The city is responding to ongoing problems at the Park-n-ride on South Tejon Street

COLORADO SPRINGS — An update on the city’s response to ongoing problems at the Park-n-ride on South Tejon Street in Colorado Springs.

A spokesman for the city of Colorado Springs says it will continue to enforce the no-camping ordinance on property owned by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).

With the help of the Colorado Springs Police Department’s (CSPD) Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and Downtown Area Response Team, city leaders said they are working with the fire department on fire prevention strategies related to of camps.

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Bus passengers and operators have expressed enough concern about their safety at the South Tejon Park-n-Ride in Colorado Springs that CDOT has ended bus service from the station.

The announcement came less than two weeks ago. CDOT said it is ending service at the bus stop under I-25 between Tejon and Nevada effective Dec. 1, saying it has become an “unsafe environment.”

“Aggressive behaviour, including threatening behavior towards both passengers and bus operators, by some people who populate the site, along with drug use and open fires are just some of the safety hazards that have been documented,” it said an email from Bob Wilson, Statewide Communications. manager for CDOT’s Bustang.

On November 30, a Bustang operator driving the last bus at the location admitted it was a dangerous stop. He said he was often in and out as fast as he could.

A large group of homeless individuals populate the area in and around the Tejon Park-n-Ride. The parking lot and bus stop are often littered with trash and debris.

CDOT said that unless something drastic changes to make it safe again, they have no immediate plans to return to bus operations in the near future. CDOT owns the property and has said it will continue as a park-n-ride for carpoolers.

Greyhound Bus Service still uses the station and did not return a request for comment about their future plans despite multiple attempts to reach them.

William Warrington was waiting for a Greyhound bus at the S Tejon Park-n-Ride, but said he never wanted to go back.

“I can see why no one wants to ride the Greyhound right here. Or Bustang. It’s terrible,” Warrington said. “There is trash everywhere. Trash cans overflowing. All the trash on the floor. I’ve seen three people ask me for drugs in an hour.”

Warrington said he had been guarding his luggage since he arrived and wondered why there was no heat building or toilet at the bus station.

“What are we paying our taxes for if nothing gets done?” asked Warrington.

According to a records request with the Colorado Springs Police Department, there were 375 calls for service at that location from Dec. 1, 2023 to Dec. 1 of this year.

43% of these were initiated by officers. Officer-initiated traffic calls add another 320 calls for service.

Calls for service ranged from suspicious persons or vehicles to trespassing and disturbances. There were 22 calls related to drugs or narcotics and 21 camping calls. There were six calls for assault, six for shots fired, five for robbery and two shootings, among many others.

Although CDOT owns the property, they have an agreement with the city of Colorado Springs to clean up and maintain the Park-n-Ride location until July 2025. Mountain Metro Transit, the local bus service, hires an outside contractor to clean the area three times. a week, a spokesman said.

A call to the News 5 tip line indicated that the outside contractor often brings in two crews for the S Tejon Park-n-Ride for safety reasons, but the city would not confirm that or directly answer that question.

“The agreement states that Mountain Metro Transit is responsible for basic ongoing and seasonal maintenance such as trash and snow removal,” Colorado Springs Public Works Director Richard Mulledy said in a statement. “The contractor may also use the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team for support when needed.”

Mulledy said after the agreement is finalized next July, the city will continue to maintain the area until then unless another agreement is reached.

South Tejon Park-n-Ride is in City Council District 3, which is represented by Councilwoman Michelle Talarico.

News 5 reached out to the city council for comment Friday about whether safety improvement plans are in the works for the park-n-ride location, but has yet to hear back.

Email senior reporter Brett Forrest at [email protected]. Follow @brettforrestTVon X and Brett Forrest News on facebook.

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