AASHTO Journal - State DOTs Highlight Transit Bus Service Milestones

Several state departments of transportation recently celebrated milestones achieved by the transit bus services they support.

[Above photo by Colorado DOT]

The Maine Department of Transportation recently marked the one-year anniversary of its Lewiston, Auburn, and Portland or LAP commuter bus, originally launched in July 2024.

In the last 12 months, the Maine DOT said in a statement that the LAP bus carried a total of 23,555 riders, averaging more than 1,900 passengers per month, with a high of 2,508 passengers in July 2025.

The agency noted it launched the LAP bus in partnership with RTW Management as a two-year pilot program designed to assess demand and explore opportunities for enhanced public transportation in the regions surrounding the cities of Lewiston, Auburn, and Portland – primarily serving those traveling to and from work.

Also in July, the Colorado Department of Transportation celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its Bustang interregional passenger express bus service.

On July 13, 2015, Bustang began providing passenger service on three routes – connecting Denver to Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and Glenwood Springs – with an initial ridership of 103,000. A decade later, it provides service along 20 routes – connecting all four corners of the state – and has carried nearly 2.1 million passengers.

Annual Bustang ridership has more than tripled, the agency noted; growing to 351,000 passenger trips over the last 12 months. To serve this fast-growing ridership, Colorado DOT has been building mobility hubs along major corridors to more quickly and conveniently connect riders with local amenities and their next Bustang ride.

“As we mark this milestone, it’s important to look at the range of riders who benefit from the service Bustang provides — ranging from commuters on the I-25 corridor who can take advantage of improved infrastructure that adds efficiency to their commutes, to travelers along I-70 seeking a safe alternative to traversing the mountains in the snow,” said Shoshana Lew, Colorado DOT’s executive director, in a statement. “Bustang is a national model for how transit can work across urban and rural areas [while] providing consumers with more choices.”

Meanwhile, in August, the North Carolina Department of Transportation opened a new stop in Chapel Hill for its intercity bus service, which is operated by Greyhound.

The new arrangement is the result of coordination with NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division, the Town of Chapel Hill, and Greyhound. NCDOT added that it funds this intercity bus service with federal and state support.

NCDOT also resumed intercity bus service in downtown Asheville this August, nearly a year after it suspended that transit service due to Hurricane Helene.

Finally, also in August, the Michigan Public Transit Association and the Michigan Department of Transportation launched the inaugural Michigan Transit Impact Awards spotlighting the best in public transportation statewide, with featured competitive categories such as Transit Rising Stars, Innovative Transit Projects, Outstanding Communications Projects, and Friends of Michigan Transit.

Michigan DOT also presented 20 local transit agencies with commemorative plaques honoring their decades of service to their communities.

“These plaques are more than just a symbol; they represent the decades of dedication and resilience our transit agencies have shown as they connect people to opportunity and strengthen the fabric of our Michigan communities,” said Jean Ruestman, administrator of Michigan DOT’s Office of Passenger Transportation, in a statement. “We’re proud to honor their service and commitment to public transportation.”