Once upon a time, local officials and developers declared Interstate 25 as Colorado’s Main Street.

I laughed and said, "Never."

I still shake my head.

However, Northern Colorado got one step closer to this vision in October 2024 when the Colorado Department of Transportation opened a handful of what they call “mobility hubs.”

These hubs act as a place where multiple transit or shared transportation services come together. For example, in Loveland, the area includes a park and ride, local bus stop and regional bus pickups right off and back onto the interstate.

entrance to bustang facility at centerra in loveland colorado
Christine Kapperman/Townsquare Media Northern Colorado
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On Oct. 22, 2024, state and local officials christened three new transit hubs along I-25 between Longmont and Loveland. They are located in:

  • Firestone-Longmont, at Colorado 119.
  • Berthoud, at Colorado 56.
  • Centerra Loveland, off Kendall Parkway north of the U.S. 34 interchange.

The stated goal for building and increasing these transportation hubs is to:

  • Add transportation options.
  • Reduce traffic.
  • Reduce congestion.
  • Protect air quality.
  • Improve safety.
the colt bus arrives at the centerra mobility hub
Christine Kapperman/Townsquare Media Northern Colorado
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“This infrastructure allows transit trips in Northern Colorado to be more convenient, efficient and comfortable. Along with better access to Bustang’s North Line, our network of I-25 mobility hubs is encouraging transit-oriented development that will give local residents new and better travel options, as well as better access to all that Northern Colorado has to offer,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.

The new stops connect the Bustang bus to stops at Harmony and I-25 in Fort Collins and the Fort Collins Downtown Transit Center at Mason. To the south, the bus goes by the new stops and to Denver Union Station.

bustang bus stop overview map
Colorado Department of Transportation and Canva
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If times work well, the bus serves commuters to downtowns and makes a good option for transportation to entertainment, such as a Colorado Rockies game. Timing is still limited.

Centerra to Denver, for instance, will cost $8. Free for now.

RELATED: What are they doing to I-25 in Northern Colorado?

These hubs were included as a part of the Interstate 25 expansion projects that are near completion from Berthoud to Fort Collins and started in May from Mead to Berthoud. Construction on that segment will continue through 2028.

Nowadays, local politicians call I-25 the Front Range’s backbone. And they hope these improvements will help this achy spine a bit.

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