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RTD launches fourth round of Partnership Program funding to support community transit needs | | |
RTD today is releasing its 2026 Call for Projects for participation in the agency’s Partnership Program, with $6 million available annually over a three-year period. Funding will be available for the years 2027-2029 for projects determined to help enhance local mobility.
The Partnership Program provides opportunities for local governments and transportation management associations/organizations (TMA/Os) within RTD’s service area to apply for funding for services or enhancements that complement existing transit services or fill a transit need.
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| | COO announces leadership appointments in Operations | |
On Friday, Chief Operations Officer Patrick Preusser sent a memo to all Operations employees detailing several recent leadership selections across the Operations Department. He announced the following appointments:
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Erik Wright, Director, Regional Operations Center (Operations)
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Jason Cathey, Director, Training & Quality Systems (O&M)
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Julie Kirk, Director, Contracted Services & Business Operations (O&M)
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Erin Vallejos, Director, Paratransit (O&M)
Click the link below to read the memo.
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| RTD releases preliminary 2025 financial results, receives credit rating affirmation from S&P | | | | RTD’s preliminary, unaudited 2025 financial results indicate a 17% year-over-year revenue growth, totaling $1.3 billion revenue. The agency’s financial position is strengthened by investment income and continued grant performance contributing to financial progress and disciplined management across the organization. | | Customer boardings remain stable, although reduced from 2019 levels, due to enduring fully remote and hybrid work schedules that began in 2020 and impact total boardings and fare revenue. However, RTD’s sales and use tax revenue mitigates reliance on fares solely for overall revenue. While the agency is operating at a deficit during a multi-year adjustment cycle, the agency is focused on long-term sustainability as a provider of critical transit resources across the service area. | | |
From Cybersecurity: Stay safe from Service Desk impersonation | |
Cyberattackers are getting better at pretending to be trustworthy people. One common tactic cyberattackers use involves posing as Service Desk or Information Technology (IT) support. These messages often feel real because they seem helpful or urgent.
Learn how these scams usually work and how you can stay safe.
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Lauren Cely joins RTD as Director of Real Estate | |
Capital projects and real estate development leader Lauren Cely has been appointed RTD’s Director of Real Estate, a newly created position within the realigned structure of the Deputy CEO’s Office announced in March.
Cely – whose last name is pronounced “SELL-e” – began her career with RTD on Monday and will be housed on the seventh floor of Civic Center Plaza. She will report to Deputy CEO Angel Peña.
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| Community partners, RTD host East Colfax BRT artist event | | |
Community members gathered March 25 at Champagne Tiger on East Colfax Avenue for an event introducing Lui Ferreyra, the artist selected to design artwork for three stations along the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.
Hosted by Denver Arts and Venues, the Colfax Ave Business Improvement District, Lavender Hill Cultural District, and the East Colfax BRT project team, the Meet the Artist event offered attendees an opportunity to learn about Ferreyra’s
vision for the Pennsylvania, Hudson, and Unita BRT station art installations. RTD supported the event by providing information on its role in the East Colfax BRT project and transit services it offers in the corridor, and by hosting an interactive art activity designed to reflect the community’s connection to Colfax.
| | 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. | | Bus operator provides onboard US 36•Table Mesa Station construction updates | Operator Deb Sclar has been a really friendly driver on the Route FF4, keeping the bus running on time and giving helpful updates on the construction at Table Mesa Park-n-Ride. It's really refreshing to have a driver who enjoys helping us commute, so thank you, Deb! | | Bus operator uses professionalism to ensure teenagers remain safe | Operator Richard Paiz is one of the best drivers I have had in a long time. Teenagers were playing around in the street, attempting to mess with the bus as it was approaching the stop. Paiz corrected the teenagers in a very professional and courteous manner about their behavior before allowing them onto the bus. | | RTD moves thousands of fans to and from Denver Summit FC inaugural home match, planned demonstration downtown | | |
Thousands of customers moved through Denver Union Station on Saturday as RTD supported two major events: a record-breaking match of Denver’s new women’s soccer team, Denver Summit FC, and an estimated 10,000 people traveling to a planned demonstration downtown. This combination of events contributed to one of the busiest Saturdays of the year for the agency.
Communications and Engagement’s Brandon Figliolino and Gabriel Martinez organized a tailgate at Union Station ahead of Denver Summit’s first game at Empower Field at Mile High, welcoming fans and promoting Tap-n-Ride as an easy option for purchasing transit fares. Impact Team members Dave Sokol, Moudupe Aquai, Maria Rouco, Betsy Hinojosa, and Mandi Singleton helped guide travelers through the busy hub as crowds arrived throughout the afternoon at Denver Union Station and Empower Field at Mile High Station.
| | Full recording is available for Women’s History Month panel | |
As detailed last week, the Civil Rights Division hosted a panel discussion celebrating Women’s History Month and featuring perspectives from three leaders from across the agency: Manager of Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering Jessica Guardia, Civil Rights Division Director Kellie Irving, and Director of Talent and Organizational Development Dr. Melissa McDowell. The discussion was moderated by General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson.
Want to listen in on the insights shared during this event? Click the thumbnail above to view a recording of the panel in its entirety.
| | Welcome to RTD's newest employees! | | Joining the agency at Monday’s orientation were Maintenance/Sign Out Clerk Shaneka Jackson, bus operator trainees Frankale Christian and Akililu Balilo, and Director of Real Estate Lauren Cely. Welcome aboard! | | |
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April’s Operator of the Month is Michelle Coates from Boulder Division! Coates was chosen for her positive attitude and professionalism that create a lasting impression on her customers and colleagues alike. One such example involved a customer whose car broke down, requiring a wait at a bus stop that is not as visible as the usual stop. Despite this, Coates still managed to see the customer waiting at the stop and pulled over to allow the individual to board, which made the customer’s rough day better.
