The City of Fort Collins has reached an important milestone in the Transfort Optimization Plan, with the final study and recommendations presented to City Council at the March 24 Work Session.
The plan focuses on how to provide the best possible transit service with available funding. Like many agencies across the country, Transfort has experienced significant cost increases – rising between 50 and 70 percent industry-wide since 2019. In Fort Collins, operating 2019 service levels today would cost approximately 50 percent more, driven largely by personnel, vehicle repair services and contracted transportation.
The final plan reflects a careful balance between community priorities and financial realities, incorporating all anticipated funding sources, including federal and state grants, City funding, partner contributions and advertising revenue.
Community-Driven, Data-Informed
Public input played a central role in shaping the final plan. Transfort gathered feedback through surveys, outreach events, focus groups, presentations and community review of three proposed transit scenarios.
This input – combined with data analysis, industry best practices and route performance testing – helped identify where transit service is most effective and where improvements are needed most.
A Simpler, More Reliable System
The recommended plan focuses service where it works best, creating a simpler and more efficient network in areas with the greatest reliance on transit. By strengthening connections to key destinations and prioritizing high-demand corridors, the plan allows Transfort to use limited resources more effectively, delivering a system that better aligns with community needs and expectations.
Supporting Access Across the Community
As part of the transition, Dial-A-Ride services will continue to support existing riders outside the new updated fixed-route service area.
What’s Next
Implementation of the updated transit network will occur in phases:
- August 2026: Most route service changes begin
- 2027: Additional updates for routes requiring significant realignment or new infrastructure
Learn More
More details about the project, including updated maps and plan information, are available on the City’s website: ourcity.fcgov.com/transfort-optimization-plan