RTD’s annual customer and community surveys reveal several across-the-board improvements in satisfaction, performance, customer experience | | RTD's recently conducted customer and community surveys show double-digit, year-over-year improvements in several categories, including perceptions of personal safety and security, the cleanliness of buses and trains, on-time performance, the frequency of service and the agency’s overall value in the Denver metro area. RTD’s bus operations exceeded the national average for transit agencies in all 16 comparative categories, and rail operations exceeded the national average in 15 of the 16 comparative categories. The survey results also highlighted the fact that “getting to work” is the primary reason people use RTD’s bus and rail services, up more than 7% from 2024. A full breakdown of the survey results, including key takeaways, highlights and historical data, is available at rtd-denver.com/2025survey. | | RTD honors employees who completed degrees, certificates using PDP funds | RTD hosted a graduation celebration on June 18 for employees who graduated with degrees or certificates using PDP funds through the agency’s Continuing Education and Professional Development Program. The event recognized the academic accomplishments of staff who pursued higher education while balancing full-time roles at the agency. | | RTD partners with CBO, FBI to share safety benefits of live look-in | RTD, in partnership with the Colorado Broadband Office (CBO) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is featured in a video demonstrating how the agency’s live look-in system across its fleet supports operator and customer safety. CBO produced the “Broadband for Public Safety” video in collaboration with RTD and the FBI to highlight the critical importance of broadband service across Colorado that makes it possible to capture live look-in video on the agency’s vehicles. | | |
Saturday work at DUS to affect multiple commuter rail lines | RTD will conduct routine maintenance and overhead wire inspections Saturday on tracks 2 through 7 at Denver Union Station. Service to and from the station on B and N lines will be interrupted the entire service day. Regular service for all lines will resume Sunday. |
| 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 fairly enforces fare policy with disorderly customer | |
Our bus driver, Jeffrey Wilson, handled a situation with an aggressive person extremely well. The individual attempted to board the bus without paying the fare. The driver calmly and firmly asked him to pay the fare and said without paying that he would need to exit the bus. The individual was upset and yelled profanities at the driver but ended up exiting without incident.
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| | Information specialist helps to de-escalate tense situation | |
I want to give kudos to Crystal Estrada for the way she handled a threat call that came in on June 16. This was textbook escalation management, especially when this threat was involved. Crystal was calm, direct and focused on gathering information, even getting the rider to offer up their name after threatening to assault the driver.
> Read more <
| | RTD celebrates newest colleagues graduating from training | | On Friday, RTD recognized 30 employees who graduated from their respective training programs, including three commuter rail conductors, eight light rail operators and 19 bus operators. Click the link below to watch the ceremony, which was the first to be livestreamed, and view photos from the event. Don’t forget to congratulate RTD’s latest graduates when you see them! | | Welcome to RTD’s newest employees! | | Seventeen employees joined the agency at Monday’s orientation. Welcome aboard! We are glad you are here. | | |
Thomas Black
Bus Operator
Amadou Boussinengue
Bus Operator
Mycha Coleman
Bus Operator
Victor Gimer*
Bus Operator
JJ Montoya*
Bus Operator
Brhane Tesfay
Bus Operator
Renardo Ximines
Bus Operator
Christopher Garst
Bus Operator
Roy Horn
Bus Operator
Amanuel Kassa
Bus Operator
Ibrahim Mustafa
Bus Operator
Brian Ogle
Bus Operator
Christopher Roshon
Bus Operator
Gemechu Ugum
Bus Operator
Calvin White
Bus Operator
Cornelly Babina Fouakuanzenza
Train Operator
Abijah Burton
Train Operator
Neamen Dobamo
Train Operator
John Rocha
Facilities Maintenance Mechanic
Tamara Redmond
Analyst, Compensation
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Dennis Fesquez
Service Worker
Richard Madrid
Service Worker
Muhammad Farizi
Service Worker
Robert Skaggs
Custodian/Public Facilities Maintenance
Erik Flores
Custodian/Public Facilities Maintenance
Nazario Valladares
Landscaper
Troy Hendricks
Records Technician
Shaneka Jackson*
Information Specialist
Curtis Filkin
Service Monitor
Zachary Wallis*
Service Monitor
Pedro Rebolledo
Rail Laborer
Orlando Sanchez
Electro Mechanic, LRV
Lucas Bosley
Public Relations Specialist
Jahsonte Evans
Transit Police Officer
Paolo Tabolacci*
Transit Police Officer
Brandon Floyd*
Lead Dispatcher
Rick Hoang
Technical Support Analyst I
Kiernan Maletsky
Project Manager I, Planning
Mark Morarie
Videographer
(*) denotes rehire
| | Bus Transportation is proud to recognize operator Darren Maglischo from Boulder as the best-dressed bus operator of the week! Darren, thanks for doing your part to maintain uniform standards and for representing RTD stylishly! | | |
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At last night’s Board of Directors meeting, the Board authorized General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson to enter into certain agreements with Ulysses Development Group related to a transit oriented development at Central Park Station. It awarded RailWorks Partners a contract to reconstruct the rail at the intersection of Kalamath Street and Speer Boulevard; awarded JCOR Inc. a contract to replace HVAC systems at Elati, Mariposa and the Security Command Center; approved the annual comprehensive financial report; awarded a contract to Brandenberry McKenna Public Affairs for state lobbying services; and appointed Board Chair Julien Bouquet to the Senate Bill 25-161 Accountability Committee.
