RTD selects Patrick Preusser as Chief Operations Officer | | | | Patrick Preusser was selected following a national search and brings more than 28 years of experience at major U.S. transit systems and in cities around the world. Over the course of his career, he has been recognized for fostering strong relationships, uniting diverse teams, and guiding organizations through growth, change and complex service environments. He will join RTD on Tuesday, Sept. 2. | | Click the link below to read a memo from General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson announcing Preusser’s appointment yesterday. | | Next phase of Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project to begin next month near Colfax at Auraria Station | |
RTD will begin the next phase of the light rail track reconstruction work in downtown Denver on Sept. 2 to replace aging rail infrastructure and maintain the long-term integrity of its transit network. This year’s work, to extend through late November, will involve reconstructing the light rail crossing near the intersection of Kalamath Street and Colfax Avenue.
The work is part of a multi-year, $152 million project to reconstruct miles of light rail track in downtown Denver, the first project of this magnitude in RTD’s history. During the initial phase, which took place in 2024, crews reconstructed five intersections in the Downtown Loop.
| | First national report on drug use on transit systems reflects insights from RTD | In summer 2024, RTD and four peer agencies in other major U.S. cities were invited to take part in the first national report on drug use on America’s public transit systems. The research, commissioned by the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) and funded by the Federal Transit Administration, has been published and is being circulated nationally this week. RTD will distribute more details about agency-specific findings in the coming days. Click the link below to review the report in full. | | During a service change, 'dispatch is the heartbeat of RTD operations' | In a dark room inside District Shops, filled with glowing monitors and flashing icons, RTD’s bus dispatchers diligently keep the system moving. Their work is constant, managing calls, tracking buses in real time, and coordinating with operators and street supervisors – and so much more. Their knowledge becomes especially critical during service changes, like those that take effect Sunday, when new routes and schedules can challenge even the most experienced drivers. | | FM staff face off, showcase skills at 2025 Snowplow Roadeo | | Friday was a good day for friendly competition – and the 13 teams of Facilities Maintenance colleagues facing off in the 23rd Snowplow Roadeo took to the back lot at District Shops with energy and focus. Competitors completed diagnostic and written tests, followed by a driving test that evaluated their skill in navigating obstacles throughout a coned course. | | Visit new internal Linktree to keep up to date on progress, details around Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project | The RTD (Rail Projects) Bulletin is employees’ one-stop shop for all the latest news and updates surrounding the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project, scheduled to resume in September. Access news, updates and internal resources to stay informed as the project progresses. Click the link below to access the Linktree, and bookmark and save it to your device’s home screen for easy access. |
| Gary Welch, Rail Equipment Engineer/Supervisor (20 years) | | | | “I’ve been with RTD for 20 years. I started my career as a bus driver at Platte Division, where I worked for about six months before an opportunity came up at Light Rail for an electro mechanic. I applied, took the test and passed. I spent 10 years as an electro mechanic before moving into engineering, which was something I had always wanted to do because I like drawing, building and creating." | | 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's professionalism is the best that customer has ever seen | Your 16th Street FreeRide driver Marco Antonio Reyes-Nava demonstrated great care and respect. I am an international traveler, and this was the best performance I have seen from a bus driver on six continents. | | Bus operator treats customer, service dog with kindness and respect | I want to give an employee commendation for the operator of bus No. 1683, Tawny Alvarez. The operator is really nice and accommodating. She deployed the ramp for me with no issues. I have my service dog with me, and she informed me of a spill on the floor so we could avoid it. | | |
Directors visit Bus Operations to observe morning pull-outs | | Early Friday morning, while most of the region was still asleep, eight RTD Board members toured Platte Division to watch bus after bus pull out for the day. During a visit led by General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson and supported by leaders from Bus Operations, they observed what it takes for so many of our dedicated colleagues to stage hundreds of buses across the Denver metro area every morning. During this behind-the-scenes look, the directors also engaged with colleagues who clean and maintain the fleet overnight. Employees pictured are Maintenance Operating Division Manager Kevin Prior and bus operator Laszlo Pados. Directors taking part in the tour included Chris Nicholson, Chris Gutschenritter, Kathleen Chandler, Julien Bouquet, Patrick O’Keefe, Karen Benker, Ian Harwick and Brett Paglieri. | | GM/CEO participates in Park on the Pit at Light Rail Rodeo | | |
At the Aug. 16 event, General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson hopped into the operator’s seat to park a train as close as possible to an egg taped to the track above the pit on the maintenance floor at Elati. Click the thumbnail above to view her attempt.
