The end of August signals the start of school for thousands of students across the metro area. It’s typically the time for back-to-school shopping, learning who your teacher will be and getting ready for colder weather.

RTD may face a somewhat less severe budget-cutting scenario for 2021, after the Board of Directors approved a new revenue forecast Tuesday that predicts the agency may have more funds for next year than previously suggested in the May forecast.

The General Manager Executive Search Committee met on Wednesday, July 22 to review resumes and selected a pool of six candidates.

Mike has been an Access-a-Ride driver with our contractor, VIA Mobility Services, since Jan. 17, 2011. He enjoys his job and the opportunity to help others.

Did you know that Access-a-Ride can now bring grocery orders to Access-a-Ride customers’ doors at no cost? The process is easy, and it simply requires that customers contact us one day in advance to arrange for grocery delivery once an order has been placed.

In late January, our application for Access-a-Ride services went online so that customers could download and print it at home. This move has improved access to the service and sped up the eligibility process for new customers.

Here are a few COVID-19 related updates from Access-a-Ride.

RTD and the metro region keep the Americans with Disabilities Act a living and breathing document through two committees that continually draw on the expertise and activism of people living with disabilities.

When RTD patrons board any of the agency’s light rail vehicles these days with a wheelchair, scooter or walker, they are presented with long, open spaces where they can settle in for a ride.

“The ADA is civil rights law. It’s about equal rights and access, not special rights.”

Sunday, July 26, marks 30 years since the hot summer day when President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. The ADA – one of our country’s broadest pieces of civil rights legislation – was the world's first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities.

As RTD prepares to open the highly anticipated N Line commuter rail on Sept. 21, serving Denver, Commerce City, Northglenn and Thornton, the COVID-19 pandemic may impact planned N Line bus and rail service in the northern suburbs. 

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) today launched a survey as part of its “Reimagine RTD” effort.

Public health officials are increasingly optimistic that passengers can return to public transit without risking exposure to COVID-19 transmission, including RTD, as it reinstates front-door boarding and fare collection on its metro system.

RTD reminds the public that it resumes fare collection and front-door boarding on all buses today.

While the pandemic has introduced a level of economic volatility expected to continue for some time, RTD’s financial projections now appear to be more positive than previously thought, according to a forecast shared with the agency’s Board of Directors today by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.

We at RTD value the need for our Access-a-Ride customers to continue their daily life and work. We are taking extraordinary steps to communicate these changes and opportunities to all of our customers, across all of RTD’s platforms.

RTD hopes to expand its nation-leading efforts to address mental health issues and incidents from system riders and facility users, including seeking a new full-time position for a homelessness services coordinator and liaison.

Volunteers visited the divisions last week to show appreciation for our operations team. Visits occurred across all shifts to reach a majority of employees.

As RTD gets our region moving again, the agency continues to implement a number of safety measures to protect employees and riders.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) today announced that it will open its newest commuter rail corridor, the N Line, on Sept. 21. The rail line will serve Denver, Commerce City, Northglenn and Thornton and include a stop at the National Western Complex. 

The agency is in final testing of see-through shields separating operators from passengers as the metro-area economy reopens and ridership increases.

As residents of the Denver metro region begin to venture out more frequently, the (RTD has been steadily preparing to get our region moving again.

Learn more about RTD's efforts to get our region moving again in response to COVID-19.

RTD plans to resume its Free MallRide service on Sunday, putting back into place a key connector for downtown Denver residents, commuters and visitors as more people start to move around the region.

RTD will conduct six days of routine maintenance on its light rail system starting this weekend, affecting service on the H and L Lines.

The RTD Board, Gov. Jared Polis and state legislators on Wednesday announced an agreement to appoint an 11-member advisory board to review and recommend changes to the transit agency’s operations and planning by next year.

RTD staff said 2021 revenue from fares and sales and use tax is likely to fall by more than a third from previous projections, though some Board members noted at a special study session Tuesday that recent reports indicate the metro economy could come back faster and restore revenue.

RTD officially kicks off the "Let's Get Our Region Moving Again" campaign today. Reinstating MallRide service on Sunday is an important part of this.

Learn more about mounting your bike on an RTD bus properly and safely.

When riding your bike, please remember to follow these safety tips to help keep our roads safe.

Just before Labor Day in 2017, Stacey Jensen was listening to a murder story on headphones when she lifted her bike onto the 7:09 a.m. F Line train and met her own fate. 

RTD will resume regular bus and rail service into and out of downtown Denver starting early Sunday morning.  

