatiron Flyer Routes

FF1 – Downtown Boulder to Denver’s Union Station (all 6 BRT stops)
FF2 – Express to Denver with stop at McCaslin (CU Denver)
FF3 – Broomfield to Denver
FF4 – Boulder Junction to Denver Civic Center Station
FF5 – Downtown Boulder to Anschutz Medical Center
FF6 – Denver Union Station to Boulder Junction (East Campus)

To the Airport (DIA) – SkyRide

With one stop adjacent to CU Boulder at 16th and Broadway, the SkyRide leaves hourly from Boulder Station, 18 times a day. Free with an EcoPass or College Pass. Visit RTD’s SkyRide website for more details.

To Longmont & Fort Collins

If you are commuting to Longmont or further north, the following bus services provide the best options. Visit the City of Boulder bus website or use RTD’s Trip Planner to plan your commute.

Bus Routes North

BOLT - Longmont via 28th then Diagonal Hwy
J (Route) - Longmont via Foothills Parkway, Jay Rd, Gunbarrel, Diagonal Hwy
FLEX - Fort Collins - Loveland - Longmont - Boulder

FLEX service is provided by TransFort out of Fort Collins. RTD EcoPasses are accepted on FLEX. For details and schedule, visit the Transfort website.

For other options between Boulder and Longmont, see the Boulder County Transit Map

To Golden

GS (Route) - Downtown Boulder to Golden via Broadway and Highway 93

To the Mountains/Slopes

N (RTD Ski-n-Ride) – to Nederland and Eldora from Boulder Station
CU SKI BUS – Students only. Destinations vary. Visit the CU Environmental website's Ski Bus Program for more information.

Parking Services

1050 Regent Dr., 502 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309
303-735-PARK (7275)

Hours:
Academic Year: M-F 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Summer: M-F 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Transportation Services

3205 Marine St., 443 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309
303-492-7152

Hours:
Academic Year: M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Summer: M-F 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Return to the top of the page

Feedback or Questions?

Submit your questions or comments online, someone will follow up with you shortly.

Did you have a close call or near miss with a bicycle, pedestrian, skateboarder or motorist? You can report close calls to the City of Boulder through their Close Call form.

If you are reporting damage to a vehicle, please complete a CU Police Department Incident Report. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may file an Anonymous CU Police Department Incident Report.