Bus Routes, Schedules and Passes
Rider Announcements
- 🚍 Summer Buff Bus Service is Back! ☀️ Get ready to ride this summer! The Stampede (Route S) and Marine Street Express (Route M) Buff Buses will be running Monday through Friday all summer long. Whether you're heading to campus or cruising down Marine Street, we've got you covered. Hop on and enjoy the ride!
- There will be no Buff Bus service on Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19 (campus closed). Regular summer service (Stampede and Marine Street Express) will resume on Friday, June 20.
There will be no Buff Bus service on Independence Day, Friday, July 4 (campus closed). Regular summer service (Stampede and Marine Street Express) will resume on Monday, July 7.
Bus Routes and Schedules
Summer Buff Bus Service
Route S connects Main Campus to the Discovery Drive area of East Campus. Stampede operates throughout the year Monday through Friday (approximately 15 minutes between buses, 30 minutes between buses in the late evenings). During the semester, the route runs from 7am - 10:45pm. During the summer the route runs from 7am - 6:25pm. There is no Saturday or Sunday service.
Schedule
Summer Schedule:
- Monday through Friday from 7am - 6:25pm (approximately 15 mins between buses, 30 minutes between buses in the late evenings). The last pick up from SEEC is 6:25pm and the final route ends at 18th and Euclid at 6:45pm.
- Saturday - Sunday: no service
- Campus holidays: no service
Fall/Spring Semester Schedule:
- Monday through Friday from 7am - 10:45pm (approximately 15 mins between buses, 30 minutes between buses in the late evenings). The last pick up from SEEC is 10:25pm and the final route ends at 18th and Euclid at 10:45pm.
- Saturday - Sunday: no service
- Campus holidays: no service
Route M is a campus shuttle route connecting the Marine Street and Exposition Drive areas of East Campus to Main Campus. This 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 on Euclid Ave. ( just west of 18th Street). Marine Street operates Monday through Friday from 9:15am - 3pm (approximately 45 minutes between buses). There is no Saturday or Sunday service.
Schedule
Spring 2025:
- Monday through Friday from 9:15am - 3pm (approximately 45 mins between buses)
- Saturday - Sunday: no service
Summer 2025
- Monday through Friday from 9:15am - 3pm (approximately 45 mins between buses)
- Saturday - Sunday: no service
Fall 2025 Buff Bus Service
There will be no Buff Bus service on these routes starting Thursday, May 8 through the summer. Service will resume on these routes in August 2025 (exact dates and times will be updated below when the fall schedule is finalized).
Route WL operates Monday - Friday, 7am - 3pm (approximately 12 minutes between buses) throughout the fall and spring semesters when classes are in session. There is no summer, fall or winter break service. The route runs clockwise with stops at Williams Village, Engineering Center, C4C, Physics, Math and Colorado/30th Southside. After 3pm Route W and Route B provides service.
Schedule
Spring 2025
- Regular Spring Buff Bus service begins Monday January 13
- Regular service ends Thursday, May 1 at 11pm
Summer 2025
- No Buff Bus service starting Thursday, May 8 through the summer
Late night service on Route W is offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 11pm - 1am. Late night service from WillVill to main campus is provided by Via Mobility Services (small black buses which say VIA on them, not larger Buff Buses).
- Late night service will be offered on May 1, 2, 3.
- There will be no late night service offered through the summer.
Route W operates throughout the fall and spring semesters when classes are in session from Monday through Friday 3pm - 11pm (approximately 10-15 minutes between buses) and Saturday and Sunday 10am - 11pm (approximately 30 minutes between buses). There is no summer service. The route runs clockwise with stops at Bear Creek, Williams Village, Engineering Center, C4C, Music, Physics, Math and Colorado/30th Southside. Service before 3pm is available via Route B or Route WL. Late night service on Route W is offered Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 11pm - 1am. Late night service from WillVill to main campus is provided by Via Mobility Services (small black buses which say VIA on them, not larger Buff Buses).
