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Diversity Spotlight celebrates the diversity of RTD employees and the larger community that RTD serves and fosters an appreciation of our social and cultural similarities and differences. Diversity Spotlight supports RTD’s values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership.
Each January, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — a leader whose vision of justice, community, and nonviolent change continues to guide our collective journey. As RTD observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2026, we embrace the theme Mission Possible II: Building Community, uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way, a call to action rooted in Dr. King’s teachings and the belief that progress is both possible and shared.
| | First year of Route ART service sees steady ridership gains | | | | RTD has recorded consistent month-over-month ridership growth over the last year on its newest route, the ART District Connector. The route provides a one-of-a-kind transit link through the heart of downtown Denver, connecting customers to some of the city’s most popular cultural destinations. | | Since launching in January 2025, the ART District Connector has averaged over 9,870 monthly boardings, representing a 34.15% increase in ridership during its first nine months of operation. The sustained growth underscores the route’s role in strengthening access to jobs, arts, education, and entertainment across downtown Denver. | | An update on efforts to address the agency's budget deficit | |
In a memo sent yesterday to all employees, General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson noted that RTD’s cost structure has grown faster than its revenue, “creating a persistent gap that has developed over time and requires deliberate action to close.” The agency is facing a deficit of approximately $250 million in fiscal year 2027.
“Maintaining a deliberate and forward-thinking approach to balancing the agency’s expenses with revenue is critical to long-term sustainability,” she wrote. “The ongoing financial challenges also require us to explore efficiencies and double down on our core business of delivering transit services to the communities we serve.”
Click the link below to read the memo.
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| In memoriam: Peter Cocozzella, Bus Operator | | |
RTD mourns the loss of East Metro-based bus operator Peter Cocozzella, who joined the agency in January 2015. He died on Dec. 24, 2025.
Cocozzella enjoyed his job, his colleagues, and his customers.
“Driving a bus to me is the most humbling experience,” he said in February 2025 when interviewed for Why I Work for RTD, the first employee to be profiled in the series. “I love doing the Colfax routes and the 105. A lot of the people that ride the bus are just like my mom and dad: They came here, and all they wanted to do was work to make things better for their kids.”
In a memo sent to all employees Monday evening, Chief People Officer Lili Tran recalled Cocozzella’s love for RTD and those he served.
“Peter was a retired educator, and working for RTD was his second career,” she wrote. “He will be greatly missed by all those who had the privilege of working with him.”
If you find that you would like to speak with someone about this loss, please call RTD’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 1.800.284.1819. Employees in Bus Operations are also invited to contact East Metro Division Manager Daniel Seifert at 303.299.7010. All affected employees are encouraged to reach out to their supervisor, mentor, or another member of management for assistance.
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| Walter Palmgren, Bus Operator (10 years) | | “I think I have a unique perspective, having been in all the major frontline groups, starting at bus, going to light rail, becoming an instructor at light rail, then moving to commuter rail, becoming an instructor for the conductor group, and then coming back to buses. So I've made full circle." | | 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 kudos for skillful, safe operation | Huge thank you to operator Silivere Bakomeza. He was incredibly friendly, safe, and effective. I greatly appreciate how he navigated tight neighborhood streets and busy downtown traffic. He treated stop signs properly and fully stopped, rather than just rolling through them. He didn't run red lights. | | Light rail operator helps customer with groceries | I was at the I-25•Broadway station, and I had a bunch of groceries. The train operator, Neamen Dobamo, saw me struggling with my bags. He helped me carry some of my groceries onto the train. I just thought that was very kind of him, and I wanted to give him a compliment. | | |
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5 years
Mischa Danaceau
Information Security Compliance Manager
Bill Manzanares
Integrated Security Systems Administrator
10 years
Caroline Murphy
Dispatcher
Marya Shaver
Train Operator
Ellen Johnson
Bus Operator
Emily Abbott
General Repair Mechanic
Jordon Salbato
Signal Maintainer
Beth Roybal
DOT Compliance and Office Services Supervisor
