Public Transportation
Date posted: 03/11/2010
Quick Data Links
Chart Directory:
According to the 2000 United States Census, public transportation was used 0.9% of the time as a means of travel to work in Larimer County. This page measures the use of public transportation by ridership, determined by counting every person who rides on the bus each and every time they ride. In other words, ridership figures indicate the number of rides taken in a given time period, not how many people from the general population are using public transportation.
What this chart shows: Public Transit Ridership (per 1,000 population) in Fort Collins and Loveland, 2005-2009
Data Sources:
- City of Fort Collins Transportation Department
- City of Loveland Transportation Department
What these data tell us:
From 2000 to 2004, COLT ridership in Loveland decreased by 40% and ridership on the Transfort system in Fort Collins was down by 14% (see data table). From 2004 to 2009, however, ridership for both transit systems steadily increased, with the largest increase seen in 2008 when the price of gasoline exceeded $4.00/gallon.Foxtrot is a regional transit service that provides connecting public transportation between Fort Collins and Loveland. Rates are unavailable because of an inability to pinpoint population figures, however, ridership increased nearly 3% from 2008 (108,176 rides) to 2009 (111,228).
What this chart shows: Percentage of Transfort Riders by Type - 2009
Data Source: City of Fort Collins Transportation Department
What this chart shows: Transfort Ridership by Type, 2005-2009
Data Source: City of Fort Collins Transportation Department
What these data tell us:
From 2005 to 2009, ridership varied amongst the populations using Transfort. The percentage of the general population riding Transfort increased 54% over these five years, while the percentage of CSU students increased 30%. The largest increase (60%) was seen in the number of disabled individuals riding public transit (see data table). The large increase in General Population and CSU student riders is most likely due to the large increases in the cost of gasoline in 2008.According to officials with Transfort, the reason for the decrease in Youth ridership in 2009 was a change in routing, due to safety concerns, that removed a stop from in front of Blevins Junior High School.
The large increase in ridership amongst the 'Disabled' population is likely due to changes made in the Dial-A-Ride program in 2007 to accommodate the minimum service requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Additionally, the City of Fort Collins made a concerted training effort for residents unfamiliar with public transportation during this time period.
What this chart shows: Paratransit Ridership in Larimer County, 2009
Data Sources:
- Health & Human Services (BATS and Larimer Lift)
- City of Fort Collins (Dial-A-Ride)
- City of Loveland Transit (COLT)
- Senior Alternatives IN Transportation (SAINT)
- Special Transit (Estes Park)
What these data tell us:
Paratransit service for the elderly and disabled is provided by a variety of agencies in Larimer County. This service is considered 'on-demand' in that riders call in advance to schedule door-to-door rides. Four of the agencies providing paratransit service are governmental agencies (BATS, COLT, Dial-A-Ride, and Larimer Lift) and two are nonprofit organizations (SAINT and Special Transit).SAINT is the second largest provider of paratransit services in Larimer County (20,000 rides per year to approximately 500 individuals) operated primarily by volunteers using their own vehicles.
Information about the individual services is available by contacting the agencies directly.
What this chart shows: Origin of Rides on Larimer County Rural Transportation, 2009
Data Source: Health & Human Services
What these data tell us:
The Larimer County Northern Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) operates the Larimer County Rural Transportation Program, which provides area transportation to residents living outside urban Fort Collins and Loveland. The services are provided by Larimer Lift, City of Loveland Transit (COLT), and Berthoud Area Transportation Service (BATS). Riders qualify to participate based on their residence, and age or income group. To determine if you live in an area that is serviced by the Rural Transportation Program, see the NFRMPO's map of rural boundaries, or contact the programs (Larimer Lift, COLT, or BATS) directly.Additional Information:
- Air Quality
- Vehicle Miles Traveled
- Vehicle Registration
- Vehicles Available Per Household
- Work Commute
- Berthoud Area Transportation Services
- City of Fort Collins Alternative Transportation - Smart Trips
- City of Fort Collins Dial-A-Ride
- City of Loveland Paratransit
- COLT (City of Loveland Transit)
- Larimer Lift - Northern rural Larimer County
- North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization
- Senior Alternatives IN Transportation (SAINT)
- Special Transit (Estes Park)
- 34 Xpress - Regional service between Loveland and Greeley
- Transfort - City of Fort Collins Department of Public Transportation
Standards or Targets: N/A
Data Tables:
Public Transportation Ridership
|
COLT Fixed Route - Loveland |
Transfort - |
|||
|
Riders |
Rate |
Riders |
Rate |
|
|
2000 |
89,322 | 1,765 | 1,545,672 | 13,027 |
|
2001 |
82,201 | 1,515 | 1,616,328 | 13,142 |
|
2002 |
70,357 | 1,253 | 1,471,911 | 11,701 |
|
2003 |
53,598 | 934 | 1,504,683 | 11,833 |
|
2004 |
59,934 | 1,012 | 1,418,102 | 10,980 |
|
2005 |
74,856 | 1,239 | 1,481,472 | 11,400 |
|
2006 |
99,874 | 1,608 | 1,479,717 | 11,235 |
|
2007 |
103,743 | 1,617 | 1,641,509 | 12,235 |
|
2008 |
125,064 | 1,928 | 1,884,194 | 13,870 |
|
2009 |
145,805 | 2,228 | 1,904,229 | 13,849 |
Transfort Ridership by Type of Rider (Fort Collins)
|
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
||
|
Number |
Number |
Number |
Number |
Number |
% |
|
|
CSU Students |
509,291 | 516,747 | 561,514 | 615,311 | 662,468 | 35% |
|
Youth |
361,494 | 330,858 | 351,562 | 377,771 | 306,797 | 16% |
|
Disabled |
137,556 | 153,925 | 184,014 | 207,500 | 220,378 | 12% |
|
Seniors |
61,235 | 65,526 | 69,596 | 81,057 | 79,241 | 4% |
|
General Population |
411,896 | 412,661 | 474,823 | 602,655 | 635,345 | 33% |
Paratransit Ridership in Larimer County, 2009
|
Number |
Percentage |
|
|
Dial-A-Ride (Fort Collins) |
41,719 | 47% |
|
SAINT |
20,000 | 22% |
|
BATS (Berthoud) |
14,273 | 15% |
|
COLT Paratransit (Loveland) |
9,890 | 11% |
|
Special Transit (Estes Park) |
4,086 | 5% |
|
Larimer Lift |
2,718 | 3% |
Origin of Rides on Larimer County Rural Transportation, 2009
|
Number |
Percentage |
|
|
Berthoud |
6,114 | 68% |
|
Fort Collins |
463 | 5% |
|
LaPorte |
700 | 8% |
|
Loveland |
216 |
2% |
|
Wellington |
1,553 | 17% |
|
Other Larimer County |
2 | 0% |