Schedule
Spring 2025
- Regular service ends Thursday, May 1 at 11pm
Spring Finals 2025:
- Finals service begins Friday, May 2 and continues through Wednesday, May 7 at 11pm
Summer 2025
- No Buff Bus service starting Thursday, May 8 through the summer
Route B operates Monday - Friday from 7am - 3pm (approximately 12 minutes between buses) 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. After 3pm Route W provides service.
Schedule
Spring 2025
- Regular service ends Thursday, May 1.
Summer 2025
- No Route B service starting Thursday, May 1 through the summer
Route RX connects Williams Village to the Buff Bus Plaza near Folsom Field on Main Campus. This route runs Monday through Thursday, leaving Williams Village (Darley stop) at 5:45am and arriving at the Buff Plaza in front of Folsom Field by 6am. There are two stops on this route, one at Williams Village (Darley stop) and one at the Buff Plaza in front of Folsom Field. There is no Friday, Saturday or Sunday service.
Schedule
Spring 2025
- Regular Spring Buff Bus service begins on Monday, Jan. 13
- Regular service ends Thursday, May 1
Summer 2025
- No Buff Bus service starting Thursday, May 8 through the summer
Route ECX connects Williams Village to the Discovery Drive area of East Campus. This route runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:40pm-7:40pm (last pickup at Aerospace) and Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:20am - 3:10pm (last pickup at Aerospace). There are two stops on this route, one at Williams Village and one at the SEEC building. Route ECX: Discovery operates Monday through Thursday when classes are in session as detailed below. There is no Friday, Saturday or Sunday service.
Schedule
Spring 2025
- Regular service ends Thursday, May 1
Summer 2025
- No Buff Bus service starting Friday, May 9 through the summer
On home football game days, Buff Buses run on slightly altered routes to accommodate game day traffic and parking. For weekend (Saturday game days), Buff Buses run the Weekend Football game day re-route (click to view the weekend game day route map). For weekday games (Monday through Friday game days), Buff Buses run the Weekday football game day re-route (click to view the weekday football game day route map).
On home basketball game days, Buff Buses run on slightly altered routes to accommodate game day traffic and parking.
Complimentary Buff Bus service will be available from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2025 (in 15 minute intervals) to provide transportation from the public parking areas to the Stadium before the Commencement Ceremony, and from the stadium back to the parking areas after the ceremony:
- Regent Buff Bus: Lot 436/Regent Parking Garage, Buffalo Walk, Technology Learning Ctr., Center for Community/Regent Hall, CU Events Center
- East Campus/Discovery Express Buff Bus: SEEC building, Space Science, Biotech, Buffalo Walk
Transit App
Real-time location tracking for CU Boulder’s Buff Buses, RTD, HOP, B-cycle and more is available via the Transit app. The app also includes expected arrival times and service notifications. Download: From Google Play or the Apple Store.
Buff Bus FAQs
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, or Memorial Day. Williams Village/Bear Creek and Marine Street Express buses do not run over summer break. Stampede buses run through summer break with one exception: there is no service on the 4th of July holiday.
There is no Buff Bus service on Labor Day, fall break, winter break, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, spring break, Juneteenth and summer break. Route S: Stampede runs through summer break. Real-time Buff Bus tracking for all routes is available via the Transit app.
City and Regional Routes
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.
The Flatiron Flyer (FF) is RTD’s Bus Rapid Transit service along Highway 36. For specific routes, schedules and details, visit the Flatiron Flyer webpage.
With one stop adjacent to CU Boulder at 16th and Broadway, the SkyRide leaves hourly from Boulder Station. Free with an EcoPass or College Pass. Visit RTD’s SkyRide website for more details.
If you are commuting to Longmont 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.
- 205 - Boulder to Gunbarrel
- BOLT - Longmont via 28th then 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
- 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.
