February 7, 2024

With Denver discharging migrants from shelters, RTD could see more new arrivals on services

Photo credit: Helen Richardson / The Denver Post

With approximately 40,000 migrants estimated to have arrived in Denver over the last year, the Mile High City has received the highest number of new arrivals per capita of any U.S. city. As of Monday, Feb. 5, Denver reinstated limits on shelter stays, meaning migrants have begun being discharged from these facilities. As a result, the agency may begin seeing more new arrivals on its services as people determine where to go – or have nowhere else to go. 

DRMAC recognizes RTD's inclusivity during fare study and equity analysis

RTD has been recognized by the Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council (DRMAC) for its exemplary commitment to inclusive planning during the most recent fare study and equity analysis.

Driving change within RTD: Join the Employee Ownership Task Force

Briana Perkins is February's Operator of the Month based on her great driving skills – being smooth on the acceleration and brakes – and creating a safe, enjoyable transit experience for her customers.

To our newest colleagues: Welcome to RTD!

RTD welcomed 21 new employees to orientation Monday! Say hello when you meet them.

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.

Kudos to light rail operators supporting our customers

I ride the E, H, or D lines to commute to the Blake Street office for work. Time and time again, I observe our light rail operators demonstrating compassion and respect to our customers in multiple ways. More specifically is how our operators support our customers using the high block and mobility devices to board the train.

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East Metro's maintenance team reaches zero overdue component change outs

Major kudos to East Metro’s maintenance team for achieving zero overdue component change outs! CCOs prevent breakdowns. The accomplishment was years in the making and reflects great teamwork among Service & Cleaning, mechanics, supervisors and managers.

> Read more <

From Cybersecurity: Did your data get leaked? Here's what to do

The internet can be overwhelming, with new technologies changing all the time. No matter how safe you try to be, you may get hacked. The sooner you detect an issue and respond, the better you can minimize the impact. Click below to learn about signs that this may have happened and, if so, what to do.

In memorium: Richard Medina

Richard Medina, a longtime bus operator based at Platte division, died recently. He began his career at RTD in 2015 and was a well-respected member of the team. “Rick was easygoing, patient, liked to smile,” said bus operator Rita Sandoval, a friend of 15 years. “If he liked you, he would pull a piece of hard candy out of his shirt pocket and give it to you.” Medina loved fishing, hunting, boating and working on hydraulics.



The unexpected news of a colleague’s passing can be a shock. To speak with someone about this loss, call RTD’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 1.800.284.1819. Platte division employees are invited to contact Sherri Lee at 303.299.4010. All impacted employees are encouraged to connect with their supervisor, human resources or another member of management to receive assistance.

Host Facts-n-Snacks this year to highlight a current project

Are you or your team working on an impactful project that you want to share with the agency? Want more employees to learn about your work? Have an upcoming policy or procedure change that employees should know about?

Facts-n-Snacks takes place the final Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the month and is recorded via Microsoft Teams.

Openings are available from May to November. Reach out to Austin Nettleton at austin.nettleton@rtd-denver.com to reserve a month today. Sessions will fill up quickly, so don’t wait!

Who inspires love? Tell us to be featured in Inside Connections

Love is in the air, so share it with your fellow colleagues! Email a photo with a loved one – a pet, a parent, a spouse, a sibling – and a comment about what love means to you to insideconnections@rtd-denver.com to be featured in next week’s edition.

Safety moment: Preventing burns

This week is National Burn Awareness Week. Burns and scalds can happen anywhere, from uncontrolled fires to simply having the water too hot in the shower. Here are some tips to reduce the risk of being burned or scalded:

• Check your smoke alarms regularly
• Test the temperature of the water before stepping in the bath or shower or washing hands in the sink
• Install safety caps on electrical outlets and keep electrical cords out of reach
• Store hazardous chemicals securely and out of reach of children and pets
• Be cautious with machines powered by flammable liquids
• Never leave an activated stove or oven unattended
• Protect kids from burns by teaching them proper cooking techniques
• Turn off items that create heat immediately after use

Discounted tickets available for Avalanche, Nuggets games

Reminder: Brown ID badge decals are valid through 2024

Do you have a brown decal on an employee ID badge? That means the decal is still valid – it expires at the end of 2024. New decals will be distributed agencywide closer to 2025 and will be valid through the end of 2026.

Please contact Human Resources at hrsupportservices@rtd-denver.com with any questions.

Debra's Quote of the Week

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it’s right.”

– Rosa Parks

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