Prior to last night’s monthly meeting, the Board convened for a special session in which the Board approved two key items. First, the Board approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to facilitate further analysis and discussions around joint rail service in the northwest corridor. Other state entities that have adopted the IGA, or are expected to do so, are the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Transportation Commission, Front Range Passenger Rail District, Colorado Transportation Investment Office and the Clean Transit Enterprise. Second, the Board voted to terminate the system advertising contract with Lamar Transit.
Click the thumbnail above to watch last night's monthly Board meeting, and click the link below to view yesterday's special Board meeting.
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| This summer, help kids get ready for school with RTD Gives | | | | Every student deserves to start the school year with the resources they need to learn, grow and thrive. That’s why RTD is bringing back its RTD Gives campaign, partnering with A Precious Child to collect and distribute school supplies to students across the metro area. The supplies collected will go directly to children experiencing poverty, helping them walk into the classroom with confidence and dignity. | | |
In 2023, A Precious Child distributed more than 18,000 backpacks across eight Colorado counties. With the help of RTD employees and the public, we can reach even more this year.
RTD’s Zero Fare for Youth program removes transportation barriers so students can get to school, summer programs and essential services. With your support, we can make sure they also have the tools they need once they get to class.
From now through Friday, July 26, drop off new backpacks, notebooks, pencils, markers and other classroom essentials in collection bins at all RTD divisions and sales outlets. Prefer to give online? A donation page has been set up here.
Community Engagement invites RTD employees to volunteer at the following opportunities:
Community Day at Union Station
- Saturday, July 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Represent RTD, collect donations and connect with Fan Expo attendees
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Sign up for Community Day here
Employee Donation Sorting Event
- Wednesday, July 30, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
- Sort donations into categories to prepare for their distribution
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Sign up for donation sorting here
For more information, visit the Hub or contact Taylor Curtis, Youth Engagement Specialist, at taylor.curtis@rtd-denver.com.
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Community Engagement seeks feedback about programs, offerings | Did you participate in a parade, public meeting or community celebration with RTD’s Community Engagement team, or are you interested in getting involved in the future? They want to hear from you! Community Engagement is seeking feedback on their experiences to help determine what it offers in the future. The survey closes today. Click the link below to take the survey. | |
Greeting cards are available to show appreciation, gratitude | Have a reason to say “thank you”? Led by Communications and Engagement, RTD has newly designed greeting cards to express appreciation, congratulations or encouragement for a job well done. Interested departments and/or supervisors and managers can request four different types of cards in increments of 25 or 50, depending upon the card. Click on the link below to open and complete the request form. Have questions? Contact Business Program Manager Betsy Hinojosa (betsy.hinojosa@rtd-denver.com). |
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From Communications and Engagement: Revised business templates are now available in accordance with Title VI | |
Earlier this month, a new suite of business templates was uploaded to the Hub that comply with new Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standard, as required by the federal government. These templates have been designed to ensure that all RTD employees can easily create documents that meet the new standards.
The updated templates, now available for PC and Mac, feature appropriate font types, sizes, header structures and color contrasts that enable content creators to produce accessible documents effortlessly.
To ensure compliance, all employees must delete their old templates and transfer any important documents to the new templates by July 1. A link to the new templates is here.
As a reminder, standards in compliance with the new requirements are:
- All images must have alternate text
- Text should be in 12-point Tahoma font style
- Charts should be inserted into documents using the Add Chart tool
- Poor color contrast combinations (similar colors like yellow and white or blue and purple) should be avoided
Please contact ADA Manager Gabe Christie (gabe.christie@rtd-denver.com) with questions. To access and download all-new icons for RTD's Values, Strategic Initiatives and Strategic Priorities, click the link below.
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| From Benefits and Well-being: Introducing the Nourish challenge | | | | |
The RTD Wellbeing Team is excited to introduce Nourish, a new four-week challenge designed to help turn healthy eating intentions into lasting habits.
Featuring a vibrant garden theme, Nourish lets participants choose the wellness activities that are most meaningful and motivating to them. As participants track their healthy actions, they'll grow virtual fruits, vegetables and grains – and unlock delicious recipes using ingredients from their garden.
All employees and household members ages 18 and older are welcome to participate.
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Employee participants can win wellness prizes that include:
- Weekly drawings for a percussion massager
- Final drawing for one of five (5) $100 Whole Foods gift cards
Registration opens Monday, June 30, and is open through July 20. The challenge begins July 14 and ends Aug. 10.
Join RTD and Nourish and take small steps toward a healthier, more nourished you. Click here for a video outlining what to expect during the challenge.
Click on the link below starting Monday to register.
| | Reminder: Registration is open for the 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, Auto and Bike Show at the 2025 Bus Roadeo | | |
Spots are still available for teams to compete in the 2025 Bus Roadeo 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament! Grab your squad and see if you have what it takes to be this year’s champion.
Not a basketball player but have a sweet ride to show off? Enter it in the Auto and Bike Show! Showcase your ride while attendees vote for their favorites. Cars and motorcycles are welcome to enter. Register today by clicking the link below.
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| 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 | |
"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any."
— Alice Walker
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