Access-on-Demand
Upcoming Modifications
Important changes are coming to RTD’s Access-on-Demand (AOD) program in 2026. To learn more, read the Access-on-Demand letter that was mailed to program participants.
Beginning January 1, 2026
- Fare per trip: Trips will now cost $4.50.
- If you qualify for RTD’s LIVE program, your fare will be $2.25 per trip.
- Subsidy amount: Reduced from $25 to $20.
- Service hours: Service will follow ADA paratransit hours. There will be no service between 1:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m.
- Stops allowed: You may take up to 2 stops on providers that support this feature (previously only single-stop trips).
What Stays the Same
- 60 trips per month
- Trips must begin and end within the RTD service boundary
Re-enrollment Reminder
All customers must re-enroll in Access-on-Demand to continue using the service in 2026.
- The new enrollment period begins November 3, 2025.
- RTD will notify all Access-a-Ride customers before that date.
- Do not re-enroll before November 3. New forms will not be available until then.
- To avoid service interruption, please complete your re-enrollment during November or early December 2025.
- Customers who prefer a paper form may request one by mail.
If re-enrollment is not completed by January 1, 2026, customers may experience a delay in using Access-on-Demand due to high enrollment volume.
LiVE Program Discount
Qualified participants in RTD’s LiVE Program receive a 50% fare discount across the RTD service area—including Access-on-Demand and Access-a-Ride.
- Learn more about LiVE at rtd-denver.com/fares-passes/pass-programs/live
- Apply online through the Colorado PEAK benefits site: https://peak.my.site.com/peak/s/peak-landing-page?language=en_US
Access-on-Demand
Access-on-Demand is an optional subsidized curb-to-curb service using taxi and ride share providers. Individuals with current certification for Access-a-Ride are eligible to use the service. If certification is lapsed and an extension is provided, the extension does not apply to Access-on-Demand services.
Service Parameters:
- 60 trips per month (60 total between all providers, customer responsible for adding/tracking total).
- For example, if you take 20 Uber rides and 40 Lyft rides, you have met you 60 allotted rides for the month.
- Trips are only to be used by the Access-a-Ride customer, they are not for family members, PCAs, or significant others, even if used on behalf of the customer.
- App accounts are to be in the customer’s name and managed by the customer.
- One trip is a single stop (multi-stop trips are not allowed).
- RTD will subsidize the first $25 of each trip. Any amount exceeding the $25 subsidy will be paid by the customer.
- All trips are scheduled through the provider apps (Uber/Lyft) or the Call Center (Metro Taxi- Greater Denver metro area; zTrip- Boulder, Broomfield, Lafayette, Erie, Longmont).
- Service Area Limitation: The Access on Demand service is only available within the Regional Transportation District (RTD) service area and does not operate beyond its designated boundaries.
Access-on-Demand customers should be reminded that this service is not their only transportation option.
- There is no fare to use the fixed route bus or rail service when one presents their Access-a-Ride ID card.
- Fares on Access-a-Ride are $4.50, airport trips are $19.
- Fares with a LiVE card are $2.25, airport trips are $9.50.
Access-on-Demand is an extremely popular service; however, it may not meet everyone’s needs.
- Access-on-Demand drivers receive general sensitivity training while Access-a-Ride drivers participate in a comprehensive training program designed specifically for transporting individuals with disabilities.
- For individuals who feel comfortable traveling alone and without supervision, Access-on-Demand will be a good option, otherwise, our recommendation would be to continue using Access-a-Ride.
- For individuals unable to manage curb to curb transportation, Access-a-Ride will provide the needed assistance to get to the door.
Service Abuses: the following actions are considered service abuses on Access-on-Demand and are subject to the suspension schedule below.
- Exceeding the 60-trip limit.
- Use of "add a stop" or round trips.
- Providing trips to someone else - immediate removal from the program.
Customers who abuse the Access-on-Demand policies as stated above will be subject to the following suspension schedule (This schedule will be changing effective January 1, 2026):
- First violation - 7-day suspension with only 45 trips
- Second violation – 14-day suspension with only 30 trips
- Third violation – 21-day suspension with only 15 trips
- Fourth violation – Removal from the program
- Additional violation - referral to an appeal committee with potential removal from Access-on-Demand services
Important Information for Customers Under 18
- Customers under 18 may use Metro Taxi or zTrip. Uber and Lyft do not allow individual accounts for customers under 18. AOD vouchers do not apply to Uber Teen or Family profiles as rides must be booked on the adult rider’s personal profile.
Appeals may be submitted to the [email protected] email address and must specifically relate to the reasons for the suspension. Inclusion of receipts for trips is encouraged.
Payments
- RTD does not manage and cannot see the payment methods in your account.
- Any issues regarding payment should be addressed directly with the provider either through the app or via customer service. Contact information is available on specific provider pages.
- Tipping is encouraged, but it is not covered in the subsidy amount, it is billed to the customer’s payment method.
- Customers using Apple pay or Google Pay will see a temporary hold for the full amount of the trip. The hold will reverse in 3-5 business days. To avoid please use another form of payment.
- Customers should monitor their receipts as they travel (bank/card charges are not reflective of what is charged) to understand how payment was billed.
- All billing disputes should be communicated with the provider directly, either through the app/website, or where available, phone. RTD cannot intervene until the customer has attempted to resolve disputes through the app/with the provider directly. Submission of the documentation of that correspondence will be required.
- Qualified participants in RTD’s LiVE Program receive a 50% fare discount across the RTD service area—including Access-on-Demand and Access-a-Ride.
Complaints
- Use the provider’s app/website to submit any questions and concerns or contact our taxi providers through the contact numbers listed on their pages.
- In addition to the provider, complaints may also be submitted to customer care.
Updates
- All updates to customer information should be communicated via the enrollment form, including changes to
- Phone numbers.
- Email addresses.
- Updates to eligibility that take place after the original certification expiration date. (Access-on-Demand does not monitor customers undergoing the certification process).
- If there are program updates, RTD will post them on the website, or contact you through the email address provided upon enrollment.
- Ride share providers regularly update their apps, please set your apps to automatically update to ensure your app is current.
- If there is important information which RTD needs to share with all customers, we will add it to our outgoing message on our voicemail at 303-299-2530 and send out an interactive voice response (IVR) message. It is therefore important that you update the phone number in your Access-a-Ride profile when you update your phone number for Access-on-Demand.