|
Public Safety dispatchers return to revamped SCC | RTD’s Transit Police Public Safety dispatchers moved back into the department’s original Security Command Center, near the agency’s Mariposa Light Rail Facility, on Jan. 7 to consolidate the team and Transit Police Communications’ operations. The return, several years in the making, enables the team to address first-responder communications from across the district from a single RTD operating site. “This project demonstrated the agency’s commitment to OneRTD,” said 911 Operations Manager Michelle Lawrence. The return “allows for a shared workload and streamlined response to incidents.” |
| Credit agencies affirm RTD's strength with stable outlooks | RTD's strong credit ratings have been affirmed by the three major credit rating agencies – Moody’s, S&P Global Ratings, and Fitch Ratings. These ratings reflect confidence in RTD’s proactive financial management and recognize the need for its essential role as a transit provider across the Denver metro area. | | |
Mile High hopefuls: Meet some of RTD's Broncos superfans | |
The date is Jan. 24, 2016. The deafening roar of tens of thousands of Denver Broncos fans engulfs Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium as the New England Patriots line up for a two-point conversion with 12 seconds left in the game to tie the 2016 AFC Conference Championship and send the game to overtime. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady takes the snap and throws the ball to wide receiver Julian Edelman, only for it to be deflected by cornerback Aqib Talib, falling into the hands of defensive back Bradley Roby for an interception and punching the Broncos’ ticket to Super Bowl 50, where the team beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 and won the 2016 NFL championship. Fast forward to this Sunday, just a day after the 10th anniversary of that game, and history looks to repeat itself once again at the same field against the same team.
As the metro prepares to welcome the Patriots back to the Mile High City with a shower of boos and jeers, meet three RTD employees who have spent their entire lives cheering on the Denver Broncos.
| | Roe Emery III, Digital Customer Relations Liaison | | Judy Wheeler, Analyst, Bus Maintenance | | Chris Bennett, Lead Controller and Supervisor | | Hoist replacement work has begun at East Metro | |
Work began Jan. 5 on replacement of East Metro’s 15 bus hoists, equipment that has been used daily by RTD’s bus maintenance team since the division opened more than 40 years ago. The piston-type hoists – which physically lift and support the agency’s buses, enabling employees to work beneath them – have reached the end of their useful life, noted Construction Engineer IV Shayne Ford, who is managing the project. Each will be replaced with a more modern scissor lift that uses a shallower pit and much less hydraulic fluid, on a schedule of about one new hoist each month. Contractually, A.D. Miller Construction Services has two years to complete the project, worth approximately $5.6 million and funded through Colorado Department of Transportation grants, a match from RTD, and RTD funds. Employee safety remains a top consideration, Ford said, and work areas will be isolated as the project proceeds “to keep work equipment away from employees and keep employees out of the work area.”
A similar replacement of seven of the nine bus hoists at District Shops is also set to begin in the coming weeks. More details will be shared once that project begins.
| | Welcome to RTD's newest employees | Twenty-four employees joined the agency at Tuesday’s orientation. Welcome! | | 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. | | Sales and information agent goes extra mile to assist customer with ticket inquiry | I bought several packets of the Access-a-Ride tickets to give a friend, and then saw that they expired at the end of the month. I went back to King Soopers, only to find out they could not give me my money back. | | Bus operator helps return missing laptop to customer | I would like to commend operator William Gonglach, the driver of the westbound Route 10 bus on Jan. 7. A few minutes after my daughter and I disembarked at Wewatta and 17th streets, my daughter realized she had left her laptop computer on the bus. | | |
David Peterson
Bus Operator (8 years)
Patricia Williams
Sales/Information Representative (18 years)
Hazel Wing
Station Starter (22 years)
Luis Escobedo
Bus Operator (25 years)
| | |
Best Dressed Operator of the Week: Emran Sheka | This week’s best dressed operator is Emran Sheka from East Metro. Congratulations, Emran, and thanks for keeping it stylish! |
| From Cybersecurity: Thank you for supporting RTD’s cybersecurity initiatives | | | | Cybersecurity thanks all employees who helped with its recent rollout of Windows Hello for Business (WHfB). Everyone’s support makes a big difference in keeping RTD secure. A strong security culture takes teamwork. | | |
Why WHfB matters for employees
- Better protection: WHfB uses password-less sign-in methods like a PIN, fingerprint, or face recognition. These are safer than passwords because hackers can’t steal what isn’t there.
