Lone Star Bus Route
The Northeastern Colorado Association of Local Governments (NECALG), through its County Express public transportation service, currently provides student transportation to Lone Star School in Washington County, Colorado.
Located in a remote rural area, Lone Star School has no district or private school bus service available. To support families with limited transportation options, NECALG stepped in to fill this critical gap, providing safe and reliable transit for students traveling over 22 miles from the town of Yuma to the school. Students are picked up each morning at the Yuma Senior Center and transported directly to Lone Star School.
To comply with federal transit regulations, NECALG partnered with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to request an exemption from rules that generally restrict public transit agencies from offering school transportation. In accordance with federal requirements, NECALG held a public hearing, published public notices, and received supportive feedback from local parents who emphasized how essential the service is to their children's access to education.
With no opposition from private operators and strong community support, CDOT submitted the official exemption request to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on NECALG’s behalf.
This initiative highlights NECALG/County Express’s ongoing commitment to supporting rural communities by ensuring that every student has access to school—regardless of transportation barriers.