RTD Board of Directors approves 2025 budget | |
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Last night, the RTD Board of Directors unanimously adopted a $1.2 billion budget in 2025 that will result in increased levels of service, continue the agency’s hiring efforts for key frontline positions and sustain preventative maintenance projects that launched in 2024. A comprehensive breakdown of the agency’s fiscal year 2025 budget, which starts Jan. 1 and aligns with the calendar year, is available at rtd-denver.com/budget.
Click the link below to view details of the 2025 budget, and scroll down to the Board meeting recap to hear directors discuss the budget at the meeting.
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Zero Fare for New Year's Eve returns Dec. 31 | RTD is celebrating New Year’s Eve with zero fare service! For the 16th consecutive year, this initiative encourages Denver metro residents and visitors to celebrate safely and responsibly by taking advantage of transit to enjoy the festivities. Thanks to a partnership with Molson Coors, customers can use RTD services at no cost to them from 7 p.m. Dec. 31, to 7 a.m. Jan. 1, 2025. | |
RTD website, Next Ride app now available in Korean | RTD’s website and Next Ride trip planning tool are now available in Korean to increase customer access and trip information. Prior to Monday’s Korean language announcement, RTD's online resources were already available in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese. | |
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At last night’s monthly meeting, the RTD Board of Directors unanimously adopted the agency’s 2025 budget; designated Feb. 4, 2025, as a zero-fare day in recognition of Transit Equity Day; appointed trustees to the Salaried Employee Defined Benefit Pension and Salaried Employee Defined Contribution Retirement plans; and approved the January 2025 service changes.
Additionally, the Board approved the Title VI service equity analysis; approved participation in the Centennial State Liquid Investment Pool; adopted the 2025 Legislative and Government Relations Program; appointed members to the Independent Audit Committee; approved a pay increase for the GM/CEO’s base salary in accordance with the Board-adopted performance assessment framework; and adopted proposed bylaw amendments that seek to clarify the roles of the Executive and Performance committees. The Board also appointed eight new members and reappointed two members to the Citizens Advisory Committee, and it ratified the agency’s practice of providing annual transit passes in perpetuity to all former Board directors and a designated immediate family member.
The Board also heard a report from General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson about recent community outreach efforts, as well as an update about recent meetings with Greyhound related to its use of Denver Union Station’s underground bus concourse through August 2025. Since this was the last full Board meeting of 2024, well-wishes were also provided to the seven departing Board members whose terms are expiring: Bob Broom, Erik Davidson, Bobby Dishell, Jaime Lewis, Marjorie Sloan, Paul Rosenthal and Doug Tisdale. Click the thumbnail above to watch the full meeting.
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AGM of Bus Operations speaks at Clean Buses US conference | |
Assistant General Manager of Bus Operations Fred Worthen detailed RTD’s facilities and fleet transition plan blueprints at Global Mass Transit’s fourth conference on Clean Buses US, held last month in South San Francisco, California. He shared the process RTD went through to develop the plan and, at a high level, short- and long-term strategies for the future as the agency moves toward alternative-based fleet technologies and supporting infrastructure. In his session, Worthen was joined by leaders from San Francisco International Airport and Napa Valley Transportation Authority. The conference enabled participants to discuss federal funding, policies and programs for zero-emission bus (ZEB) deployment; experience so far; best practices; optimal strategy to transition to a clean fleet; recent developments; challenges in large-scale deployments and scaling up infrastructure; and lessons learned. | |
RTD unveils 2024 Winter Parade Bus at Grand Illumination | |
Last Friday, RTD celebrated the start of the holiday season by attending the annual Grand Illumination at Union Station. Throughout the evening, team members passed out commemorative beanie caps, candy canes and keepsake ornaments to customers while answering questions and providing information about RTD initiatives. Board Director Michael Guzman joined special guests — including Santa and Mrs. Claus — for the official lighting of the Great Hall. The evening concluded with a light show and carols sung by The Denver Dolls.
Customers in attendance were the first to see the new winter parade bus, which will be in the 9News Parade of Lights on Saturday. Adorned in candy-cane-striped gift wrap, the bus’s new livery provided an excellent backdrop for family photos.
