Inside Connections - Feb. 28, 2024

February 28, 2024

RTD to embark on downtown Denver light rail reconstruction project starting in May

Starting in May, RTD will embark on a major project that is the first of its kind in agency history: full-depth, multi-phased work to reconstruct miles of light rail track in downtown Denver. The first phase of the approximately $152 million project will focus on five segments of at-grade rail and street intersections in the Downtown Loop. Beginning May 28, all D and H line trains will be rerouted to Denver Union Station, and L Line service will be suspended. No light rail service will operate in RTD’s central corridor through September. Bus routes that operate along 15th and 17th streets may be affected while work proceeds, and Free MetroRide service will be temporarily reintroduced to serve downtown customers.

Jaime Lewis joins RTD Board of Directors

Jaime Lewis – who served as chair of the RTD Advisory Committee of People with Disabilities from 2017 to 2022 – was installed and sworn into the Board of Directors at last night’s meeting. Lewis represents District A, which includes portions of the City and County of Denver and a small portion of Arapahoe County. He was nominated by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to fill the vacancy created by Kate Williams’ departure in January.

Transit Police using sector-based plan for its work

As the Denver metro region’s population swells, the growing Transit Police Department has changed its approach to operating the complex security model for RTD’s system. RTD-PD is now using a sector-based plan that divides the district into five geographic regions, with a commander overseeing each carrying responsibility for all police-related incidents, community events, and law enforcement intelligence sharing and partnerships with other agencies.

Denver resident provides day-and-night support to customers after misprint

When Fred Wolf answered his phone one evening in early January, he expected the unknown number to be a telemarketer. The retired, fourth-generation Denver native was used to telemarketers calling his home, and he expected this call to be no different. However, Wolf was a little surprised when the person on the other end asked for RTD’s police dispatch center.

Community Engagement team keeps relationship with Denver region strong

To provide excellent service, RTD must have strong ties not only to customers, but also to community partners and nonprofit organizations that help educate current and future transit users about agency services and ongoing initiatives. RTD’s Community Engagement team is responsible for supporting the development and sustained collaboration among the agency, customers and community at large.

Say hello to our newest colleagues in Bus Operations!

Please welcome RTD’s newest 11 bus operators, who graduated from training on Friday! Starting with the back row, they are: Azmeraw Kaffe, Jeremie Kakule, Mekuria Sora, David Mayen and Kalayu Hailu; and front row: Yadira Haley, Josue Olivas, Alesha Johnson, Adam Grabowski and Kevin Stockton. Not pictured is Lydia Haley.

How does a 'slinky' bus stop? These kids have the answer

Do you know how many African elephants could be carried in one of RTD’s articulated buses? Technical Training Instructor/Supervisor Jon Paul Mitchell put this question to two groups of young children on Feb. 22 during a visit to Rooney Ranch KinderCare in Lakewood. The answer: At 14,000 pounds each, four of these animals and one baby would represent the gross vehicle weight rating of one 60-foot “slinky” bus with a full customer load. His next question: How does a bus that heavy and long stop moving? To show them the answer, Mitchell sat cross-legged on the floor and produced a red and black air compressor, the item that supplies air to the brakes on the bus. He invited volunteers to help remove and replace the head gasket. “Everyone had their eyes glued on the impact wrench that would make a loud ratchet sound when removing the six head bolts,” Mitchell said. “I would lift the head off the air compressor and have the pit crew of two replace the bad gasket with a good one.” Brian Rosenstein, Senior Specialist of Community Engagement, told the children they could ride RTD’s buses at no cost, which they were excited to hear.

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.

Chief transmission rebuilder rallies colleagues to get dyno working again

Mark Deay-Reusch is our chief transmission rebuilder in the unit shop at District Shops. He will complete his 40th year with RTD in May. Our engine dynamometer that is used to test newly rebuilt engines prior to putting them in service was in need of major maintenance and updating so we can use it with the engines in our current bus fleet. With a significant number of engines in the fleet starting to reach service life expectancy, we really needed to get the dyno functional.

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Service planners work to reduce service impacts of upcoming rail projects

This summer is shaping up to be one of the busiest summers I have seen here at RTD since I joined the agency in 2019. With several projects coming up, including two major rail projects, there are so many employees behind the scenes working hard to mitigate the impacts these projects will have on our customers.

