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R Line emergency preparedness drill highlights importance of collaboration with partners | | Emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere. This is especially true for a transit agency such as RTD, with a service area that is roughly the size of Rhode Island. From weather-related events to power outages to vehicle malfunctions, it is important for the agency to be prepared for any scenario. That’s where emergency preparedness drills, such as the one that took place along the R Line on July 25, come into play. | | Reflections from RTD's ADA 35th anniversary celebration | | At RTD’s 35 Years of Progress celebration honoring the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), attendees reflected on how far the disability rights movement has come, and how much further it can go. Among them were three community members who shared their thoughtful insights on accessibility, advocacy and inclusion. Click the links below to review their observations and to learn more about the event. | | Click the thumbnail below to watch a special video reflecting on the 35th anniversary of the ADA and the special bus wrap shown in the photo above. | | In memoriam: former Director Marjorie Sloan | | | | RTD mourns the loss of former Director Marjorie Sloan, who died July 15 at age 80. Sloan was elected to the RTD Board of Directors in November 2020 and represented District M, which consists of parts of Lakewood and Wheat Ridge, as well as the entirety of Golden, through 2024. | | |
“Marjorie Sloan was my colleague, my mentor and my friend,” Director JoyAnn Ruscha said during July’s Board of Directors meeting. “Her favorite color was yellow, which I think is fitting because Marjorie brought warmth and light to every community she served.”
“My interactions with Marjorie were always kind, always positive, always empathetic, but always knowledgeable,” Board Chair Julien Bouquet said at the Board meeting. “She brought experience, rationality and acted as a great mentor to all of us who were new to this public service.”
If you would like to speak with someone about this loss, call RTD’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 1.877.237.3954. All affected employees are encouraged to reach out to their supervisor, mentor or another member of management to receive assistance.
| | RTD seeks four new members for the Citizens Advisory Committee | RTD is seeking community members who are interested in public transit issues and community engagement to apply for one of four available positions on the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The 17-member group advises the agency on RTD’s strategies, initiatives and transportation programs. | | RTD announces third round of Partnership Program pilot funding | RTD will award eight recipients with pilot funding as part of the agency’s third round of its Partnership Program. The eight pilot projects were selected to improve mobility for communities throughout the Denver metro area, in support of RTD’s mission of making lives better through connections. | | |
August service changes include adjustments for rail reconstruction, expansion of Downtown Boulder Station | RTD’s latest service changes take effect Sunday, Aug. 31. RTD is making changes to enhance reliability and connectivity of services, improve on-time performance and account for the next phase of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project. RTD’s service changes aim to enhance the overall transit experience by improving reliability and on-time performance of bus and rail services. |
| Every day across the Denver metro area, RTD employees are making lives better through connections. The agency is proud to spotlight our exceptional workforce who go above and beyond in their roles and embody RTD’s core values. Join us in celebrating colleagues who personify the values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration and ownership. | | N Line operator's safety, punctuality impresses customer | |
Compliments to our N Line operator, Rocky Bishop. Rocky knows the riders and gets us safely to our destination on time! Kudos, Rocky!
> Read more <
| | Light rail operator earns praise from customer for focus on safety | |
I would like to commend L Line operator Joseph Williams. He looked out for us and kept us safe. I appreciate him.
> Read more <
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Welcome to RTD's newest employees! | Thirty employees joined the agency at Monday’s orientation. Welcome aboard! We are glad you are here. | | |
Operator of the Month — August 2025: William Reiss | August's Operator of the Month is Boulder Division's William Reiss. Reiss was selected for his courtesy, professionalism and punctuality. As an operator for the Route AB2, he is responsible for getting his customers to and from the airport on time, something he does very well. His customers commend him for his willingness to listen to their questions and concerns and provide helpful solutions to make sure their needs are met. |
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Cindy Martinez
Manager, LRV Service and Cleaning (formerly Supervisor, Service and Cleaning)
Mhamed Bouqssim
Manager, Rail Quality Oversight (formerly Commuter Rail Inspector)
Jason Cathey
General Superintendent, Light Rail Transportation (formerly Train Operator)
Michael Robinson
Manager, Senior Technical Support Analyst (formerly Technical Support Analyst II)
William Platt
Supervisor, Drug and Alcohol Compliance (formerly Street Supervisor)
Any employees interested in similar opportunities in the future should visit RTD's Careers page.