RTD will suspend bus service into and out of downtown Denver for the entire service day due to heavy crowds expected for planned protests and marches. Light rail will also not run into the core of downtown.

RTD has selected Melanie J. Snyder as the transit agency’s next General Counsel, following a national recruitment. Snyder brings over 15 years of experience representing and advising a variety of clients in both the public and private sectors, including more than a decade of distinguished service with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, most recently as chief deputy attorney general.

A national infectious disease expert tonight told the RTD Board of Directors during its Communications and Government Relations Committee meeting to prepare for up to two years of high impact from COVID-19, relating an acclaimed research paper she co-authored that anticipates a new fall peak of cases and subsequent “waves” in 2021.

RTD will resume bus and rail service into downtown Denver starting early this morning. Today, Wednesday and Thursday, the last bus and train out of downtown will leave by 6:30 p.m., with Union Station and Civic Center Station closing at that time. Passengers should plan their trips accordingly.

There were several factors in play as RTD decided in recent days to suspend service to and from the concentrated downtown Denver area, as protests and sweep actions by police create an unpredictable, rapidly changing safety environment for all.

RTD will continue to suspend all bus and rail service into and out of downtown Denver through the end of the service day Monday in light of the ongoing protests in the downtown area.

RTD will continue to suspend all bus and rail service into and out of downtown Denver through the end of the service day Sunday in light of the protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this week.

RTD continues to suspend all bus and rail service into and out of downtown Denver through the end of the service day today in light of a planned protest over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this week.

RTD has suspended all bus and rail service into and out of downtown Denver until further notice in light of protests planned for today and tomorrow over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this week.

RTD is committed to addressing safety on our system as the situation created by COVID-19 continues to evolve. With the need for social distancing on our vehicles, we have made modifications to our current service based on service needs.

RTD’s COVID-19 online survey  in early May shows that people feel less safe about hopping on public transportation compared to some other activities like going to the grocery story or visiting family and friends as stay-at-home orders lift and people reassess their comfort with traveling to their destinations. 

An RTD survey of nearly 2,700 people earlier this month showed that the public remains apprehensive about engaging in social activities amid the spread of the coronavirus, including riding RTD services. The majority of those who had not used transit in the past 30 days said they will take a wait-and-see approach to the pandemic before riding again. 

While operating conditions and the economic fallout from COVID-19 change rapidly, RTD’s budget picture for the rest of 2020 and into 2021 is starting to come into focus.

The grand opening of the 2.3-mile E, F and R Extension one year ago this month, made it easier to access health services, work prospects, shopping, restaurants and numerous current and future economic development opportunities in the Lone Tree area.

RTD hosted virtual town halls between April 16 and May 11 in each of the 15 RTD districts to discuss the agency’s response to COVID-19, impacts on service and projects, as well as the health and safety measures that are in place. Here are the FAQs from the the sessions.

May 17 marks the one-year anniversary of the opening of the 2.3-mile E, F and R Extension and we want to take the opportunity to reflect on the collaboration and milestones that made it happen.

RTD's upholstery shop has made over 500 face coverings for employees. This helps keep them and passengers safe.

As RTD continues to provide service each day to essential workers and others who rely on transit, safety as one of the agency’s core values is even more pronounced with the onset of COVID-19. Thus, the need for clear and accurate information on agency policies.

Danielle Jones, a certified psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner with the Mental Health Center of Denver, starts May 11 as RTD’s new contracted mental health clinician.

We have added layers of social distancing protocols to make riding safer for our passengers and our valued employees. Customers and employees are asking questions about how these distancing efforts look on the ground, and we turned to Assistant General Superintendent of Street Operations Daniel Lamorie for some answers.

We are requesting feedback on how the community will use transit as stay-at-home orders are lifted and people increase their public activity. We are formulating our recovery plan and want to know what will give our riders more of a comfort level to hop aboard buses and trains.

It seems we are doing everything from home these days, and RTD’s virtual town halls are a way to be in two places at once – in your favorite chair while meeting with RTD’s leadership.

On an average day, the skilled employees at RTD’s District Shops location are hammering massive bus frames, maneuvering hulking engine blocks or shearing off durable fabrics for row after row of bus seats. But there have been no average days since COVID-19 hit the metro area early this winter.

The G Line opened on April 26, 2019. It was a Friday, sunny and the perfect day to take the inaugural trip from Union Station to Wheat Ridge & Ward Road Station.

In accordance with Gov. Jared Polis’s recent order that everyone wear a mask or face covering when out in public, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) is calling on its riders to take responsibility for the safety of themselves and others by wearing a mask or face covering. All of the agency’s bus and rail operators are now required to do the same, under a new RTD policy that takes effect today.

