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Brett Feddersen selected as agency’s first Chief Information and Technology Officer | | | | He was selected following a national executive search and brings more than two decades of experience in IT strategy and operational management, including substantial achievements benefiting customers and employees as a leader within RTD over the last decade. Feddersen has led all facets of IT, including project management, enterprise architecture, infrastructure, digital products, cybersecurity, business intelligence and analytics, service delivery and intelligent transportation systems. | | Click the link below to read a memo from RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson regarding Feddersen's appointment. | | RTD's planning efforts for large-scale events begin several weeks in advance | | | | When warmer weather arrives in Denver, so do large events. In recent months at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium alone, thousands of fans turned out to experience the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship, Coldplay, Post Malone, The Weeknd and Metallica. The stadium will fill Aug. 2 for hometown favorites Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and The Lumineers. | | |
Celebrating 35 years of the ADA: a transit equity milestone | | | | 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. | | As we mark the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is a moment to reflect on the monumental progress made in ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to public spaces, workplaces and transportation systems. The ADA, signed into law on July 26, 1990, changed the landscape for individuals with disabilities across the United States, and its ripple effect has shaped the inclusivity and accessibility of public services nationwide. |
| EcoPass sales rise as more customers take transit to work again | RTD’s EcoPass, which offers unlimited rides on the agency's fixed-route services, is seeing program participation approach 75% of its pre-pandemic level. More companies are offering the pass as a perk to provide employees with convenient commuting options and lower travel and parking costs. | | Two buses, one lost purse and a lot of hope in humanity | |
Somewhere between two buses on her evening commute home, Jennifer Sullivan Corkern lost her purse. Corkern, who recounted the incident in a post on Facebook, was convinced her purse had been stolen.
With a sense of futility, Corkern filled out RTD's online lost and found form and, as she said, "sent it into the void," believing the effort would be pointless. Much to her surprise, the void responded.
| | Technical Training Instructor/Supervisor trains DHS personnel on the mechanics of RTD's bus fleet | | |
On Monday, personnel from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) based at Denver International Airport visited Platte Division to learn about the mechanics of all types of RTD buses, including emergency braking and engine shutdown procedures. The training was led by Technical Training Instructor/Supervisor Jon Paul Mitchell, second from right, at rear, who demonstrated different techniques to safely and efficiently immobilize a bus. The group – which included Christopher Valadez, Neil Watkins, John Sampson, Tom Violette, Sam Wool and Mark Zaloudek – conducted role-playing exercises of high-pressure emergency situations such as a vehicle hijacking or threat, in which they would need to board a bus quickly and address the situation to prevent further danger.
RTD conducts such training throughout the year with police and fire agencies, including SWAT (special weapons and tactics) teams, but this was the first time the agency coordinated with DHS. In the event of an emergency, DHS employees can now respond to an incident and act immediately, better coordinate with first responders, and provide valuable support and information during incidents, Mitchell said. He noted that this collaboration demonstrates RTD’s commitment to safety for its employees and customers.
| | RTD staff packed Elati last week for Dialogue with Debra | | On Thursday, members of the Leadership Team joined General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson on the Elati Division’s maintenance floor to provide employees with the latest news and updates from around the agency. Missed the session? Click the link below to watch a recording of the livestream. | | Matt Richey’s colleagues celebrate his retirement | | On July 10, Matt Richey’s teammates from Contracting and Procurement and colleagues from throughout RTD celebrated his retirement from the agency after 26 years. Richey began his career at RTD as a service person and served the agency as a parts clerk, a materials management specialist, a buyer and a purchasing agent. Most recently, as a procurement specialist, he was an administrator for the agency’s purchasing cards. “He was a valued member of Contracting and Procurement for more than 20 years and will be greatly missed,” Contract Manager Brenda Leo said. | | Welcome to RTD's newest employees | Fourteen new employees joined the agency at Monday's orientation. Welcome aboard to all of our newest colleagues! We are thrilled you are here with us. | | 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. | | Transit Police officers exercise compassion in locating missing woman | |
Around 11:30 a.m. on July 18, RTD Transit Police Officers Nate Larkin and Derek VanKeulen were dispatched to the A Line train that was coming into Union Station, in reference to an older female who was without fare, appeared to be disoriented and would not speak to the Allied Security officer on the train.