- More privacy: PINs, fingerprints, or face recognition stay on the device and aren’t stored anywhere else.
Microsoft Passkey
Cybersecurity is excited to launch Microsoft Passkey, a new way to sign in to RTD apps from personal devices without using a password. Passkeys are fast, secure, and easy to use. Employees will sign in with a PIN, fingerprint, face recognition, or YubiKey (a small physical security device).
Passkey works with:
- Microsoft Office tools like Outlook email, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint
- Cloud apps like Laserfiche, ServiceNow, and Workday
- Remote access tools such as Horizon and VPN
What’s next?
Over the coming weeks, Cybersecurity and IT will send an IT Service Advisory when Microsoft Passkey is ready for your team. Thank you again for helping RTD build a safer workplace. Together, we’re making RTD stronger and more secure.
Need Help with WHfB? Call the Service Desk at 303.299.6100 or submit the Report an Issue ticket in the Employee Service Center.
| | From Wellbeing: Register for Right On The Money Challenge | |
Start 2026 by making financial well-being a priority with the Right On The Money Challenge, presented by RTD’s Wellbeing team.
Participants can learn money-saving hacks, financial planning tips, and how to properly budget as they complete objectives. Random prize drawings will be held throughout the challenge for participants.
The challenge begins Feb. 2 and ends March 1. Register today by visiting the challenge website or scanning the QR code in the flyer, both linked below.
Reach out to the Wellbeing team (wellness@rtd-denver.com) with questions.
| | |
JARGON OF THE WEEK: Service disruptions | |
While RTD works hard to provide timely and reliable service to its customers, many things can disrupt service, whether it impacts a single bus or the entire transit system. It is important to understand the common types of service disruptions and how they affect customers.
Planned service disruptions
Planned service disruptions are expected and announced well in advance, usually with established contingency plans already in place to mitigate the impacts of the disruption to customers. These disruptions can be a result of both RTD and third-party work, such as track maintenance or road construction, causing detours, track changes, station closures, delays, schedule adjustments, the issuance of shuttle buses to replace rail services, and, in rare cases, suspension of services in the affected area, such as the recent phase of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project near Colfax at Auraria Station.
Unplanned service disruptions
Unplanned service disruptions are the most common type of disruption. They can affect any bus stop or station, route, and/or rail line at any time, and have a plethora of causes, such as adverse road conditions, accidents (RTD- and non-RTD-related), road/building construction, traffic, weather, power outages, police activity, vehicle maintenance, and emergency track repairs. These causes can result in delays, trip cancellations, stop or station closures, supplemental service such as shuttle buses, or, in worst-case scenarios, temporary suspensions of service.
Learn more about service disruptions and how they are communicated by clicking the link below.
|
| Salaried employees: Register for EMHMP training | |
The Environmental Management and Hazardous Material Program has launched in Workday. This training is required for all salaried employees by Dec. 31, 2026, and it can be taken online or through an in-person course.
Completion of this training can help limit the agency’s impact on the local environment and human health in the event of a hazardous material release. This training offers the participant more opportunities to learn about common hazardous materials that are stored and used at RTD, safety plans, and best management practices for working around hazardous materials. The course also provides an RTD environmental compliance overview, as well as when and how to report hazardous material incidents such as spills.
Email or call the Environmental team (environmental@rtd-denver.com) to request an in-person offering about specific hazards at your facility. The team will be visiting all crew and safety committee meetings in April to discuss hazardous materials at RTD, and members will be available to answer any questions about the training.
Click the links below to register for a training session.
| | CORRECTION: Last week’s issue of Inside Connections misstated Market Development Consultant Liliana Avila’s work anniversary. As of this month, she has completed 20 years of service. The Internal Communications team apologizes for the error. | | 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 | |
"No matter how much falls on us, we keep plowing ahead. That’s the only way to keep the roads clear."
— Greg Kincaid
| |
| 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. |
| Disclaimer: Please do not click the unsubscribe button. You will miss out on important information about the agency and be resubscribed. | | | | |
