June 17, 2026

Operations Department realignment will conclude July 2

In a memo sent Monday to all employees, General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson addressed the status of the realignment currently underway in Operations, RTD’s largest department. She noted that within Operations, approximately 40 vacant positions have been eliminated, and approximately 40 employees will complete their service with the agency on July 2.

Johnson extended her personal gratitude to every Operations employee, especially those whose last day at RTD will be in the next two weeks. “The impact each of you has had on the agency, fellow employees, and customers is substantial; the gains that RTD has made simply could not have happened without the dedication, commitment, and care you brought to work every day,” she wrote.

Diversity Spotlight: Honoring Juneteenth freedom, equity, and the journey forward

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 year on June 19, communities across the United States observe Juneteenth, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and honoring the ongoing pursuit of freedom, equity, justice, and opportunity for all.

The 2026 Juneteenth theme, "Freedom: Yesterday's Legacy, Today's Promise," reflects the enduring significance of freedom, cultural pride, perseverance, and collective progress. The theme honors the sacrifices, determination, and achievements of those who fought for liberation and civil rights while recognizing the continued responsibility to advance equity, accessibility, inclusion, and opportunity for future generations.

RTD-PD implementing research-backed training to strengthen accountability

The Active Bystander Law Enforcement (ABLE) program, which is being implemented this year, equips officers to identify potential errors early and effectively communicate to navigate challenging situations. It fosters a culture in which officers at every rank speak up and address concerns to help prevent mistakes and misconduct and support one another’s well-being.

RTD-PD assists MARTA with patrols during World Cup games

Transit Police is assisting the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Police Department by providing officers during the FIFA World Cup 2026 games. RTD-PD responded to MARTA’s request for additional support to help ensure community safety during the world’s largest sporting event.

Colfax reopens from Broadway to Colorado Boulevard this fall

As construction of the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor continues along East Colfax Avenue, RTD and project partners have announced that routes 15 and 15L will begin operating along a section of the corridor later this year.

In the fall, the two center lanes of East Colfax Avenue from Broadway to Colorado Boulevard will be dedicated bus-only lanes, served by routes 15 and 15L. RTD customers will board these routes at the BRT’s center stations. Passenger vehicles will travel exclusively in the outer traffic lanes along Colfax Avenue. 15/15L buses will continue to serve the East Colfax corridor, operating in the center lanes from Broadway to Colorado Boulevard. Full East Colfax BRT service will begin when construction is complete at the end of 2027.

Click the link below to learn more about the opening of the first section of the corridor and what to expect as the project continues. 

Reconstruction of the Seventh Street crossing near Colfax at Auraria Station was completed on Tuesday and reopened to traffic today. Work continues this week between Seventh and 10th streets with a focus on concrete demolition, rail infrastructure removal, welding, ultrasonic testing, and conduit installation. In the Downtown Loop Midblocks area, demolition for rail reconstruction along Stout Street began between 14th and 15th streets, and preliminary work on inlets is underway on Stout from 16th to 17th. Crews conducted utility investigations and exploratory drilling activities along Stout and California streets to assess underground conditions and support upcoming phases of construction.

Click the links below to view the full update and access The RTD (Rail Projects) Bulletin.

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 waits for customer rushing to bus with bags of groceries

I want to shout out my operator, David Borrego, for his great situational awareness. He saw me carrying bags of groceries as I rushed to the bus stop. He waited for me as I was almost at the bus stop, allowing me to safely get on his bus with my groceries intact.

Bus operator’s fluency in sign language brightens day of her customers

Your bus operator, Sophia Sokolowski, knows what she is doing. She knows how to drive the bus. There was a deaf passenger who got on with her daughter, and Sophia just happened to know sign language. She had a beautiful interaction with her, changing the whole mood of the bus for the better.

RTD, Colorado History Rides, DRCOG lead ride along G Line

Colorado History Rides, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), and RTD held a community bike ride on Friday, June 12, to promote bicycling and transit travel. The group convened at Clear Creek•Federal Station, which is served by the G Line and Route 31. From there, participants traveled Clear Creek and Ralston Creek trails to local destinations in Arvada, including Gold Strike Park and Olde Town Arvada. The 8-mile ride concluded at Wheat Ridge•Ward Station.

