The BOLT

The Boulder-to-Longmont BOLT runs along State Highway 119 every fifteen minutes during morning and afternoon peak commuting hours, and every half-hour during the rest of the day. It travels the same route as the former "M" service, but with much greater frequency - and a much easier to identify look. The brightly colored buses have become a familiar sight along the Diagonal as they pick up passengers in Gunbarrel, Niwot, Boulder and Longmont.

The Boulder to Longmont (BOLT) transit service was started in September 2004, by the City of Longmont in partnership with the city of Boulder, Boulder County, and the Regional Transit District (RTD). Boulder County funded the marketing and design to convert the old "M" route to the BOLT and made bus stop improvements to several locations along the Diagonal Highway.

Ridership on the route has climbed significantly since its inception. Historically the M and its companion route, the "J," carried 650-750 riders per day.  Since the implementation of the BOLT and improvements to the J, ridership on the two routes has risen to 1,275 riders per day in 2005 and 1,450 riders per day in the first half of 2006.  

The Boulder County Consortium of Cities has identified the BOLT as the highest priority for future transit funding in its Transit Service Enhancement Plan (TSEP). Information about the TSEP is available on the Consortium website.