Bustang Bus Stop Planned for East Beech Street, Lamar Loop Almost Ready

Entrance to the Enchanted Forest from 4th Street

Pending available funding, the City of Lamar, in conjunction with Bustang and the Colorado Department of Transportation, should have a bus stop shelter developed for Bustang passengers. The service has been in operation for just about a year.

Craig Brooks, Lamar’s Chief Building Official, told The Prowers Journal the city is developing a model that will incorporate the style of stone work similar to the new benches that line the southern section of East Beech Street. “We may have our plans completed within 60 to 90 days, pending available funding,” Brooks said.  Brooks added the shelter is planned to be built on property in the Enchanted Forest at the 4^th Street entry to the parking lot.

Bustang Bus service, made available by CDOT, provides a morning bus ride from the Lamar Chamber/Welcome Center parking lot weekday mornings leaving at 7am for a roundtrip to Pueblo, connecting with other towns along Highway 50. Current riders are left standing in the open through all types of weather as they await the arrival of the bus.  Neither the Chamber nor Welcome Center is open at that time.

Brooks provided an update on the Lamar Loop which should be ready for use by the end of the month with a few punch list items completed by the first week in March. “The Loop will be a 10Km or 6.2 mile path connecting Lamar residents to various entry and exit points throughout the city, bordered on the north by East and West Maple Streets,” he explained.

Pedestrians and bicyclists can access the Loop at North 13^th Street from West Maple or 2^nd Street from East Maple.  Other connecting points are at the intersection of Oak and 13^th outside McCorkle’s Field where they can take the greenbelt path to Ft. Bent Canal to 11^th Street and onto Savage Avenue or continue along the Canal to 5^th Street where they can cross Main Street.  The Loop circles Willow Creek Park with access from Parkway Drive and Parkview Streets and Willow Valley Road.  Users can continue onto First Street to Parmenter or branch off and follow the southern gravel path along Willow Creek.
By Russ Baldwin