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February's new hires

Roberto Ruiz Soto

Talent Acquisition Specialist

Stephanie Hill

Business Employment Coordinator, Bus

Transportation

Eugene Fuller

Business Employment Coordinator

Lev Youngblood

Risk Management Specialist II, Liability

Lane Thompson

Service Worker

Kimberly Holtz*

Conductor, Commuter Rail

Dakota Patterson

Conductor, Commuter Rail

Joshua Sumahit

Conductor, Commuter Rail

Jonathan Hall

Facilities Maintenance Mechanic

Jonathan Wood

Electro Mechanic, LRV

Harrison Nix

Technical Support Analyst I

Gabriel Worstell

Talent

Acquisition Partner

Rachel Sileo

Senior Talent Acquisition Partner

Stephen Maegley

Senior Business Analyst

Jerrad Chesney

Rail Laborer

Julio Ramos

Rail Laborer

Devon Reinert

Rail Laborer

Edgar Jacoway

Rail Laborer

Noah Fresquez

Rail Laborer

Derib Alemayehu

Bus Operator

Geretinsae Arega

Bus Operator

Virginia Cable*

Bus Operator

Bahlbi Embaye

Bus Operator

Dandre Laidley

Bus Operator

Jessie Molina

Bus Operator

Samuel Temessgen

Bus Operator

Desta Animaw

Bus Operator

Moges Ayele

Bus Operator

Traylon Ewing

Bus Operator

Kyan Harris

Bus Operator

Theara Im

Bus Operator

Frank Massaquoi

Bus Operator

Nahom Woldeyes

Bus Operator

Ken Crawford

Train Operator

Luis Ramirez

Train Operator

Miguel Mena

Train Operator

Osric Patton

Train Operator

Wolfgang Scheiblber

Train Operator

Benjamin York

General Repair Mechanic

Jose Carreon Lozano

General Repair Mechanic

Warren Tuttle

General Repair Mechanic

Nicholas Willis

General Repair Mechanic

(*) denotes rehire

Recommend a colleague to be recognized for Transit Employee Appreciation Day

Transit Employee Appreciation Day is coming up March 18. Do you know of a colleague who has done great work to advance transit and RTD's mission in the Denver metro area? Let us know! Email your recommendations to the Internal Communications team at insideconnections@rtd-denver.com so they can be featured in the March 20 edition of Inside Connections.

New to RTD's News Stop: 3 Things to Know

3 Things to Know is a weekly roundup of the latest news, updates and stories that impact the agency’s customers. Swing by the News Stop section on RTD's website every Friday to catch up on the week’s latest updates. Click the image above to watch the General Manager and CEO introduce this feature, and check out last week’s stories through the link below.

February's Board meeting recap

At yesterday’s monthly meeting, Andy Karsian, General Manager, Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR), presented an update regarding efforts to develop FRPR and discussed current FRPR district initiatives and strategies. The Board adopted a support position on Senate Bill 24-032, which extends the Ozone Season Transit Grant Program, creates a grant program to fund zero-fare for youth programs statewide, and creates an exploratory committee to produce a viable proposal to create, implement and administer a statewide transit pass. The Board adopted a Board and Committee Meeting Accessibility Pilot Policy, which provides communication access real-time transcription services, such as language interpreters, sign language interpreters, assisted listening devices, and documents in alternate formats and language translations available to in-person attendees. Additionally, following a report from General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson and Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Stuart Summers about the near-term downtown rail reconstruction project, Senior Manager of Service Development Jessie Carter detailed the proposed May service changes that take the project into account. Click the video image to watch the meeting in full.

Bus Operations to host job fair in Denver next month

RTD’s Bus Operations Department has teamed up with Human Resources to host a job fair just for prospective bus operators at the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center. The event will take place 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 14.

Know someone who is looking to start a career as a bus operator? You can earn a referral bonus of $2,000 if they are hired.

Learn more

Tune into Facts-n-Snacks tomorrow to learn about the coping panels project

Join Caitlin Arnold, Construction Engineer III, as she discusses the coping panel project's progress and future. The final session will be held at 2 p.m. via Microsoft Teams.

Interested in presenting a topic or showcasing a project your team has been working on for Facts-n-Snacks in 2024? Send an email to Austin Nettleton (austin.nettleton@rtd-denver.com) to reserve your spot today.

Join here

Join your colleagues in Denver's St. Patrick's Day Parade

For the second year in a row, RTD is planning to join Denver’s annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 16! Wear as much green as possible and march with fellow colleagues through downtown in one of the city’s largest parades of the year. Interested? Sign up today by clicking the button below.