At a Glance

The Regional Transportation District was created in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly to develop, operate, and maintain a mass transportation system for the benefit of 3.08 million people in RTD's service area. The 2,342 square miles district serves all or part of eight counties:

  • Boulder
  • Broomfield
  • Denver
  • Jefferson
  • Western Adams
  • Western Arapahoe
  • Northern Douglas
  • Weld

RTD’s governing body is a 15-member elected Board of Directors, with each director elected by district for a four-year term. Each director district contains approximately 180,000 residents.

2021 Agency Profile and Facts
 

SERVICE overview

  • Service Area population: 3.08 million
  • Cities and towns served: 40 municipalities in 6 counties plus 2 city/county jurisdictions
  • Square miles in service area: 2,342 square miles
  • Weekday regular fixed-route scheduled miles: 135,495 (includes bus, rail, Free MallRide, Free MetroRide)
  • Annual regular fixed-route service miles operated: 35,550,924 (includes rail)
  • Active bus stops: 9,750 (average daily)
  • Park-n-Ride facilities: 96 with 36,021 parking spaces
  • Total number of regular fixed routes: 143
    • Commuter Rail: 4
    • Light Rail: 8
    • Local: 86
    • Limited: 14
    • Regional: 23
    • SkyRide: 3

    • Misc: 5  (Free MallRide, Free MetroRide, Englewood Trolley, Boulder’s HOP, and Senior Shopper)

SPECIALized bus SERVICES

  • Access-a-Ride
  • FlexRide (23 Service Routes)
  • Van Pool (DRCOG Commuter Services)

ACTIVE BUS FLEET

  • Total buses (all are wheelchair lift-equipped): 1,026
  • RTD-owned and operated: 593
  • RTD-owned, operated by private carriers: 493
  • Peak-hour buses required: 8:08 a.m., 8:41 p.m.
  • Average age of fleet: 7.42 years (revenue)
  • Annual diesel fuel consumption  (RTD-operated buses only): 3.79 million gallons (Jan 1. to Dec. 31, 2020)
  • Access-a-Ride cutaways: 310
  • FlexRide cutaways: 63

RAIL

Light rail

  • Total vehicles: 201
  • Miles of track: 60.1
  • Stations: 57

Commuter rail

  • Total vehicles: 66
  • Miles of track: 61.35
  • Active Stations: 22

Rail Station Activity: May to August 2019

RIDERSHIP

2020

  • Annual boardings: 52,616,640
  • Bus boardings: 32,932,508
  • Access-a-Ride: 332,758
  • Rail boardings:
  • Light rail: 10,464,678
  • Commuter rail: 4,954,167

2019

Annual boardings

  • Bus boardings: 59,685,633
  • Access-a-Ride: 853,936
  • Rail boardings:
  • Light rail: 24,585,300
  • Commuter rail: 9,711,377

2018

  • Annual boardings: 97,606,769

FINANCIALS

Total Operating Budget

  • 2021: $629.4 million
  • 2020: $739.7 million
  • 2019: $743.3 million
  • 2018: $675.5 million

Budgeted number of RTD employees

  • Salaried: 827
  • Represented: 1,815
  • Total: 2,642

Private Contractor Employees

  • Fixed route: 953
  • Paratransit  (ADA & FlexRide): 655
Updated September 2023