Pass Program Working Group
The 25-member working group, which convened in March 2017 to evaluate RTD’s pass programs, completed its yearlong effort in February with a recommendation that will be reviewed by RTD staff and considered for approval by the agency’s board of directors. With board approval, the earliest the public could experience any change resulting from the group’s recommendation would be early 2019.
Individuals involved in the pass program study included members of RTD staff and external stakeholders representing schools, businesses, municipalities, neighborhood groups, and advocacy organizations. The group was asked to determine whether changes should be made to RTD’s pass programs, ultimately addressing the question of whether RTD is offering the public the passes they want and need and pricing them appropriately. It formulated several options, all of which were modeled by a consultant for their impact on total fare revenue and ridership.
Participants in the study had been asked to consider eight guiding principles in their work: brand loyalty, convenience, cost-effectiveness, equitable access, increased ridership, an ability to meet strategic budget plan targets, revenue certainty, and simplifying rider-operator interactions.
Elements of the group’s recommendation include:
- Adding a low-income pass, which would provide a 40 percent discount to qualifying riders whose incomes are at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. This pass effectively serves as an expansion of the existing RTD nonprofit program, which has been in place for decades to assist low-income riders and would be retained.
- Adding a youth pass, which would discount the fare for riders 13 through 19 years old by 70 percent. Individuals 12 years old and younger would ride free with a fare-paying rider.
- Retaining EcoPass, Neighborhood EcoPass, and CollegePass and pricing them based on updated service level areas (for EcoPass) and value of the trips taken (for Neighborhood EcoPass and CollegePass). Price increases of more than 20 percent for EcoPass holders, neighborhoods and higher education institutions would be phased in over 3 years.
The working group has no inherent authority to make changes to pass programs. RTD staff this year will conduct an extensive review of the group’s recommendation and provide periodic updates to the board. Public meetings explaining changes that could result from the recommendation will take place later this year, and the details of those meetings will be posted on this webpage once they are scheduled. A board decision could take place later this year.
View the latest report to RTD's board of directors, March 13, 2018
Mission
The purpose of the study is to evaluate RTD’s existing pass programs, including equity and underlying policies, and recommend whether new pass programs are needed.
The pass program study includes the following steps:
- Revisiting and refining goals for each pass program
- Refining pricing and administration of each pass program
- Recommending pass program policy revisions
- Recommending criteria for RTD to use in evaluating future proposals for new pass programs.
Passes and products being evaluated include:
- Individual passes: Day Pass, Monthly Pass, and Ticket Books
- Group passes: EcoPass, Business, Neighborhood EcoPass, FlexPass, and CollegePass
Project Timeline

as of July 20, 2018
Frequently Asked Questions
News Releases
Pass Program Study Meetings
The Pass Program Working Group has completed all of its meetings to help draft a consensus recommendation. During 2018, as RTD’s staff and board review this recommendation, the agency will continue to seek public feedback.
We want your input. You can submit your thoughts through the portal below or, as dates are announced, attend a public meeting.