A Line into the future: Reminiscing on 10 years of RTD's most successful rail line | | Ten years ago today, a new era of mobility arrived in the Denver metro area. With the launch of the A Line into revenue service, the distance between downtown and Denver International Airport suddenly felt shorter, faster, and more connected than ever before. What began as an ambitious vision quickly became a defining piece of the region’s identity, reshaping how people travel, work, and explore. | | Over the last decade, the A Line has carried millions of customers, fueled economic growth, and served as a powerful symbol of a region on the move. As RTD celebrates the line’s 10th anniversary, take a trip down memory lane to revisit how the A Line came to be and the milestones it achieved along the way. | |
As part of the celebration, take a look at some fun facts about the train that has carried millions of customers since opening day. | Media event recognizes the A Line's 10th anniversary | | This morning, customers, employees, and members of the media gathered near Track 7 at Union Station to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the A Line. Attendees heard remarks from General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson, Board Chair Patrick O'Keefe, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, and Project Manager and CEO of Denver Transit Partners Nate Morgan. These leaders highlighted the ongoing collaboration that occurs to deliver service, and they spoke to the value and connectivity this service provides the region. | | Happy National Administrative Professionals Day! | | |
Today, RTD shines a bright spotlight on the incredible administrative professionals who keep the agency moving forward every single day. You are the heartbeat of our teams and the steady hands that keep day-to-day operations running smoothly, often anticipating needs and solving challenges before anyone else sees them coming. Your passion, intelligence, and dedication show up in a thousand ways, big and small, and the entire agency is better because of you.
As former President Barack Obama once said, the secret to success is simple: “Just learn how to get things done.” That spirit perfectly captures each of you. Thank you for the energy, expertise, and reliability you bring to your work. The agency is grateful for your continued contributions toward making lives better through connections.
| | | Assistant manager positions and other roles within the Operations Department will be posted internally Friday to the Internal Jobs Hub on Workday. Click the link below to view open positions. |
| 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. | | Operator requests, waits for overflow bus to pick up customers unable to board | Our Route AB1 bus was nearly full, so our operator, Stuart Lanning, called another bus and waited to make sure it arrived, so no one would be late for their flights. He was a great communicator and made everyone feel at ease. | | Operator lowers bus to make it easy for customer to load bike on rack | I want to thank my operator, Chris Whiteside, for getting me home safe and on time from Boulder to Broomfield. I appreciate his thoughtfulness in lowering the bus so I can easily load my bike on the front rack. | | New affordable housing development opens in Five Points | | |
On Thursday, representatives from RTD attended the grand opening of The Hattie McDaniel community, a new affordable housing development built on land previously owned by the agency in the historic Five Points neighborhood, named in honor of the iconic Denverite. The singer and actress was the first African American to win an Academy Award.
The event was attended by community members, advocates, partners, and elected officials, including Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Denver City Councilmember Darrell Watson, and RTD Board Member Michael Guzman, as well as representatives from the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA), the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), the Denver Department of Housing Stability (HOST), the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), and Elevation Community Land Trust (ECLT). Members of the development and design teams were also present, including KTGY (architect), Brinkmann Constructors (general contractor), and developer Jeff Shanahan of Shanahan Development.
"This is an excellent example of how state, local, and regional partners can come together with private and nonprofit partners to deliver meaningful, lasting solutions to our community's housing needs," Director of Real Estate Lauren Cely said.
Guzman spoke to the importance of public-private partnerships in making projects like this possible. RTD's contribution, which was a ground lease of the former parking lot at 29th and Welton streets, was instrumental in enabling the Transit Oriented Development team to deliver 62 permanently affordable for-sale condos for the community.
Click the link below to learn more about the new housing development.
| | Work begins on sustainable landscaping at Union Station | | |
As RTD recognizes Earth Day today, the agency also began a six-week project at the light rail platform at Denver Union Station by installing new sustainable gardens. The landscape improvements are part of the agency’s commitment to improving the quality of service by continuously renewing, enhancing, and expanding the transit system. The work, which started in the teardrop-shaped planters near Chestnut Pavilion, includes replacing existing landscaping materials; planting trees; installing mulch, boulders and planters; and repairing irrigation systems.
”Station renewal is just one of many ways in which we are Building a Better RTD and reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering an exceptional experience for every customer,” RTD Deputy CEO Angel Peña said. This project will continue weekdays through the end of May.
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Best Dressed Operator of the Week: Haileselassie Gebretsadkan | This week’s best dressed operator is Haileselassie Gebretsadkan from East Metro! Looking fresh, Haileselassie! | | |
New Language Help decals are being installed on RTD's buses | | | | RTD is installing new Language Help decals across its fixed-route bus fleet, including on contracted vehicles, to make it easier for operators to assist customers who speak languages other than English. The decals provide a quick, accessible way for customers to find transit information in their preferred language. | | A greener future: Business support turns printer ink into trees | | | | Today is Earth Day, a date dedicated to celebrating nature, conservation, and bringing awareness to the impacts modern-day society has on the environment. By virtue of being a public transit agency, RTD plays a major role in reducing carbon emissions and protecting the environment for the millions who live in the metro area. | | For East Metro business support Dillon Colagrosso, conservation and environmentalism extend beyond reducing carbon emissions; they also include an understanding of how improper disposal of a printer ink cartridge can do irreparable damage to the environment. Colagrosso is working with the nonprofit organization Cartridge Forest to turn his division’s ink cartridges into trees. | | Next week: Learn how to be a standout internal candidate | |
Join members of the Talent Acquisition team as they share tips and resources on how to apply for a new role within RTD at this month’s Facts-n-Snacks, taking place April 28-30.
Dates, times, location information, and links to register for each session are below. Please email Senior Specialist, Public Relations Austin Nettleton (austin.nettleton@rtd-denver.com) if you have any questions.
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Session 1:
2 p.m.
Tuesday, April 28
In-person, District Shops, LoDo classroom
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Session 2:
2 p.m.
Wednesday, April 29
Virtual, Microsoft Teams
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Session 3:
10 a.m.
Thursday, April 30
Virtual, Microsoft Teams
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From Safety and Environmental Compliance: The importance of reporting safety concerns at facilities | |
RTD’s stations and public areas see constant activity, which means small issues can appear at any time, such as wet floors, loose tiles, burned-out lights, and overflowing trash.
Individually, these issues may not seem urgent, but for the next person who walks through that area, they can become a real hazard. Most slips and falls don’t happen without warning. The hazard was there; it just wasn’t reported.
Facilities Maintenance teams can only address issues they know about. Reporting safety concerns, no matter how small, turn a hidden risk into something that can be fixed.
What to do:
If you see an issue at any RTD facility:
- Don’t assume it’s been reported
- Don’t assume someone else will handle it
- Take a minute and report it
The next person to encounter it could be a coworker or a customer. Remember, the hazard you walk past is the one someone else walks into.
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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 | |
"In our life there is a single color, as on an artist's palette, which provides the meaning of life and art. It is the color of love."
— Marc Chagall
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| What did you think of this edition of Inside Connections? | | | | |
Need to report a concern with a vehicle, bus route, rail line or customer facility? Fill out the OneRTD Care Reporting Form by clicking the link below. |
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