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Annual customer, community surveys show strong gains in satisfaction with transit services | |
RTD’s latest customer and community surveys show that satisfaction with the agency’s bus and rail services exceeds national averages in several key areas, including community value, reasonable fare prices, and courteous and helpful operators. Findings also indicate improvements in perceptions of bus and rail services, with the largest gains in the timeliness of buses (+15%), commuter rail (+10%), and light rail trains (+26%).
Bus and rail customers report overall satisfaction levels at 26% and 31% higher than the national average, respectively. The agency'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.
| | Next-generation buses approved for East Colfax BRT | Last Wednesday, the Board of Directors approved the purchase of 47 new 60-foot articulated buses, marking a significant step forward for East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), one of the region's largest transit infrastructure projects. The newly procured vehicles are designed to operate along East Colfax Avenue between downtown Denver and I-225 in Aurora, helping deliver faster, more reliable service for one of the region’s busiest, most traveled transit corridors. | | |
Colorado governor signs three bills into law affecting RTD | |
Last Thursday, while on board a 16th Street FreeRide bus, Gov. Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 26-150. The bill, titled “Modernizing RTD,” introduces several changes to the agency’s governance structure, most notably reducing the Board of Directors from a 15-member body to nine. Of the nine, five members will be elected by the public from much larger districts, and four will be at-large members. The four at-large members will consist of a member chosen by the Denver Regional Council of Governments, a member who is a current or former member of the Amalgamated Transit Union 1001, and two members appointed by the governor. This new structure goes into effect in January 2029.
Click the link below to learn more about this and two additional bills signed by the governor.
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| Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project service modifications take effect Sunday as part of June changes | |
RTD is finalizing preparations for the service changes taking effect this Sunday. These updates will include major modifications to several agency services to accommodate the next phase of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project.
This phase of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project will rebuild track in two key areas: along Colfax Avenue between Ninth and Seventh streets, and within the Central Business District along Stout and California streets between 14th and 19th streets.
Note that no downtown intersections will be affected by this work, and the 16th Street FreeRide willcontinue operating without any detours.
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At the May meeting, the Board of Directors adopted a support position on a proposal by the Denver City Council to allow nightclubs to stay open until 4 a.m. (alcohol sales would still cease at 2 a.m.). The 15-member group also authorized the agency to enter into on-call work order contracts with AECOM, HNTB, and Benesch to provide consulting services for infrastructure investments; approved the inclusion of newly annexed areas in Director Districts into the district; and approved the Board of Directors Collaboration Tool Use Policy.
Additionally, as noted above, the Board voted to procure 47 60-foot articulated buses for use on the East Colfax Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route, with an option to purchase up to 80 additional buses during the five-year contract term.
During the meeting, the Board discussed at length and approved a $3 million agreement to provide bridge funding to the Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) District to support station area planning, public engagement, and communication outreach ahead of a planned November ballot measure seeking voter approval for a tax increase to fund the new Colorado Connector ("CoCo") train.
Prior to the Board meeting, the Board held a study session to discuss concepts and ideas to reduce the 2027 budget deficit. During this session, the Board discussed prioritization of tactics to continue reducing the deficit. Further action on the discussed items is anticipated during the June Board meeting cycle.
Click the thumbnail above to watch the full Board meeting, and click the link below to watch the study session that took place just prior.
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| 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. | | FlexRide operator goes out of his way to assist older customer with groceries | I want to tell you that the FlexRide driver who brought me home from Walmart to Pinecombe Village in Brighton, Shawn McKnight, was exceptional. He helped me get my little cart and my groceries onto the bus and off the bus. He was very kind and very thoughtful. | | N Line conductor steps in to stop kids from harassing a customer | I would like to commend N Line conductor Byron Maler for standing up for me today. I was on the train, and there were these kids who kept harassing me. Maler instructed the kids to stop with the harassment and checked up on me afterward to make sure I was OK. | | June's Operator of the Month is Sadibou Drammeh from East Metro! Drammeh was commended for taking swift, immediate action to help a customer on his bus who was having a stroke. He pulled over next to a fire station along his route and notified the firefighters about the customer, and they rushed in to render immediate aid. Amid the stressful situation, Drammeh remained calm, cool, and collected, following the firefighters' instructions to make it easier for them to tend to the customer. Thanks to his awareness of his position on the route and his quick decision-making, the customer was able to obtain medical aid quickly. | | |
Meet more members of the Materials Management team | Contracting and Procurement continues with its “Meet the Materials Management Group” series by highlighting four more senior materials management specialists. Meet Joe Rivera Jr., Tyrone Head, Robert Ritchie, and John Barber, all of whom oversee materials management for different areas of the agency, ensuring RTD remains in compliance with agency policies and procedures. | | Contracting and Procurement staff earn certifications | | |
Contracting and Procurement congratulates Procurement Specialist II Patrick Naulty, pictured at left, and Director of Contracting and Procurement Dana Steele, at right, for obtaining several professional certifications last month.
Naulty obtained his Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) certification, which recognizes professionals with strong foundational skills in public procurement and affirms competency in purchasing processes, ethics, and compliance.
Steele obtained her National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) and Certified Procurement Professional (CPP) Certification (NIGP-CPP), which showcases advanced, strategic procurement expertise.
Congratulations to both Naulty and Steele for earning these esteemed professional certifications!
| | Customer Care begins six-day-a-week schedule Sunday | | | | Beginning June 7, RTD’s Customer Care Division will no longer operate on Sundays due to low call volume. Customer Care will continue to be available 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and on holidays. | | Staff is encouraged to remind customers that Customer Care can be reached at 303.299.6000 during operating hours. Reports can be submitted at any time through the Customer Comment Form on the RTD website. Employees can report any customer-facing issues by completing the OneRTD Care Reporting Form linked below. | | Gabbing with Gabe and Gisa returns June 17 to Blake Street | |
Gabbing with Gabe and Gisa returns June 17 featuring ADA Manager Gabe Christie and Civil Rights Outreach Specialist Gisa Simmons. This session will explore how departments across the agency collaborate to deliver accessible and equitable transit services.
Employees are invited to attend the session, which takes place 10-11:30 a.m. in Conference Room T&D at Blake Street. Click the link below to register.
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ADA Office to visit Customer Care, Boulder Division next week | |
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Office will continue to visit divisions this month to gather employee feedback about on-the-road and public-facing experiences. The team will also be available to answer questions and address concerns about ADA policies and procedures.
Dates, times, and locations are below. Please direct questions to Civil Rights Administrator Tim Dean (tim.dean@rtd-denver.com).
- Customer Care (711 building): 10 a.m.-noon June 9
- Boulder Division: 10 a.m.-noon June 11
- East Metro Division: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. June 23
- Platte Division: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. June 25
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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 | |
"Who you are is beautiful and amazing."
— Laverne Cox
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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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