In addition to the 9News Parade of Lights, customers can enjoy the winter parade bus again on Dec. 14 for RTD Gives Community Day. The bus will visit Downtown Boulder, Union and Littleton•Downtown stations, where RTD colleagues will collect new, unused cold-weather clothing in support of A Precious Child. For more information, visit the News Stop.
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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. | |
Light rail operator helps customer with many bags alight with ease | |
On the night of Nov. 9, as the storms were ending, I arrived at the airport after being on a business trip for two weeks. I was lugging a backpack and two 47.5-pound suitcases with two weeks of clothing and all my tools. I took the A Line to Peoria Station, where I transferred to the R Line to catch the 7:13 p.m. going south to Lincoln Station. When I got on the train, operator Gerald Miranda noticed the many bags I was carrying with me and asked where I was getting off.
> Read more <
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Bus operator waits for customer running toward bus | |
I want to give Route 43 operator Erik Urquidy a commendation. He waited for me when he saw me running. He even put the lift down for me. He waited for everyone to be seated and acknowledged everyone on the bus. He is kind and patient. He did not take any yellow lights.
> Read more <
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December's Operator of the Month is Samuel Ladd from Boulder Division. Ladd was selected after receiving several commendations in just the short year he has operated buses for RTD. Most recently, Ladd was recognized for his outstanding customer service, his ability to manage stressful situations with a cool head, being quick on his feet to navigate problems and being dedicated to customer satisfaction. | |
With 2024 coming to a close, click the link below to learn about all of this year’s Operators of the Month — and the incredible work they have done to improve the lives of RTD’s customers. Congratulations to each of the following honorees: |
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January: Jacob Blakely
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February: Briana Perkins
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March: Robert Bright
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April: Owen Gondwe
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May: Jaime Contreras
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June: Danny Hinojos
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July: Rich Jarosz
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August: Ken Pietrovich
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September: Dambar Shrestha
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October: Hayward “Dan” Ward
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November: Ike Veiga
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December: Samuel Ladd
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Taye Kidane
Bus Operator (formerly Senior Accounting Technician)
Orion Parks
Street Supervisor (formerly Bus Operator)
Crystal Baca
Street Supervisor (formerly Bus Operator)
Joshua Stone
Lead LRT Controller/Supervisor (formerly LRT Controller)
Brian Beary
Transit Police Detective (formerly Transit Police Officer)
Any employees interested in similar opportunities in the future should visit RTD's Careers page.
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Spread holiday cheer with RTD Gives | | |
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RTD Gives continues its donation drive campaign to benefit A Precious Child, a Broomfield-based nonprofit. Donate unused winter clothing such as beanies, jackets, gloves and socks by placing them in specially marked donation bins at all RTD operating facilities by Dec. 14. | |
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Additionally, RTD is looking for employees to travel to select RTD stations to collect donated cold-weather goods from the public for A Precious Child. The winter parade bus will be stationed at the following locations and times on Saturday, Dec. 14:
- 9-10:30 a.m.: Downtown Boulder Station
- 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Union Station
- 2:45-4:15 p.m.: Littleton•Downtown Station
Interested in volunteering? Click the link below to sign up.
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Starting Friday, Hot Sheet will be sent agencywide | |
The weekly Hot Sheet goes completely digital! All employees will receive the Hot Sheet directly in their email every week, beginning with Friday’s edition.
For those unfamiliar with the Hot Sheet, it is a frontline-employee-focused document containing quick hits of important operational news and updates from key departments, as well as general agency information, designed to keep colleagues informed while on the go.
The Hot Sheet will also be accessible via The RTD Bulletin for those colleagues who do not regularly check email.
If you have questions about the Hot Sheet or the new distribution process, please contact Austin Nettleton at austin.nettleton@rtd-denver.com.
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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. | | |
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Debra's Quote of the Week | |
"May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility."
— Mary Anne Radmacher
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Disclaimer: Please do not click the unsubscribe button. You will miss out on important information about the agency and be resubscribed. | | | | |