As a reminder service changes began Sunday across the RTD network of bus, rail and special services in response to a decrease in ridership resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Passengers should check schedules for the latest on the COVID-19 service plan webpage.

To demonstrate gratitude for transit workers across the Denver region and the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, RTD participated in a national “Sound the Horn” campaign  with light rail and commuter rail trains emitted two one-second horn blasts at 1 p.m. MT Thursday. 

Residents of the eight-county Regional Transportation District who are interested in public transit issues and community engagement are encouraged to apply for one of three vacancies on the RTD Citizens Advisory Committee.

In an effort to keep the community informed about COVID-19-related changes and other topics, RTD will be hosting a series of telephone town halls in April and May in each of our 15 districts.

RTD is taking steps to ensure that social distancing is adhered to across the system, including asking the public to use good judgment. The agency has implemented several steps to encourage social distancing to keep employees and passengers safe. Now RTD will work to minimize the number of riders on its buses and trains. 

RTD has made extensive changes to its security procedures during COVID-19 emergency operations in order to provide maximum safety protection for passengers and operators. 

For the safety of its employees and riders and in response to the rapidly changing spread of COVID-19, RTD is making some notable operational changes starting Sunday, April 5, following revised guidance from RTD’s safety consultant.

Read following guidance to RTD from WSP on rear-door boarding.

RTD has received word that the agency can expect to receive $232,253,946 through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed by President Donald J. Trump on March 27. 

Public transportation has been deemed an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic and RTD continues to provide bus, rail and Access-a-Ride services as a link between work, medical services, grocery stores and home.

Starting March 30, home grocery delivery service is available to all of the Regional Transportation District (RTD)’s Access-a-Ride customers. RTD is offering this service during the COVID-19 state of emergency to provide current Access-a-Ride customers with a food delivery option that does not require leaving home. No fare is required for customers to use this service.  

RTD Board of Directors Chair Angie Rivera-Malpiede has been using RTD for as long as she can remember, making her a passionate advocate for the system. Winning the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation Award is an incredible honor for her.  

As RTD upholds its core value of safety, it is especially important during these difficult times that we focus on keeping our passengers and employees safe and healthy. We provide a vital service and are a lifeline to many people in the community, and it is crucial that we continue operating for the public that relies on us. The situation changes daily, and we are in close contact and cooperation with state, regional and local authorities about best practices, safe operations and communication with the public. 

Just because you can’t (and shouldn’t) take a bus or train to your favorite places right now, you can still be part of the action. And that’s where we come in. RTD is all about connecting people, bringing communities together, and we always will be. And now, we’ll connect you to some of the destinations you can still visit from the comfort and safety of your own home.

A hardworking team of RTD employees is always at work – some seen and some unseen. These are the dedicated members of the agency’s security division. 

Lawyers sometimes get a bad rap. Images of lawyers in popular culture have them aggressive, no-nonsense, reinforcing your need to question their motives, rarely on “the up-and-up,” and have you on your guard around them in case you incriminate yourself for something.

RTD’s Board of Directors at its March 24 meeting approved reducing service 40 percent beginning April 19 in reaction to a severe ridership drop amid COVID-19 lockdowns, running buses every day on a Saturday and Regional schedule and light rail trains on a Sunday schedule. RTD will retain current service until that date.

RTD's Board of Directors tonight approved changes that will reduce the agency’s bus, light rail and special services starting April 19. 

While government agencies and institutions work tirelessly to help Coloradans through these difficult times, RTD’s main priority during the COVID-19 crisis is to keep employees, riders and the general public as safe as possible. Meanwhile, the rapidly unfolding societal shutdowns related to COVID-19 are deeply impacting RTD’s finances. As a result, the agency is initiating plans to recover as quickly as possible.

RTD will maintain current transit service levels during Mayor Michael Hancock’s stay-at-home orders for the City and County of Denver. RTD provides crucial connections for many essential workers throughout the Denver metro area. Public transportation has been deemed a critical service by Governor Jared Polis in his executive order for non-essential businesses to reduce in-person workforce by 50 percent.  

As RTD upholds its core value of safety, it is especially important during these difficult times that we focus on keeping our passengers and employees safe and healthy. We provide a vital service and are a lifeline to many people in the community, and it is crucial that we continue operating for the public that relies on us. The situation changes daily, and we are in close contact and cooperation with state, regional and local authorities about best practices, safe operation and communication with the public.

