| | As 2025 comes to a close and we approach the start of a new year, I extend my deepest gratitude, appreciation, and respect to Team RTD for the meaningful contributions you have made in service of others. At every turn and in every corner of the agency, this year brought tremendous opportunities and challenges requiring creativity, flexibility, and collaboration. Each of you showed up and showed out, exemplifying what it means to lead with a OneRTD mindset. | | RTD announces Lili Tran as Chief People Officer | | | | Lili Tran brings more than 30 years of experience in human resources involving public service, public safety, and nonprofit sectors, primarily in Denver and Colorado Springs. She has extensive experience in highly regulated, public-facing, unionized environments, and a proven record of strengthening skilled workforces and building productive labor partnerships. Tran will officially join RTD on Jan. 5. | | |
Transit Police and Bus Operations help deliver "Shop with a Cop" event | This holiday season, RTD Bus Operations and Transit Police partnered with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office for its “Shop with a Cop” event on Dec. 16. The holiday event aimed to bring joy to children from disadvantaged families and provide them with an opportunity to select toys, clothing, and other essential items their families may otherwise not be able to afford during the season. |
|
Normal E, H line light rail service resumes following repairs to Yale bridge | RTD is operating E and H line trains on both sets of tracks and has resumed 15-minute service frequencies throughout the Southeast Corridor following completion yesterday of approximately four weeks of emergency repairs to the Yale Street bridge. Trains will continue on those schedules during remaining non-critical aesthetic work. |
| Carl Green Jr. to step down as Civil Rights Division Director | | | | Civil Rights Director Carl Green Jr., who joined RTD in 2021, is departing the agency after Friday, Feb. 6, to join Sound Transit in Seattle as Director of Civil Rights Compliance within the agency’s Civil Rights, Equity and Inclusion department. He is making this near-term career decision to best support his family. | | Green has been an invaluable member of RTD. During his tenure, he led the development of the Equity Prioritization Guide for the agency’s Asset Management Plan, ensuring equity was added as part of the prioritization for asset-related investments. Green oversaw RTD’s inaugural Zero Fare for Transit Equity Day, and he served as the deputy project manager for both the Fare Study and Equity Analysis and the Bus Stop Infrastructure Accessibility Assessment Project. He directed the launch of the RTD-branded Diversity Spotlight program. Green is most proud to have stood with and beside his teammates in the Civil Rights Division over the past few years. | A national search has launched for this critical agency position. The job posting is available for review on RTD’s Careers webpage. | Carl Green Jr., pictured center on the bottom row, stands with his Civil Rights team. | | In memoriam: Susan Rainey, street supervisor | | | | |
RTD mourns the death of street supervisor Susan Rainey, who died Dec. 17. Rainey joined the agency in May 2019.
In a memo sent Monday to all employees, Acting Chief People Officer Dr. Melissa McDowell noted how Rainey made a positive impact on others.
| | |
“She was a kindhearted person, dedicated to her family, and was very friendly with everyone she encountered,” McDowell said in the memo. “Susan always had a smile on her face, was always positive, and her presence made a positive impact on everyone who had the privilege of working with her.”
To speak with someone about this loss, call RTD’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 1.800.284.1819. Employees in Bus Operations are also invited to seek support from General Superintendent of Street Operations Tim Lucero at 303.299.6928. All impacted employees are encouraged to reach out to their supervisor, mentor, or another member of management to receive assistance.
|
| 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 receives shining praise from customer | I just wanted to let you know your operator Samyog Ojha is awesome. I always have to use my wheelchair, and he is always so helpful. He is truly wonderful, and he should be recognized. He always comes on time, does the right thing, and is an amazing guy. | | Bus operator impresses customer with kindness, skill, timeliness while on route | Operator Tasha Clavo picked me up near Downing Street and Bruce Randolph Avenue. She was nice and waited for everyone to sit down before moving. She even safely avoided a bike wheel in the road after I pointed it out. She was so kind and patient with me. She got me to 38th•Blake Station right on time. | | Planning employee Susan Wood appointed to fill city council vacancy in Wheat Ridge | | Photo credit: City of Wheat Ridge (via Facebook) | | Photo credit: City of Wheat Ridge (via Facebook) | | |
Earlier this month, Planning Project Manager II Susan Wood was appointed to fill the vacancy for District III on Wheat Ridge’s city council. Her appointment comes after receiving a majority of votes following a public application and interview process to fill a vacancy left by current mayor Korey Stites.
“I feel honored and so very fortunate to have the opportunity to serve the community where I have lived since moving to Colorado over 30 years ago,” Wood said. “During that time, Wheat Ridge has gone from a nice place to live to a dynamic place to live. I am excited to be able to be part of moving Wheat Ridge forward.”
| | Colleagues gather to celebrate the retirement of parts clerk Gwen Baldwin, body shop technician Floyd Shafer, and sign out clerk Pamela Johnson | | |
Last Friday, staff at District Shops celebrated the retirements of longtime employees Gwen Baldwin, Floyd Shafer, and Pamela Johnson.