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Best Dressed Operator of the Week: Carlos Blandin | This week's Best Dressed operator is operator-in-training Carlos Blandin, who is currently based out of District Shops! Even as an operator who is in training, Carlos is already on top of his game when it comes to repping the RTD look. |
| DCRL team expands its hours of operation | | On Monday, Customer Care’s Digital Customer Relations Liaison (DCRL) team expanded its hours of operation to 6 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekdays, and they will be available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and on certain holidays when RTD services are running on a regular schedule. This new schedule mirrors the Telephone Information Center (TIC)’s hours and will improve the consistency and quality of alerts for customers. With the addition of Saturday hours, the digital team will be more accessible for questions and concerns on the weekend. | | EEO to provide discrimination, harassment training in Spanish | |
Starting tomorrow, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) training will be offered in Spanish, a decision made as investigators have recognized that Spanish speakers are more comfortable discussing cases and learning about rights and responsibilities in their preferred language.
The training, which satisfies a non-supervisory employee's requirement to complete EEO training, will take place at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow in the maintenance break room at District Shops. Registration for the training is not required. Simply drop by the break room to participate.
Learn more about the training from an article in the Dec. 11, 2024, issue of Inside Connections by clicking the link below.
| | RTD Gives school supply drive: Thanks to all who took part! | Thanks to the incredible generosity and teamwork of RTD staff, the RTD Gives school supply drive was a major success! Together, we collected over 600 pounds of school supplies for A Precious Child’s Fill A Backpack program, helping local students start the school year confident and prepared. | | |
Wellbeing Connection: Routine checkups are crucial for a healthy life | |
Aug. 11 marks Annual Medical Checkup Day, a timely reminder of the importance of routine health exams. Scheduling a yearly wellness visit and staying on top of recommended screenings are key steps in catching health issues early, when treatment is often simpler and safer.
An annual physical is not just about labs and vitals; it is a chance to bring up any physical or mental health concerns; learn which screenings are appropriate based on one’s age, gender and medical history; and begin building a trusted relationship with a health care provider.
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Interested in presenting at Facts-n-Snacks? Spots are open for 2026 | |
Reservations are open for Facts-n-Snacks next year — and are filling fast! Share the good work your team does with the agency.
If you have a topic that you believe is of interest to RTD employees, email Senior Specialist, Public Relations Austin Nettleton (austin.nettleton@rtd-denver.com) to learn about availability for Facts-n-Snacks in 2026.
NOTE: All remaining 2025 sessions have been fully booked. Presenters interested in hosting a session this year can add their name to the waitlist by emailing Nettleton with their desired month.
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| Ro(a)deo Round-Up: Week of Aug. 4, 2025 | | As the 2025 Ro(a)deo season approaches, check here each week to learn the latest updates regarding this year's Light Rail, Snowplow and Bus Ro(a)deos! | | T-minus 10 days until the 2025 Light Rail Rodeo | | | | On Aug. 16, RTD’s best light rail operators, mechanics and service persons face off in a showdown of precision, detail and pure skill. Bring your entire family to Elati for a day filled with action, excitement and fun. Attendees will be able to enjoy activities and games, including Pop-A-Shot mini basketball and a mug slide challenge, photo booth, face painting, yard games and even a rail crossing simulator! | | For more details about the 2025 Light Rail Rodeo, including parking information, click the link below. | | Registration for 2025 Bus Roadeo side competitions is filling up fast | | |
| Spots are filling up for the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament and Auto and Bike Show! Get your basketball squad together and take on fellow colleagues on the court to settle who the best hoopers are at RTD once and for all. Additionally, wax and shine that car or bike and enter it into the Auto and Bike Show, where attendees will vote on their favorite winners for each category. Click the link below to register! |
| RTD has a number of solicitations currently underway at the agency or planned for the near future. To view and download current solicitations, see upcoming opportunities, and review pending and awarded contracts, follow the links below. | | | | Debra's Quote of the Week | |
"We must be treated as equals – and communication is the way we can bring this about."
— Louis Braille
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