Bus Passes
Your Buff OneCard is your bus pass if you are a benefit eligible employee or transit fee paying CU Boulder student (or if you are a CU affiliate and have purchased the semester bus pass*)! Access includes all Local, Limited, Express and Regional bus and light rail service, in all fare zones, including the SkyRide bus service to DIA. (*Not valid on special services, including but not limited to, Bustang, Access‑a‑Ride and BroncosRide)
Just tap your Buff OneCard on the card reader as you get on the bus, show the pass to the driver and find a seat.
All students paying the transit fee are eligible for bus pass access. The CU Environmental Center administers the Student Bus Pass Program; visit the Student Bus Pass web site for more information.
Eligibile
If you are eligible, your Buff OneCard serves as your transit pass. Eligibility is based on CU benefits eligibility.
- Full-time continuing* faculty/staff at CU Boulder and the CU system office.
- Part-time continuing* employees working a 50% or greater full time percentage (FTE) appointment at CU Boulder and the CU system office.
- Retired Emeritus Professors
- CU retirees who have an active work appointment on the Boulder Campus or for CU System.
Not Eligible
- Employees of other CU campuses (except for CU system employees)
- Part-time continuing* employees working less than a 50% full time percentage (FTE) appointment.
- Volunteers, spouses and other family members
- CU retirees who do not have an active work appointment on the Boulder Campus or for CU System.
- Temporary employees and full time or part time non-continuing (contract) employees (those whose job has a stated end date)
*Continuing employees include Classified Staff, University Staff and Faculty with permanent appointments (ie your job does not have a stated end date).
Not sure if you are eligible? Email your question and employee number to buspass@colorado.edu. If you are not eligible, there is an option to purchase a semester transit pass (see Semester Bus Pass section below).
Temporary employees, part-time employees with less than 50% appointments, and other CU affiliates can purchase a bus pass for $95 per semester (if you have a Buff OneCard you qualify to purchase this pass).
- Deposit $95 in your Campus Cash account via the Buff OneCard website by clicking the “Add Campus Cash” option, or download and use the GET mobile app. (any person at CU with a Buff OneCard has access to the Campus Cash account)
- Once you have deposited the money, email the Buff OneCard office at boc@colorado.edu, and tell them you want to purchase the $95 semester pass.
- Include in your email the 16 digit number on your Buff OneCard (example: 6014XXXXXXXXXX)
Employees receive their Buff OneCard when they start at CU. If you are new or have questions, start with your department’s Human Resources representative, or contact the Buff OneCard office.
Buff OneCard office is located in the Center for Community (C4C) room N180. Phone: 303-492-0355.
You will need to provide your employee id number, a headshot if you don't have one on file, and must have completed your I-9 verification through HR prior to requesting the EcoPass.
There are fees to replace lost or non-working/damaged Buff OneCards.
- Replace lost card: $30
- Replace damaged card: $5
Center for Community (C4C)
Room N180, 2249 Willard Loop Dr.
159 UCB
Boulder, CO 80309-0159
303-492-0355
M-F 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
boc@colorado.edu
Track the Buff Bus on Transit
Real-time location tracking for CU Boulder’s Buff Buses, RTD, HOP, B-cycle and more is available via the Transit app. The app also includes expected arrival times and service notifications. Download: From Google Play or the Apple Store.
Your Buff OneCard ID is now the transit pass for all enrolled CU students and benefited employees. CU is no longer issuing CollegePasses or EcoPasses. If you have further questions or encounter problems with your card, contact buspass@colorado.edu
Your Buff OneCard gives you access to RTD bus and rail routes, including routes to Denver International Airport.
Real-time location tracking for CU Boulder’s Buff Buses, RTD, HOP, B-cycle and more is available via the Transit app. The app also includes expected arrival times and service notifications. Download: From Google Play or the Apple Store.
CU Boulder now has four battery electric Buff Buses thanks in part to a pair of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grants. The four newest electric buses join the Buff Bus fleet, which currently comprises 26 diesel vehicles.