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15 years
Doug Monroe
Corridor Planning Manager (Operations)
Christopher Berger
Street Supervisor
Anthony Sena
Train Operator
Terri Sims
Bus Operator
Clayton Woodruff
Engineer III
Gregory Nelson
Bus Operator
William Rupp
LRT Field Supervisor
Liliana Avila
Market Development Consultant
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25 years
Lee Cryer
Planning Project Manager II
Kevin Diviness
Quality Assurance Director
Mildred Brown
Telephone Information Center Supervisor
Brian Farris
General Superintendent of Infrastructure
Marty Boxer
Bus Operator
30 years
Chris Bennett
Lead LRT Controller/Supervisor
35 years
Steve Roth
Facilities Maintenance Mechanic
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| Best Dressed Operator of the Week: Genesis Magana | This week’s best dressed operator is Genesis Magana from Platte Division. Congratulations, Genesis! | | Taking Broncos game day pictures? Share them with us | | Photo credit: Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos | | Your Denver Broncos take on the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs Saturday as the team looks to repeat history and return to the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade! Heading to the game or a watch party with your colleagues? Send your photos to insideconnections@rtd-denver.com for a chance to be featured in next week's Inside Connections! | | |
Jargon of the Week: Positive Train Control (PTC) and Automatic Train Control (ATC) | |
Train safety technology has come a long way since the dawn of the locomotive in the 1800s. One of the biggest technological advancements in railway safety comes in the form of Positive Train Control, or PTC. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, PTC is a processor-and-communication-based train control system designed to prevent train accidents by automatically controlling train speeds and movements in the event a human train operator fails to take appropriate action for the conditions at hand. PTC technology is required by law to be installed on all Class I railroad main lines and any main line with regularly scheduled intercity or commuter passenger service, which includes RTD’s commuter rail system.
PTC is designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, overspeed derailments, incursion into an established work zone, and movement through a mainline switch in the improper position.
PTC can sometimes fail to initiate. As a safety fallback, trains also run Automatic Train Control, or ATC. ATC uses electronics in the locomotive to implement speed control based on what the human operator inputs into the cab signaling system. For example, if PTC fails and the operator fails to slow the train below a set threshold, an overspeed alarm sounds. If the train still hasn’t slowed below the threshold, the ATC system will kick in and automatically slow the train by applying a penalty brake.
These two systems in tandem help reduce the chance of a serious accident, protecting employees and customers.
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| Share your ideas to recognize World Public Transport Day | | | | Calling all creative minds! Yes, that means you! Communications and Engagement is seeking ideas on innovative programming and customer outreach to consider for World Public Transport Day, Friday, April 17. What is World Public Transport Day? According to The International Association of Public Transport, it is “a global celebration of the journeys that move us and the people who make them possible. From everyday commutes to extraordinary destinations, itʼs a day to celebrate how public transport connects us all – to work, to life, to each other.” | | |
Communications and Engagement will highlight the value of public transportation in our communities and abroad, telling the story of how we make lives better through connections as OneRTD. Examples of ideas include pop-up events, social media videos, and community contests. Submit your idea by Jan. 31 by clicking the link below and filling out the form.
Have questions? Contact Business Program Manager Betsy Hinojosa (betsy.hinojosa@rtd-denver.com).
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From Development and Training: Learn how to use PDP funds in new course | | | | RTD offers employees reimbursement for continuing education, as well as funds to enroll in professional certification and licensing programs and professional organizations. Learn how to take advantage of these amazing benefits in a new course hosted by Development and Training. | | |
Twelve hourlong sessions will be offered through June, six in person and six online. Two classes are available this month, both next week:
- 10 a.m. Jan. 20: In person at District Shops
- 11 a.m. Jan. 22: Virtual via Microsoft Teams
Click the link below to register for any of the classes offered in this series.
| | 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 | |
"Everybody can be great because everybody can serve."
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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| 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. |
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