CU Boulder will assume operation of the Regional Transportation District’s Stampede bus route beginning Monday, Aug. 12. The shift means the Monday-through-Friday route that connects Main Campus to the Discovery Drive area of East Campus will become part of CU Boulder’s network of free inter- and intra-campus Buff Bus service.
The change is part of an effort between CU Boulder and RTD to optimize transit both locally and regionally for our campus community. It comes as utilization of East Campus increases, including the new aerospace engineering building. The change will also mean that part-time and temporary employees of the university who do not have access to CU Boulder’s EcoPass partnership with RTD—as well as visitors—will be able to ride the Stampede for free as they traverse back and forth between the main and east campuses.
The Stampede route runs from 18th Street and Euclid Avenue on Main Campus north on 18th, then east on Colorado Avenue to the Sustainability, Energy and Environment Complex (SEEC) on East Campus, looping through Discovery Drive and Innovation Drive and then back toward Main Campus via westbound Colorado. CU Boulder will operate the Stampede along the same route and most of the stops currently in service with RTD.
- During the summer (including from Aug. 12 to Aug. 23 this year) and during breaks during the academic year, the Stampede will run from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Bus frequency during these times will be every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and every 30 minutes from 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- During the academic year, CU Boulder will extend the hours of service, running the route from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. During the academic year, bus frequency will be every 15 minutes from 7 to 8:30 a.m.; every 10 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; every 15 minutes from 4:30 to 7:45 p.m.; and every 30 minutes from 7:45 to 10 p.m.
- Buff Buses for all routes can be tracked in real time using the Transit app.
Other recent and coming changes to Buff Bus routes include:
- To help accommodate the increased demand expected as the new Williams Village East residence hall opens this fall, the Williams Village/Bear Creek Buff Bus route will have two additional buses added to the loop during peak times. Buses will also now service the westbound stop at Colorado and 30th Street at all times. Limited Williams Village/Bear Creek service begins Monday, Aug. 19 for move-in week (every 10-15 minutes), with regular academic-year service beginning Saturday, Aug. 24.
- Beginning Aug. 12, the Marine Street Express stop on Euclid Avenue across from the Center for Academic Success and Engagement will relocate to 18th Street, just south of Euclid Avenue. Departures from this stop will be at 24 and 54 minutes past each hour during both summer and academic year operations.
- Beginning Aug. 12, the Marine Street Express will take a new route from East Campus to Main Campus -- via Foothills Parkway and Colorado Avenue -- that utilizes more right turns, increasing safety and efficiency of the route. This shift will not alter departure times or stops serviced. The route from Main Campus to East Campus will remain the same. The change is reflected on the campus bus routes map.
- Beginning Aug. 26, as the academic year begins, the Marine Street Express will shift hours of operation to 7:10 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. Buses will continue to depart the Marine Street Transportation Center at 10 and 40 minutes past the hour, with the last bus each day leaving at 5:10 and looping back to East Campus by 5:40 p.m. Departures from the 18th Street stop will continue to be at 24 and 54 minutes past each hour.
- The Late Night Transit and Athens North Buff Bus routes were discontinued in April and May, respectively.
Information on all Buff Bus service can be found on CU Boulder’s Parking and Transportation website, including a Buff Bus route map.