RTD, DTP host high school students interested in EV transportation careers

On Monday, 20 Denver Public Schools students visited RTD’s Elati, Mariposa, and Union Station facilities as part of an immersive summer career program that introduces students to careers in electric vehicle technology. Developed through a partnership with Women Who Charge, a Denver-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for electric vehicle adoption, the EV Academy students were given a tour of the maintenance, repair, and operational training center at Elati by Rail Training Manager (O&M) Venessa Stone, who also coordinated a tour of the light rail control and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems at Mariposa.



The students then traveled by light rail to Union Station. There, they met with DTP Project Director and CEO Nate Morgan, who answered their questions about careers in commuter rail mechanics and encouraged them to pursue careers in EV technology and rail.

RTD colleagues recognized for academic achievements using PDP funds at special ceremony 

Twelve RTD employees were recognized at yesterday’s Professional Development Program (PDP) graduation celebration at Blake Street. The ceremony, titled “Elevate and Celebrate: Investing in Professional Growth,” honored colleagues who used their PDP funds to obtain a certification and/or a college degree. General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson provided remarks and joined Learning and Training Specialist Vivian Morales and Director of Employee and Labor Relations Kent Enwright to hand out congratulatory certificates to colleagues being recognized. Learning Administrator Eryn Grover provided an overview of how the Professional Development Program works before Johnson closed out the event. 

The following employees were recognized at the ceremony: 

Young Son, Engineer III, Capital Programs

Certificate in Construction Management from Colorado State University

Nicodemo Casciato, Street Supervisor, Bus Operations

Graduate certificate in Transportation Management from San José State University

Brandon Guess, General Repair Mechanic Helper

Associate Degree in Business Administration from Colorado Technical University

Lt. Andrew Cross, Transit Police Lieutenant

Bachelor of Applied Science in Emergency Management Administration from Arapahoe Community College

Leadership certificate from the School of Police Staff & Command at Northwestern University Center for Public Safety



Corey Averill, Transit Police Officer

Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Colorado Christian University

Randall Peterson, Instructor/Supervisor, Technical Training

Associate Degree in Business Administration from Colorado Technical University

Jackson Grey, Field Supervisor, Commuter Rail Operations

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Colorado Technical University

Robert White, Facilities Maintenance Mechanic

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Colorado State University Global

Steven Wilding-Loddo, Dispatcher, Commuter Rail Operations

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Colorado Technical University

Krystle Douby, Business Support, Service Planning and Scheduling

Master of Science in Real Estate and the Built Environment from University of Denver

Lt. Heidi Hansen, Transit Police Lieutenant

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Liberty University

Trina Khokhar, Distribution Clerk, Human Resources

Certificate in Administrative and Business Leadership from Brigham Young University

Associate Degree in Business Management from Brigham Young University

Click the link below to view a replay of the ceremony’s livestream, as well as a photo gallery with more photos from the event.

Sylvan Creach

Bus Operator (six years)

Walter Shope

Train Operator (10 years)

Marvin Bauer

Electro Mechanic LRV (15 years)

Mathew Cross

Transit Safety Specialist (16 years)

Susan Wood

Project Manager II, Planning (19 years)



Nataly Handlos

Senior Service Planner/Scheduler (21 years)

Best Dressed Operator of the Week: Reggie Castillo Perez

This week’s best dressed operator is Reggie Castillo Perez from Platte Division. Looking good, Reggie! A great first impression can really turn a customer’s day around.

More Operations positions will be posted to Internal Jobs Hub

Approximately 30 positions in the Operations Department will be posted to the Internal Jobs Hub by the end of the week of June 15. This is anticipated to be the final large group of postings related to the realignment underway in Operations. Most roles will publish internally only, and they will largely be supervisory and administrative in nature, with some technical roles included. Each will be posted for at least 10 days, with the first roles in this group closing at the end of the day Sunday, June 28.

Proposed September service changes are available to review

The proposed changes include modifications to bus, rail, and FlexRide services. Key changes include: 

• Introduction of the grant-funded Route AL between Longmont and Denver International Airport
• Route 15/15L to begin serving East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit stations between Broadway and Colorado Boulevard in both directions
• Discontinuation of Route 228 and Wagon Road FlexRide services

Two virtual public meetings and two virtual Ask a Service Planner sessions will be held to gather public feedback regarding the proposed changes:

• Ask a Service Planner: Noon Monday, June 22
• Public meeting: 5:30 p.m. Monday, June 22
• Ask a Service Planner: Noon Tuesday, June 23
• Public meeting: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24

Links to join the virtual meetings are also available on the Service Changes page linked below. 

