RTD expands Language Help decals across bus fleet
Bus decals provide multilingual access to essential RTD customer information
Customers riding RTD buses will now see new Language Help decals designed to make it easier to access transit information in their preferred language. As of the end of May 2026, the agency has completed installation of the decals across its fixed-route bus fleet, including contracted vehicles. Located near bus entry doors, the decals feature a QR code that directs customers to a dedicated Language Help webpage with commonly requested transit information, including trip planning, fares, Customer Care contact information, and security resources.
When scanned with a smartphone, the QR code opens the Language Help webpage in Spanish by default. Customers are then directed to a language menu where they can select from an additional eight non-English languages, including Amharic, Simplified Chinese, French, Korean, Nepali, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese, or use the language settings already selected on their phone.
The decals are designed to help reduce language barriers and support customers who speak languages other than English while allowing operators to stay focused on safely operating the bus. According to the American Community Survey, approximately 200,812 residents in RTD’s service area speak English less than very well. Research conducted through RTD’s Transit Equity Office also found that communities with greater linguistic diversity tend to rely on transit at higher rates than predominantly English-speaking communities.
The new decals build on RTD’s broader efforts to improve language access and make transit more accessible for all customers. Earlier this spring, RTD introduced multilingual “I Speak” buttons for frontline employees. The voluntary buttons help customers identify employees who may be able to assist them in languages other than English, including Spanish, Amharic, French, Arabic, Oromo, Swahili, Italian, Nepali, German, Hindi, Farsi, and American Sign Language. Both efforts support RTD’s 2025-2028 Language Access Plan, which outlines the agency’s commitment to providing meaningful access to services for individuals with limited English proficiency under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.