We know that RTD riders, employees and their families are all dealing with significant challenges as a result of the spread of COVID-19 throughout the metro area and the state of Colorado. We want to be proactive in communicating with everyone how we are adjusting to the situation while keeping people as safe as possible. Things change quickly, so please keep in touch with this space, with RTD’s mobile messaging apps and with your local media for the latest developments.

With the coronavirus having moved to the community spread stage, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) is announcing the following changes, beginning immediately, that affect its riders and customers.

You can take the girl out of Texas – but you can’t take Texas out of the girl. Meet Beckie Bailey, a bespectacled parts clerk based out of RTD’s District Shops division who embodies all of the sunshine of her native Lone Star State.

RTD continues to uphold the safety and security of our passengers and employees as one of our highest values.

When someone dials the main phone number of a big agency like RTD, it’s natural to wonder: Can they help me? Will they listen? Do they care? Is anyone going to pick up? Lupe Jones did – for 23 years.

On Tuesday, March 10, RTD will propose modifications to the service reduction plan that was recommended to the Board of Directors in December in response to the operator shortage. These modifications are the result of feedback from 20 public meetings and 15 outreach events with riders and local officials.

As the threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States increases, we want to remind you how you can protect yourself when riding RTD services. While our vehicles are cleaned every day, there are measures you can take to further protect yourself from getting sick. Check out these facts and tips and continue to check back for updates.

I’m honored and excited to be here serving as interim general manager and CEO until a permanent one is named. I’ve met some employees and everyone has been so very welcoming. Thank you. It’s nice to see dedicated employees who love what they do and what RTD does for the community.

Accessibility questions for RTD and its riders are rarely fixed and unchanging. The best word is “situational.” 

RTD has formed a unique collaboration with Swansea Elementary School and one of Denver’s master street artists to create artwork unique to the historical neighborhood surrounding the 48 & Brighton National Western Center Station.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is considering issuing a formal notice of default to the N Line design-build contractor, Regional Rail Partners (RRP) – a joint venture of Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure and Graham Contracting – due to the contractor’s continued delays in meeting project milestones and inability to fulfill its contractual obligations.

Board of Directors tonight approved a contract for Paul Ballard to be the agency’s interim general manager and CEO. Ballard will begin his role no later than February 26.

The next time you are straddling a mound of freshly fallen snow at your bus stop or scrambling to stay upright on a three-day-old layer of ice, you might as well throw your curses and hexes in the right direction. 

Darla Sutton Miller is ready to commit to the E Line. But she’s still waiting for the E Line to fully commit to her, and to other reliable commuters who have been left stranded in the fall and early winter of RTD’s severe staffing shortages and train cancellations.

That Saturday morning in late December began as a great one for Rashida Way-Smith. While guiding her Access-a-Ride van along South Parker Road – a street she’d been on countless times – the driver enjoyed Tim McGraw’s voice on the radio and the quiet presence of the two passengers behind her.

They’re not just throwing darts. While RTD’s choices of routes to consider reducing may seem cold or arbitrary to the communities and commuters losing service, the recommendations are made by professional planners who know precisely what pain their proposals will cause.

Public meetings and outreach events for RTD’s May service change will take place across RTD’s service district in February and March, providing the community with close to three dozen in-person opportunities to learn more about and weigh in on modifications to the agency’s bus, rail and special services.

The RTD Board of Directors chose former Fort Worth, Texas, transit CEO Paul Ballard on Tuesday night as the interim general manager and CEO for the Denver metro agency, and will begin negotiations on Ballard’s contract. Ballard, who retired from Fort Worth’s Trinity Metro transit agency last year, was the only finalist from outside Colorado.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD)’s Board of Directors tonight appointed Paul Ballard as the agency’s interim general manager and CEO, bringing to a close a search that began late last year when outgoing leader Dave Genova announced his retirement. 

Members of the Colorado Legislature this session have introduced a bill that would significantly alter how RTD is governed and managed, raising agency concerns that the proposed changes would add layers of bureaucracy and divert crucial resources from transit improvements. 

RTD was recognized by the WTS Colorado chapter for its innovation of journey planning and purchasing tickets all in one setting: the Uber app.

As we prepare to say goodbye to retiring General Manager and CEO Dave Genova, we asked him a few last questions.

Proposed temporary service reduction will save RTD about $12.4 million over a year and relieve some pressure on mandating six-day work weeks for operators, but it will not immediately solve the agency’s severe operator shortage, RTD staff told the Board of Directors on Tuesday night.

As the RTD Board of Directors moves forward with its search for the agency’s interim general manager and CEO, the Board has established next steps in selecting a top finalist. The Board invites the public and RTD employees to provide their comments about the five finalists being considered for the role.