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January 24, 2024

Maintenance to affect commuter rail service Feb. 3, 4

Operations is preparing for federally required maintenance work that will affect commuter rail service Saturday, Feb. 3, and Sunday, Feb. 4, on the A, B, G and N lines traveling to and from Union Station. Expanded bus shuttle service will connect customers between Gate 5 at Union Station and specific stations along each line. The shutdown will pose a significant challenge for Bus Operations because of staffing, with volunteers being sought to assist.

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2024 transit legislation being considered by the General Assembly

The Second Regular Session of the Seventy-fourth General Assembly convened on Jan. 10. On Jan. 11, Gov. Jared Polis delivered the State of the State Address to the General Assembly, outlining priorities for the legislative session. A major theme of the governor’s remarks included transit and building housing near transit stops and corridors.

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Results available from allergen testing at Blake Street

Allergen testing conducted at RTD’s Blake Street headquarters has concluded, with some substances found to be present in the building. Deep cleaning efforts earlier this month have reduced allergens from original testing levels.

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N Line colleagues connect with Adams 12 students, staff

On Friday, Jan. 19, our N Line colleagues led a group of students and staff from Adams 12 Five Star Schools on a memorable train ride. Conductor Walter Palmgren, surrounded here by students; Phil Washington, Manager of Rail Service Delivery; and Lead Field Supervisors Luis Rocha-Herrera and Terian Turner met the group at Eastlake•124th Station in Thornton and accompanied participants as they traveled to Union Station in Denver.


Along the way, group members received gift bags of various N Line-related items and got a peek inside the cab of the train. Plans for this visit began a year ago, when Palmgren met the group on a prior train trip. “They were thrilled,” Washington said, “and I believe that connections like these really deliver on RTD’s mission statement, to make lives better through connections.”

Installation of new granite pavers begins on 16th Street Mall

The Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) on Tuesday invited media to take a look at the first new granite pavers installed on the 16th Street Mall, between Lawrence and Larimer streets. More than 950,000 new pavers will be added as part of the Mall’s renovation, a project the city is conducting in partnership with RTD.

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Employee Spotlight

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.

Dispatcher's quick action, engagement save life

On Dec. 22, public safety dispatcher Heather Siminas demonstrated exceptional professionalism when she received a call from an individual contemplating suicide at the Peoria commuter rail station. Despite the caller's repeated attempts to terminate the conversation, Heather adeptly engaged the individual, gathering crucial information over the course of approximately 15 minutes. 

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Kudos to Facilities Maintenance for hard work

I would like to highlight our Facilities Maintenance group as they tirelessly ensure that our employees are kept safe during the hazardous winter weather months. Without their continued efforts to keep the walkways clean and dry by coming to work in the early hours, we would likely have more to worry about walking on icy, slippery surfaces.

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January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Throughout January, RTD is recognizing National Human Trafficking Prevention Month by sharing resources with frontline employees, bolstering training and launching a public awareness campaign. Traffickers often target victims in bus terminals and train stations and transport them using public transportation. Human trafficking subjects an estimated 50 million people – including more than 5,400 annually in Colorado – to modern slavery.

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Applications open next week for Employee Ownership Task Force

Interested in actively participating in efforts related to the agency’s strategic initiatives: back to basics, people power and welcoming transit environment? The Employee Ownership Task Force (EOTF) is opening membership applications starting next week through Feb. 14. All employees are invited to apply to join a team working on internal communications, employee retention and employee security.

Bus Rapid Transit on Federal Boulevard moves forward

Building on years of study, planning and significant community input, the project team working to bring Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Federal Boulevard will begin the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and preliminary project design. BRT is to be implemented in this busy transit corridor before 2030. 

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Discounted tickets available for upcoming Avalanche games

Avalanche game inside Ball Arena

RTD has partnered with Kroenke Sports and Entertainment to offer discounted tickets to select Colorado Avalanche home games at Ball Arena this season.

Avs Access

Marketing wins AdWheel award for military recruitment campaign

Congratulations to RTD’s Marketing division, which recently won a first-place APTA AdWheel Award. The prestigious AdWheels honor the most creative and effective marketing campaigns in the transit industry by system size. Marketing’s winning entry was its innovative military recruitment campaign, in the category of Best Electronic Workforce Development Effort. Ashlyn Whitford and Sara Francois, RTD’s Marketing Communications Specialists who manage HR recruitment campaigns, will accept the award next month at the APTA Marketing, Communications & Customer Experience Workshop in New Orleans.

time_for_taxes.jpg

2023 W-2 tax forms now available

W-2 tax forms for 2023 are now available in Workday for all employees. These documents can be accessed by navigating to the Workday homepage and clicking “View Tax Document” under “Timely Suggestions.” Alternatively, click the hamburger menu on the top left of the screen, then “Pay,” then “My Tax Documents.” Printed copies of W-2s were mailed last week to all employees’ postal addresses on file.

 

Represented employees who have questions or concerns with tax documents can contact Percy Washington, at percy.washington@rtd-denver.com. Non-represented employees can contact Rob Timmerman, at rob.timmerman@rtd-denver.com.

From Cybersecurity: Use the phish alert button

You receive an email asking you to take an action. Sounds suspicious, right? But don’t worry: You can be a hero by taking the correct action to defend RTD against the effects of malicious email attacks. Just use the phish alert button (PAB).

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Featured in the News

In light of huge snow totals in Tennessee last week, the Knoxville News Sentinel interviewed snow-removal experts across the United States – including RTD Facilities Maintenance Manager Tom Garza – about how they manage expectations. “Here in Colorado, I think people realize more because of how much snow we get that it is a process, and you can't continually just get all the snow up," he said. "You have to work through a route and then work back.”

Learn how to use PDP funds at Facts-n-Snacks next week

Join Eryn Grover, Learning Administrator, Learning and Organizational Development, as she breaks down what Professional Development Plan (PDP) funds are and how to use them to further your education.


Sessions will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams at the dates and times below, and invites will be sent via email this week. Can’t make it? No worries! Swing by the Hub next Friday, Feb. 2, to view a recording of one of the sessions.


  • Tuesday, Jan. 30, 11:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 31, noon
  • Thursday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m.

Empower Retirement visiting divisions Jan. 31

Want to get the most out of your retirement plan? RTD Empower retirement plan advisors will be bringing their knowledge to divisions next week. On-site meetings will be offered Wednesday, Jan. 31, from 9 a.m. to noon at District Shops and 1-4 p.m. at Platte Division. Reservations are not required. For more information, contact Empower retirement plan advisor Mark Stone at mark.stone@empower.com or 303.524.4382.

Debra Johnson

Debra's Quote of the Week

“Though nobody can go back and make a new beginning, anyone can start over and make a new ending.”


Chico Xavier

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