Missed the event, or want to relive it? Head over to the 2025 Ro(a)deos page on the Hub to check out photos and videos from the event, including many new ones that were recently added to the gallery!
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Murad Abdalla
Bus Operator
Andinet Buche
Bus Operator
Mihretu Desta
Bus Operator
Marvin Harris
Bus Operator
Leon Jeffares-Whitehead
Bus Operator
Jamie Montoya
Bus Operator
Victor Ali Rodriguez Garcias
Bus Operator
Ousmane Samake
Bus Operator
Mulugeta Zemichael
Bus Operator
Solomon Alemayehum
Bus Operator
Robert Avila
Bus Operator
Fitsum Aydiko
Bus Operator
Tania Borjas
Bus Operator
Axel Donohoo
Bus Operator
Yonas Gebrekristos
Bus Operator
Jeremey Hall
Bus Operator
Anna Hiatt
Bus Operator
Hassan Husen
Bus Operator
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Jayce Blanchette
Train Operator
Aron Blanks
Train Operator
Joseph Erhardt
Train Operator
Christopher Hagen
Train Operator
Brenden Lightfoot
Train Operator
Chantel Padilla
Train Operator
Johnny Torres
Train Operator
Ethan Lopez
General Repair Mechanic
Jeremy Andrews
Service Worker
Jamie Medina
Service Worker
Cesar Mora
Service Vault Puller
Michael Claiborn
Transit Police Officer
Anthony Raber
Transit Police Officer
Katherine Stokes
Transit Police Detective
Jorge Villegas
Transit Police Detective
Buster Whitley
Transit Police Detective
Jonathon Wagner
Transit Police Cadet
DeOnte Kinney
Bus Operator
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Timothy Tyran
Director of Safety and Environmental Compliance/Chief Safety Officer
Jason Cathey
General Superintendent, Rail Transportation
Stephanie Barnard
Paratransit Supervisor
Adan Cazares
Service and Cleaning Supervisor
Sharleen Maier
Business Support
Kantha Chandra
Senior Software Engineer, Workday
Andrew Tufts
ServiceNow Developer
Alexandra Neira Medina
Discount Program Market Development Supervisor
Juan Monclova
Information Governance Analyst
Johnathan Carey
Electronic Technician, Revenue Systems
Dereje Kitaw
Electronic Technician, Revenue Systems
Mototal Seleshi
Bus Operator
Johnea Brooks
Bus Operator
Michael Workcuff
Bus Operator
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Best Dressed Operator of the Week: Michelle Coates | This week's Best Dressed operator is Boulder Division's Michelle Coates! Thanks, Michelle, for representing RTD with impeccable style. |
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Join members of Capital Programs, Facilities Maintenance, and Safety and Environmental Compliance at Facts-n-Snacks this week. They are taking a deep dive into a new procedure outlining how the agency manages changes to physical infrastructure, such as highlighting what physical infrastructure is, identifying what changes require a committee review, and classification for managing infrastructure changes.
Click below to access both virtual meeting invites, for 2 p.m. tomorrow and noon Friday.
| | From Cybersecurity: Be aware of malvertising | Most websites feature some sort of advertising, such as ad banners on the side of the page or a video playing within the page itself. These ads can grab attention with outrageous claims, promotions or promises of free products. Some ads are based on past browsing history, making you even more likely to click. | | Tune in today to August's OneRTD Operator Graduation Ceremony | Thirty-one bus operators, 12 light rail operators and three N Line conductors will graduate at noon today in the atrium inside RTD headquarters, with a reception to follow in the T&D Conference Room. Click the link below to watch the livestream. | | Do you use RTD pool cars? Annual non-revenue vehicle and personal use authorization form, training due Sept. 15 | | | | Employees who use non-revenue vehicles (NRVs) are required to complete the annual non-revenue vehicle and personal use authorization form, linked below, on the Hub in order to reserve and use RTD pool cars and other NRVs. | | |
New employees, as well as those who have not reserved a non-revenue vehicle or pool car before, are required to complete three special online training courses. These courses are available on the non-revenue vehicle Hub page and do not need to be retaken once completed. Employees who are unsure if they have completed the training can verify their status by going to their Workday account and clicking on "Learning History" under the "Career" tab.
Once the form has been submitted, the training results will be verified and the employee's motor vehicle record will be reviewed, pending employee authorization. Motor vehicle record authorization is required in order to use RTD vehicles. The authorization form and training must be completed by Sept. 15.
Questions can be sent to Supervisor, DOT Compliance and Office Services Beth Roybal (beth.roybal@rtd-denver.com).
| | 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 | |
"It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent."
— Madeleine Albright
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