Colorado transportation officials say ridership on their statewide Bustang bus service is exceeding expectations as the service marked its fourth anniversary this month.

The Summit Daily reported Wednesday that Bustang has recorded more than 238,000 riders in 2018-19, continuing to grow from the more than 102,000 riders recorded in the service’s first year.

Bustang program manager Mike Timlin says the number of passengers has continued to outpace what the state Department of Transportation plans for each year.

The service is planning more expansion, starting with weekend pilot routes in the fall from Denver to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

It aims to launch services to Pueblo and the Interstate 70 corridor in December.

Timlin says Bustang also is recruiting resorts for seasonal direct routes to ski areas.