The City of Loveland Transit (COLT) and the City of Fort Collins’ public transportation system, Transfort, are announcing significant changes to regional transit connections between Fort Collins and Loveland, effective January 1, 2026.

This decision comes as a result of new financial realties facing the City of Loveland, requiring adjustments to the way regional services are delivered.

Loveland will launch a new Loveland–Fort Collins bus route operated by COLT. This service will replace Transfort’s current FLEX F1 alignment but will not be part of the FLEX network. The Loveland route will connect the Loveland North Transit Center at North Garfield Avenue (U.S. Highway 287) and 37th Street to the Transfort South Transit Center at South College Avenue (U.S. Highway 287) and Fairway Lane in Fort Collins, with stop locations remaining the same as the F1 today and minor time adjustments to southbound trips. The new route will operate under Loveland’s brand, policies, and fare structure, with fares set at $1.25 for a one-way trip, $0.60 for seniors and riders with disabilities, and free for CSU-affiliated riders with a RamCard or youth with a school ID.

Transfort will discontinue the current F1 route and combine the existing F2 (Longmont) and F3 (Boulder) FLEX routes into a new FLEX alignment, serving Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Longmont, and Boulder, and is expected to run seven times daily, and five times on Saturday. The FLEX route will remain fare-free for all riders.

Riders can expect the updated Loveland route to be available on the Spot app and COLT route brochures in December. New FLEX route information can be found on the ridetransfort.com website in December.

Transfort and COLT will host two open houses to inform their riders of the change. Open House details are the following:

• COLT Open House
  • Date: Thursday, Aug. 28
  • Time: 3-5 p.m.
  • Location: North Transit Center, 350 W. 37th St., Loveland, CO 80538
• Transfort Open House
  • Date: Friday, Aug. 29
  • Time: 3-5 p.m.
  • Location: South Transit Center, 4915 Fossil Blvd., Fort Collins, CO 80525

“While we recognize that this is a change for our riders, COLT and Transfort remain committed to maintaining the vital regional connections we’ve built over the years.  As the City of Loveland navigates new financial challenges, we are focused on ensuring a smooth transition that continues to serve our riders across the region,” Acting Public Works Director Jodi Lessman said.

The FLEX F1 route, which has served as a vital link between Loveland and Fort Collins for the past 28 years, was launched in 1997 as the Foxtrot. Throughout its history, this partnership between COLT and Transfort has been integral to ensure reliable service for commuters between these two communities. However, due to the City of Loveland’s current budgetary challenges, the decision was made after careful review to adjust the service in a way that still maintains regional connectivity while achieving necessary cost savings for both COLT and its regional partners.

“We have a long-standing and valued relationship with COLT, and this transition is a reflection of our shared commitment to finding solutions that work for both communities,” Transfort Director Kaley Zeisel said. “We will continue to work collaboratively to maximize transit service for the region.”

The City of Loveland, along with Transfort and other regional stakeholders, is dedicated to finding ways to maintain a robust transit system that supports the needs of our communities.  Despite the challenges posed by these new financial realities, we are optimistic that our continued partnership will allow us to adapt and provide as much service as possible to our riders.

About COLT

COLT is the City of Loveland’s public transportation system that runs seven regular bus routes in Loveland. Buses come every 30 to 60 minutes, with more frequent service in the mornings to help commuters and students. There are 160 bus stops in the City, and most people—86% of homes and 68% of businesses—are within a quarter mile of a stop. Buses run Monday through Friday from 6:38 a.m. to 7:55 p.m., and Saturday from 8:38 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. COLT runs the regular bus service and provides Dial-A-Ride (DAR), a paratransit service for people who need extra help. DAR runs the same days and hours as the regular bus routes.

Each year, COLT provides around 130,000 rides in and out of Loveland. COLT also connects to nearby cities through the Poudre Express, Transfort, GET (Greeley-Evans Transit) and Bustang for regional connectivity. To learn more, visit lovgov.org/COLT.

About Transfort

Transfort is the City of Fort Collins’ public transportation system. Transfort operates over 20 fixed routes in the City of Fort Collins, including MAX Bus Rapid Transit, connecting major destinations along the Mason Corridor, and FLEX, connecting riders to Loveland, Berthoud, Longmont and Boulder. Most routes operate Monday-Saturday between 5:30 a.m.-midnight. Transfort is committed to ensuring that transportation is accessible to everyone, with features like bike racks on buses, ADA-compliant vehicles and Dial-a-Ride paratransit service. All Transfort service is fare-free. More information at ridetransfort.com.

Project Funding

COLT is funded through the City of Loveland General Fund (62%), the Federal Transit Administration (33%), the Colorado State Department of Transportation (2%), and revenues from advertising and fare collection (3%). Operating the new Loveland to Fort Collins route will allow COLT to retain more of the Federal funding for local operations.

In 2025, the FLEX system cost approximately $2.3 million annually, funded by City of Fort Collins, City of Loveland, Boulder County, City of Boulder, City of Longmont, Town of Berthoud, Colorado State University, and the Colorado Department of Transportation.