Submit your feedback today for Employee Ideas Program

In April, RTD introduced the Employee Ideas Program, inviting employees to submit their thoughts and ideas to help improve how RTD operates. Employees are encouraged to share their opinions and experiences to help the agency gather valuable organizational insights. By sharing them, staff can help make work simpler, smarter, and more efficient in a challenging time.

As a reminder, ideas being sought that support or further are:

• Strategic Plan priorities, initiatives, or current tactics
• Cost savings
• Waste reduction (e.g., time, re-work)
• Process improvement (employee or customer-facing processes)

How it works



Submission

Use the online ideas form, linked below, to share ideas and indicate whether you want to remain in the feedback loop to monitor status or participate in implementation efforts.

Review

Each month, the Leadership Team and members of the Employee Ownership Task Force will review all ideas for alignment with RTD's Strategic Priorities, impact, and feasibility.

Selection

Ideas with the strongest potential for implementation and the highest impact on the agency will be prioritized for further exploration and implementation. Ideas not immediately selected will be documented for potential future implementation.

Click the link below to share your thoughts. You can help make a meaningful difference as the agency approaches employee goal setting and identifies Strategic Initiatives for the 2026-2027 Strategic Plan cycle.

Join Senior Performance Analyst Ben Celius next week as he takes a deeper look at the results and findings from this year’s Customer and Community Surveys at Facts-n-Snacks.



Dates and times are below; click the links to RSVP.

Session 1

Virtual, Microsoft Teams

11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 23

Session 2

Virtual, Microsoft Teams

2 p.m. Wednesday,

June 24

Session 3

In-person, Blake Street Conf. Room B

2 p.m. Thursday,

June 25

In this week’s Procurement Pulse, meet two of the lead procurement specialists who play a critical role in the procurement and purchasing processes: Ron Bibeau and Eva Boyd. 

Ron Bibeau

Bibeau started his procurement career in the U. S. Air Force in the early 1980s. With a career in procurement spanning over 30 years, he has gained proficiency and knowledge in the public and private sectors, drawing on not only his background as a procurement professional but also that of a sales executive. Bibeau joined RTD’s Contracting and Procurement team in 2011 with a focus on construction, service, and architectural and engineering projects.

When off the clock, he enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and motorcycling. He is a proud grandfather of three wonderful grandkids and has three golden retrievers that keep him busy.

Eva Boyd

Boyd is a procurement professional with over 25 years of experience in public- and private-sector procurement environments, supporting end-to-end sourcing and contract management. She is experienced in developing and issuing solicitations, evaluating vendor responses, negotiating contracts, and ensuring compliance with applicable policies, regulations, and organizational requirements.

Employees needed to play as actors in upcoming emergency drill 

Transit Police and Emergency Management is seeking colleagues who would like to put their acting skills to the test during the annual N Line Commuter Rail emergency drill on Sept. 15. The drill begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 1 p.m., and will take place at Eastlake•124th Station. Fifteen spots are available. To sign up, send an email to Emergency Management Specialist Amelia Iraheta by clicking the link below.

Celebrate the World Cup every week throughout the tournament by playing the Inside Connections World Cup Pick 'Em! Each week through the conclusion of the tournament July 19, choose the outcome from select matches and see how well you do!

Week 2: June 18-24 (Group Stage, no elimination)

Week 1 results:

Mexico (2) vs.

South Africa (1)

• Mexico: 85%
• South Africa: 9%
• Draw: 6%

USA (4) vs.

Paraguay (1)

• USA: 67%
• Paraguay 15%
• Draw: 19%

Argentina (3) vs.

Algeria (0)

• Argentina: 93%
• Algeria: 3%
• Draw: 3%

Show off your support for your favorite country in the World Cup

The submission period for your World Cup photos has been extended to 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 23! Submit photos of yourself and your friends and families for a chance to be featured in Inside Connections by sending an email to insideconnections@rtd-denver.com.

CORRECTION: Last week’s edition of Inside Connections incorrectly stated Director of Service Planning and Scheduling (O&M) Jessie Carter‘s tenure with RTD. Carter has served the agency for 35 years. The Internal Communications team regrets the error. 

RTD Solicitations

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

“Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.”

— Coretta Scott King

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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