Candace Smith named Chief Communications and Engagement Officer | | | | |
Smith most recently served as Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs and Strategic Communications at the University of Colorado Boulder. She joins the agency's Leadership Team in her new role Sept. 8.
Click the link below to read a memo from General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson regarding Smith’s appointment.
| | Community Ambassador Program launches to help shape transit's future | RTD is conducting a comprehensive operational analysis called RTD CONNECT, the Comprehensive Operations and Network Needs Evaluation for Community Transit. The program will develop short- and long-term service plans, creating a road map outlining how best to use available resources to meet the region’s transportation needs. As CONNECT enters the stakeholder and community engagement phase, the program team has introduced the RTD CONNECT Community Ambassador Program, an opportunity for individuals to serve as a vital link between RTD and residents, ensuring every community has a voice in shaping the region’s transit network. | | Wellbeing is a finalist for Champions of Well-being Emerging Leader Award | |
On Aug. 4, RTD was honored as one of three finalists for the Champions of Well-being Emerging Leader Award, given at the 2026 Health Links Annual Event: Embracing Change, Trust, and Adaptability. Health Links is a program of the Centers for Health, Work, & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health.
RTD was considered for this recognition among 67 organizations across 10 industries in four categories. The event took place at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
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Crews in the Downtown Loop Midblocks area continued drainage work along Stout Street. Between 14th and 15th streets, they installed a new storm sewer pipe and drain leading to a new catch basin. Work continued on drain utilities near 14th Street, while crews collaborated with the design team to ensure the new drainage system fits with existing infrastructure. Between 18th and 19th streets, installation continued of trench boxes for upcoming drainage work.
In the Colfax Avenue Alignment area, track slab construction and asphalt placement were completed at the Ninth Street crossing, which was reopened to vehicle traffic between Colfax Avenue and Champa Street following completion of full reconstruction at the crossing. Crews also continued rail and utility work along Colfax Avenue between Seventh and Ninth streets and advanced drainage and rail system utility work between Ninth and Kalamath streets.
| | 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 continues to impress customers with caring traits | I would like to commend operator Jessie Molina for being an outstanding driver. I have taken the FF1 and FF2 between Denver and Boulder hundreds of times per year for three years. | | Bus operator shows patience, kindness with confused customer | Our operator, Paris Evans, was not only an excellent driver but also so helpful and patient with me. I was really confused about where I was, and she really helped me understand how to get to my destination. | | 2026 Eno/MAX participants recognized at graduation | | At Blake Street on Friday, six RTD colleagues and 15 peers from Sound Transit in Seattle and the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in Charlotte, North Carolina, celebrated their completion of the curriculum for the Eno Center for Transportation’s MAX Program. In May, June, and August, participants spent a week at each agency in the cohort, where they toured the system, learned from peers, and met with counterparts to help develop a business case to be brought to their respective leadership teams. The RTD team will present their projects for consideration on Aug. 27. | | Keep an eye on Inside Connections next month for a full recap of participants’ experiences in the program and updates on their business projects. Colleagues taking part in the 2026 cohort are Srimathi Badri, Lead ERP Developer; Mhamed Bouqssim, Manager, Quality Management Systems (O&M); Laurie Huff, Internal and Executive Communications Manager; Mike Karol-Chik, Materials Handling and Purchasing Manager; Jim Neff, Principal, Operations Contract Oversight (Paratransit); and Kalee Wallace, Manager, Operations (Bus). They are facilitated by Learning and Training Specialist Mandi Singleton. | | Welcome to new employees, new roles and responsibilities | At yesterday’s orientation at Civic Center Plaza, 17 new employees joined the agency, and three colleagues transferred from represented to non-represented roles. Welcome aboard, and congratulations! | | |
Chris Gaul
Mechanical Engineer, Infrastructure (6 years)
Paul Lynn
Parts Clerk (10 years)
Terry McDowell
Certified Facilities Maintenance Mechanic (13 years)
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| Best Dressed Operators of the Week: Sherrie Robinson | | This week's best dressed operator is Sherrie Robinson from Platte Division! Thank you, Sherrie, for representing RTD in style! | | Registration for competitors, volunteers, and activities is open | |
Operators, mechanics, and service personnel can download their respective entry forms from the 2026 Ro(a)deos Hub page, then print, complete, and submit them to the point of contact listed on the form. Paratransit operators can obtain a form from their supervisor or manager.
Employees interested in volunteering can sign up through the registration link below.
In addition to registration opening for the competition and volunteers, registration is also open for the 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Teams must have a minimum of three and a maximum of five players to be eligible. Contracted employees are eligible to participate. To register a team, email Special Services Technician Chasity Mitchell (chasity.mitchell@rtd-denver.com) with a team name and completed roster by Sept. 14.
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In honor of National Dog Day, show off your furry friends! | Beat the dog days of summer by sending in photos of your pups for a special National Dog Day feature in next week’s edition of Inside Connections! Send your pictures to insideconnections@rtd-denver.com by close of business Monday, Aug. 24. |
| Shape Welton Street's future at virtual meeting next week | | As the City and County of Denver looks ahead to the future of Welton Street, staff want to hear from you! Whether you have operated a route or the L Line through Welton Street, live in the area, or simply visit often and want to provide feedback, tune in to the virtual community meeting 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, to help shape the future of the corridor. Click the link below to learn more and to register for the public meeting. | | 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 | |
“A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.”
— Serena Williams
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