Transfort launches new push for its business-pass program

FORT COLLINS — Transfort, the agency that runs Fort Collins’ public transit system, has had a business-pass program for nearly a decade — but too few people have heard of it. City officials are launching an outreach initiative to change that.

Much like the Regional Transportation District’s Eco-Pass program, Passfort is an annual bus pass that an employer can purchase as a benefit for employees. The passes can be used on any Transfort bus, including the FLEX regional service that connects Fort Collins with Loveland, Berthoud and Longmont and will be extended to Boulder in January.

About 55 businesses participate in Passfort, said Timothy Wilder, Transfort service development manager. “We think it’s a really good opportunity — but people right now might not know it exists. So we have started an outreach program to businesses. We had a business luncheon a week ago Friday, and we’re engaging with business organizations to talk about the program.

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“Rather than us telling them what they need,” he said, “we want them to tell us how employees use Transfort and other types of services they’d be interested in. What barriers do their employees face in trying to ride Transfort? Do they want later hours? More frequent service? What kind of other partnerships might businesses be interested in?”

One such partnership has been established with four breweries located along the MAX bus rapid transit line: Pateros Creek Brewing Co., at 242 N. College Ave. near the Downtown Transit Center; Black Bottle Brewing, at 1611 S. College near MAX’s Prospect station; 1933 Brewing, at 4205 S. Mason St. near the Troutman station; and Zwei Bruder Brewing, at 4612 S. Mason St., near the Harmony station. “The breweries hand out small cards to customers,” Wilder said. “When they order a drink, they get their card stamped. With four stamps, they can bring the card to Transfort and get a monthly pass.”

The outreach program will continue Oct. 13 when Wilder meets with the South Fort Collins Business Association. “We hope over time we can meet with more businesses, find out what they really need and align our services with them,” Wilder said.

In the Passfort program, which was launched in late 2005, businesses can buy annual bus passes at a bulk rate of $50 each, instead of the normal cost of $154 — a 68 percent discount. Companies with fewer than 25 workers must buy a number of passes equal to the number of people it employs. Companies with 25 or more employees must buy a minimum of 25 passes.

Individual employees whose employers are members of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce or the Downtown Business Association can buy $50 vouchers at the Chamber or DBA and exchange them for an annual pass at a Transfort transit center.

For more information about the program, contact Wilder at 970-416-2113 or twilder@fcgov.com.