> Read more <
| | Bus operator loops back around stop to pick up customer sprinting to bus | |
I would like to recognize the driver of my Route 42 bus, Lionel Meredith. I was at Central Park Station, coming off the A Line, when I almost missed the bus. I started running and waving my hands, yelling for the bus to stop. The driver came out and back into the station to pick me up.
> Read more <
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Best Dressed Operator of the Week: Namgyel Wangchuck | Bus Transportation congratulates Boulder Division operator Namgyel Wangchuck for being this week’s best-dressed operator! Looking good while representing RTD is the name of the game, and Namgyel makes it look easy. |
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The next OneRTD Operator Graduation Ceremony is Friday | |
Twenty-two bus operators are expected to graduate Friday at July’s OneRTD Operator Graduation Ceremony! The event will begin at noon in the atrium inside RTD’s headquarters, with a reception to follow in the T&D Conference Room. Light refreshments will be provided.
Employees are welcome to attend the ceremony and congratulate RTD’s newest bus colleagues. For employees, families and friends who cannot be there in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed via the link below.
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| Reminder: Digital accessibility training is available for all employees | The ADA Office continues to provide digital accessibility training to help staff understand how to comply with new regulatory standards issued by the state, and in advance of those standards being implemented by the federal government. Employees interested in attending a session or seeking guidance related to accessibility can contact ADA Manager Gabe Christie (gabe.christie@rtd-denver.com). | | Bus operators: Have you completed refresher training? | The second refresher training of the year is underway! This session aims to help operators provide better customer service and takes a deeper look into the five Smith Keys. Check division bulletin boards and speak with a manager or supervisor for dates, times and other important information. Approximately 30% of operators have completed the training to date. | | Ro(a)deo Round-Up: Week of July 21 | Volunteers still needed for Light Rail Rodeo | Help make the 2025 Light Rail Rodeo the best event yet! Contact Lisa Merrifield (lisa.merrifield@rtd-denver.com) or Erika Lane (erika.lane@rtd-denver.com) to learn more about open positions and to sign up. | Registration underway for Light Rail, Bus Ro(a)deo contests | |
Embrace the competitive spirit of the 2025 Ro(a)deos and enter any or all of three contests taking place throughout the season.
At the Light Rail Rodeo, bring your most impressive and creative Lego creations for a chance to be crowned as the first-ever winner of the brand-new Lego contest! Send entries to Lisa Merrifield (lisa.merrifield@rtd-denver.com) or Erika Lane (erika.lane@rtd-denver.com) by Aug. 8. Builds will be judged at the event.
At the Bus Roadeo, gather your basketball squad and get ready to take on your colleagues in the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament! Have a nice ride to show off? Enter it into the annual Auto and Bike Show and see if your ride has what it takes to claim top honors.
Visit the 2025 Ro(a)deos page on the Hub to learn more.
| Bus operators, mechanics and service workers: Main event registration for the 2025 Bus Roadeo is open | Do you think you are the best operator, mechanic or service worker at RTD? It’s time to prove it! Click the link below, print the appropriate form and return it to the designated contact by the specifieddue date to enter. |
| RTD to join community partners for West Colfax Neighborhood Festival | Join RTD and community partners working on the Federal Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project at the West Colfax Neighborhood Festival Aug. 8. Attendees will have the opportunity to answer questions about the BRT project along Federal Boulevard in a lively and fun atmosphere. Volunteers are needed for both the 11 a.m-1 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. shifts. Click the link below to sign up. | | 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 | |
“Who said we want to conform to the norm? Celebrate and embrace our differences."
— Neil Milliken
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