Since April 2025, Coates has received nine customer commendations, two of which have come this year!
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Charles Eberling
Supervisor, Mobile Technologies Group (formerly MTG Systems Administrator)
Any employees interested in similar opportunities in the future should visit RTD's Careers page.
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| Cybersecurity Awareness Training begins today | | |
RTD’s annual cybersecurity training is now open. The course teaches employees how to use agency devices safely, protect their digital identity, recognize cyber threats, and report incidents quickly. It also explains RTD’s data classification levels and gives clear guidance for using approved artificial intelligence tools the right way.
This training helps the agency keep its technology, people, and customers safe. It supports RTD's mission to make lives better through connections by maintaining a reliable, trusted transit system.
Employees who use RTD computers or technology resources should have received an email earlier today with instructions to access the training on their assigned platform. The course, required for all employees who received the email, takes about 45 minutes to complete and is due April 30. Reminder emails will be sent closer to the deadline to those who have not completed the training.
Learn more and find training links on the Cybersecurity Awareness and Training page on the Hub.
Questions or need help with the training? Please email CSAware@Training.RTD-Denver.com.
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From Safety and Environmental Compliance: Reporting hazards and near misses | |
Most incidents start small, such as a loose handrail, oil on the floor, a tool left where someone can trip, a door that does not latch, or equipment that feels off during a pre-use check. These small signals will show up before someone gets hurt.
Hazard and near-miss reporting help catch those signals early. A simple report gives supervisors and safety staff a chance to fix the issue before the next shift runs into the same problem. One report can prevent an injury.
Reporting hazards and near misses helps the agency by:
- Protecting coworkers and removing hazards to keep the next person safe.
- Improving equipment and processes. Safety reports show where systems break down.
- Spotting patterns early. Multiple reports about the same issue reveal larger risks.
Everyone sees different parts of the operation during the day. Operators, mechanics, cleaners, supervisors, and support staff all notice things others miss. Speaking up closes that gap.
A safe workplace depends on people who notice problems and report them.
Takeaway for today: See something unsafe? Report the hazard or near miss. Early reporting prevents injuries and keeps the system running safely.
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| First wave of employee pulse surveys coming this month | | | | In response to employee feedback about surveys, RTD is launching a new employee pulse survey designed to gather timely, meaningful feedback throughout the year using a shorter and more concise survey tool. To ensure a fair and representative process, a random selection of employees will be invited to participate during the month of April. | | |
If you are randomly selected to participate, you will receive communication in your RTD mailbox with instructions, including a QR code to take the survey online or information on how to request a paper copy. While participation is completely voluntary, we strongly encourage you to share your voice. Your insights help RTD continuously improve the employee experience and will provide valuable feedback as we navigate the Agency Optimization Plan.
If you do not receive an invitation to participate in this round, you may receive one during our next survey, which we hope to administer later in the year. Additionally, all employees are welcome to provide open feedback at any time by emailing thoughts, concerns, and questions to Questions@rtd-denver.com.
If you wish to know more about the sampling methodology used this year in the survey selection, click the link below.
Thank you in advance to everyone who is selected and chooses to participate.
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From Wellbeing: How to get ready for retirement | Each April, the U.S. Social Security Administration promotes a public awareness campaign to help Americans understand their benefits, plan for retirement, and protect accounts from fraud. It’s never too early to start planning for retirement, which includes learning more about what one can expect for Social Security benefits, checking retirement accounts, and speaking with a financial planner. Don’t know where to start? Consider speaking with RTD’s Empower representative or take part in a free consultation with a financial planner through RTD’s EAP program, GuidanceResources. |
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Rounds three and four have wrapped up, and the fallout extends well beyond the hardwood, as many employees participating in the RTD College Basketball Tournament Bracket Challenge saw their picks for this year’s champions, as well as what remained of their brackets, in ashes.
Here’s how things stand in the top 10 heading into the final two rounds of the tournament:
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Kyle Mahanes (1010 points, University of Arizona)
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Kyle Cizenski (950 points, University of Arizona)
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Gerry Suazo (840 points, University of Michigan)
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Nick Campbell (830 points, University of Arizona)
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Austin Nettleton (830 points, University of Illinois)
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Brad Maier (810 points, Duke University*)
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John Grygorcewicz (810 points, Duke University*)
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Erica Kruk (790 points, University of Arizona)
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Tami Redmond (790 points, University of Michigan)
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Jennie Waski (770 points, University of Arizona)
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Mahanes leapfrogs Cizenski for the top spot in the challenge, while Suazo rocketed himself from outside the top 10 last week into third place, thanks to a strong showing from his picks. Nettleton’s streak of luck with his questionable choice of the University of Illinois cutting down the nets continues, tied with Campbell, heading into the final week of the challenge.
The Final Four tips off Saturday, with UConn taking on the University of Illinois at 4 p.m., with the battle of the No. 1 seeds, University of Michigan and University of Arizona, tipping off at 6:30 p.m. on TBS and truTV. Two teams will advance to the National Championship next Monday, and only one RTD employee will be crowned as the inaugural bracket challenge champion. Who will it be? Check back in next week’s Inside Connections to find out.
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| 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 | |
"Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change."
— Brené Brown
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| What did you think of this edition of Inside Connections? | | | | |
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