Baldwin, pictured middle in the first photo and in the second photo, was a parts clerk who had been with the agency for over 25 years. Shafer, pictured right in the first photo, was a body shop technician who had been with RTD for 16 years. Johnson, pictured right in the third photo with technical training instructor/supervisor Jon Paul Mitchell (pictured left), was a sign out clerk who had been with RTD for over 40 years.
All three were given commemorative gifts recognizing their many years of service to the agency. Presenting the gifts in the first photo was Manager of Bus Maintenance Orlo Petersen, pictured left. Employees gathered to congratulate Baldwin, Shafer, and Johnson on their retirement while enjoying cake and light refreshments. RTD wishes Baldwin, Shafer, and Johnson well in their retirement!
| | Teams across RTD celebrate the holiday season, staff retirements together | | |
This holiday season, teams across RTD held get-togethers and celebrations as 2025 comes to a close. Pictured above are photos of celebrations from Civil Rights Division, East Metro, General Counsel, and Light Rail Transportation and Maintenance.
Click the link below to view a photo gallery of this season's holiday gatherings, including more photos from the teams mentioned above, as well as others from Light Rail Maintenance, Light Rail Maintenance Of Way, Capital Programs, and Boulder Division.
| | |
In addition to East Metro's holiday gathering, the team took the opportunity to recognize operators Britton Goldberg, Anthony Mack, and Jorge Moreno, all of whom entered retirement.
Pictured below, in the first picture, is Goldberg (right) and East Metro's Manager, Transit Operating Division Daniel Seifert (left); in the second photo is Mack (right) and East Metro's Assistant Manager, Transit Operating Division Mark Krone (left); and in the third photo is Moreno (left) and Seifert (right).
| | |
Welcome to RTD's newest employees | |
Fifteen employees joined the agency Monday at the final orientation of the year. Welcome aboard!
Editor's note: A photo of this week's new employee class was not available at the time this issue of Inside Connections was produced.
|
| Best Dressed Operator of the Week: Frederick Esnault | This week's best dressed operator is Frederick Esnault from East Metro! Frederick knows that looking fresh is part of the job, and he does it very well. | | |
HAZWOPER training for salaried employees begins next month | |
The RTD Safety and Environmental team will be presenting Environmental Management and Hazardous Material Program training, also known as HAZWOPER courses, in 2026.
The hourlong courses will be required for all salaried employees and offered through a Workday module. Eligible employees will receive an email from the RTD Environmental team and a Workday notification when the module is available in January 2026. The completion of the module will be due by Dec. 31, 2026.
The training will also be made available in an equivalent format through in-person offerings on the last Tuesday of each month in the LoDo room at District Shops. Registration for in-person sessions can be completed in Workday by searching for “Environmental Management and Hazardous Material Program RTD HAZWOPER – LIVE Version.”
This training offers the participant opportunities to learn about common hazardous materials that are stored and used at RTD, safety plans and best management practices for working around hazardous materials, an RTD environmental compliance overview, and when and how to report hazardous material incidents.
Training attendance will be tracked in Workday, and refresher courses will be developed for the future.
The Environmental team is working to introduce additional in-person offerings at different RTD facility locations. Email the team (environmental@rtd-denver.com) to request a special in-person offering at your facility or to ask questions.
|
| RTD sees increase in 16th Street FreeRide boardings following reopening | The agency recorded approximately 252,000 boardings in October 2025, when end-to-end service officially resumed along the 1.25-mile corridor between Denver Union Station and Civic Center Station. The zero-fare downtown bus service operated on detour during more than two years of phased reconstruction by the City and County of Denver. According to the most recent ridership report, utilization was nearly double that seen during early construction detours. | | Reminder: Next round of service changes go into effect Jan. 4 | |
Service changes taking effect Jan. 4 include the suspension of the Holiday Train (S Line), and the reinstatement of D, H, and L line service through the Downtown Loop and Welton Street corridor. The D and H lines will return to their original routing, and the D Line will no longer serve Union Station.
Click the link below to view the full list of changes coming Jan. 4.
| | |
GM/CEO appears as a guest on Mobility Innovators Podcast | Earlier this week, General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson was featured on the Mobility Innovators Podcast to chat about RTD’s recent accomplishments, the agency’s Strategic Plan, key lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and plans to overcome challenges facing the agency. She also shared her thoughts for aspiring female leaders. Click the thumbnail above to watch the full podcast. |
| |
Reminder: New WiFi networks have been activated | |
Employees can access the new WiFi networks at any RTD facility by taking the following steps:
RTD-issued laptops and computers: These devices will automatically connect to the new TransIT_Corp network, no passwords or logins needed.
RTD-issued cell phones and personal devices: These devices can access the internet through the new TransIT_Personal network, entering the password TransIT!D3pt when prompted the first time.
Guests, vendors, and other non-RTD employees: The MOBILE network remains active for these users, which can be accessed by accepting the user agreement on the login screen and entering the username limited and password wifiuser.
As a reminder, the SCRMBL and BRKRM networks will be retired Jan. 9. Please contact the IT Service Desk with any questions.
|
| 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 holiday isn’t a holiday without plenty of freedom and fun."
— Louisa May Alcott
| |
| 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. |
| Disclaimer: Please do not click the unsubscribe button. You will miss out on important information about the agency and be resubscribed. | | | | |
