Bustang Outrider will again stop in Cañon City along its line that connects Pueblo and Alamosa starting Tuesday, Feb. 17.
The route already goes through Cañon City — the second largest city along the route — but it had stopped picking up and dropping off riders there. That’s because the business at the location of the previous stop, Hanks Travel Plaza, had asked the Colorado Department of Transportation to discontinue services, according to a statement made by City Administrator Ryan Stevens during a February city council meeting.
“There were some concerns potentially with some of the riders causing issues within the community,” Stevens said.
The new location will be at the Royal Gorge Chamber Alliance and Visitors Center at Gateway Depot, 816 Royal Gorge Blvd. Cañon City, where, Stevens said, there will be enhanced law enforcement.
Many councilors expressed concerns that the bus was bringing in undocumented immigrants, or criminals. Stevens responded, stating the bus operates within state lines.
“I think one thing we’ve got to remember is we can't judge somebody as they're stepping off of a bus,” Councilor Tim Dennehy said.
The Bustang Outrider line, owned and operated by the Colorado Department of Transportation, currently stops in Pueblo, Pueblo West, Penrose, Cotopaxi, Salida, Poncha Springs and Moffat. A city can make requests to the operator, but has no decision-making power over Bustang or its lines.
The route is one of eight Outrider lines that aim to connect rural communities to the state's larger cities and towns. The new stop is funded by the Royal Gorge Chamber of Commerce.
Buses headed from the San Luis Valley to Pueblo will stop at 9 a.m. at the new Cañon City location and buses going to Alamosa will stop there at 3:45 p.m.
