Chief Operations Officer Michael Ford to retire in April | | |
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RTD Chief Operations Officer Michael Ford has announced his retirement April 5, after six years with the agency and a career in public and private transportation that spans more than four decades. He began his career in a custodial role for Greyhound while in college and served transit agencies in the Pacific Northwest, California and Michigan. Click the link below to read the memo announcing Ford’s departure. | |
RTD launches elevator pilot program to address illegal activities | |
Starting Sunday, March 17, the elevator doors at Nine Mile, Colorado and Southmoor stations will be reprogrammed through mid-June to rest with their doors open, an operational adjustment that is part of RTD’s Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) approach. In January and February of this year, the agency received more than 350 reports of less-than-optimal conditions for these three stations. | |
Fare pricing added to Next Ride | |
As of March 7, customers now see the fare price when they use the Trip Planner on Next Ride. Simplifying the purchase process was driven by public feedback and the agency’s strategic initiative to provide a welcoming transit environment. | |
RTD highlights women in transit during Women's History Month: Meet Gwendolyn Baldwin | Gwendolyn Baldwin is known as “Mother Gwen” by some of her colleagues for always taking care of everyone. She is a parts clerk who has been on the RTD team for 23 years. | |
L Line to be suspended March 18-22 for safety improvement work | For five days beginning Monday, March 18, and continuing through the end of service on Friday, March 22, work crews will make safety improvements along the alignment. L Line customers are encouraged to use Bus Route 43 as an alternative service. | |
Staff support needed for upcoming open house events | |
The Communications and Engagement Department is requesting help from staff across the agency to assist with five open houses in municipalities affected by the upcoming rail projects, detours and service changes. Employee assistance will be needed with welcome and check-in; providing overviews of the coping panel and near-term downtown rail reconstruction projects; showing customers how to sign up for Service Alerts and use the Trip Planner web app; staffing a children's activity; and assisting with a snack and water table.
Expertise about the projects is not needed to participate in these events. Visit the link below to view open opportunities and sign up.
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Congratulations to light rail's newest operators, instructors! | |
Three newly certified light rail operators, two revenue instructors and one light rail vehicle instructor graduated from training March 8. The newest operators are Mario Porras Chaves, second from left, Aeimen Safieh, third from left, and Ajha Baca, second from right. The newest revenue instructors are Aaron Spudich, at left, and Adam Crews, at right. The newest light rail vehicle instructor is Author Scott, third from right. | |
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. | |
Dispatcher goes above and beyond to put RTD values at center of their work | |
Saul Romero embodies the core values of trustworthiness, passion and ownership in their role as a bus dispatcher. Their deep understanding of bus maintenance, the CAD/AVL system and RTD policies not only facilitates smooth operations, but also makes them an invaluable asset to the entire team.
> Read more <
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Service persons' long careers highlighted by hard work, service to agency | |
Service persons Maria Quiel, Brian Varney and Terry Smith should be recognized for their hard work and commitment to RTD. Maria is a hardworking woman who has been committed to RTD for 26 years and counting. She was one of the employees who didn’t miss work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
> Read more <
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February's work anniversaries | |
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5 years
John Bullers
Senior Instructor, OCS Supervisor
Rafael Gutierrez
Senior Instructor, Track Supervisor
Kathy Rinkel
Budget Analyst IV
Ray Lopez
Bus Operator
Mitchell Magoon
Electro Mechanic, LRV
Chris Carter
Information Specialist
Dan Horn
Quality Control Inspector
Aliou Diallo
Bus Operator
Mellese Hailemariam
Bus Operator
Mebratu Hadera
Equipment Maintenance Supervisor
Sjontonn Johnson
General Repair Mechanic
Keosomalee Prark
Train Operator
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10 years
Marquis Ellis
Street Supervisor
Andrew Hina
Bus Operator
Rex Richison
Bus Operator
Brett McDavid
Systems Administrator, Customer Care
Daniel Finch
Train Operator
Joseph Moore
Train Operator
Keith Padilla
Body Mechanic, Body Shop
Bonnie Syme
Accounting Clerk
15 years
Patricia Garcia
Train Engineer
Jarrod West
Street Supervisor
Travis Bussey
Assistant Manager, HR DOT Compliance
Joseph Archuleta
Bus Operator
Matthew Impellitteri
LRT Controller
Mark Laba
Bus Operator
Lance Longenbohn
Bus Operator
John Oldham
Facilities Maintenance Mechanic, Public Facilities
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20 years
John Barber
Senior Materials Management Specialist
Erik Chavez-Dominguez
Train Operator
Frank Aguirre
Bus Operator
Carmella Jones
Bus Operator
Mohammad Zarei
Electronic Technician, Revenue Systems
25 years
Quentin Smith
LRV Maintenance Supervisor
Mike Haley
Senior Technician, Vehicle Engineering
Michael Doherty
Electronic Technician
Shannon Martinez
LRT Field Supervisor
Jamie Mallard
Bus Operator
30 years
Robbie Hunter
Senior Equipment Engineer
35 years
Sandra Kerr
Manager, East Metro Operating Division
Tom Barlow
Accountant, Investment and Debt
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Next Dialogue with Debra is March 20 at Mariposa | | |
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Join RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson and guest panelists from RTD's Leadership Team for the agency's next Dialogue with Debra, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, on the shop floor of the Mariposa division.
Can’t make it in person? The session will be livestreamed via Zoom and shown on the internal public information displays around the agency. Login details can be found by clicking the red button. Send questions in advance to generalmanager@rtd-denver.com.
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Customers share gratitude for employees during Valentine's Day campaign | In honor of Valentine’s Day last month, RTD customers had the opportunity to express appreciation for employees. Check out some of their messages by clicking the link below! | |
Nominate colleagues for National Transit Employee Appreciation Day | Do you know of a colleague who has done great work to advance transit and RTD's mission in the Denver metro area? Let us know! Email your recommendations to the Internal Communications team at insideconnections@rtd-denver.com by Monday, March 18, so they can be featured in the March 20 edition of Inside Connections. | |
RTD joins White House's Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose initiative | |
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The White House announced a nationwide call to action today, asking stakeholders across sectors to commit to increased training on and access to lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medications. RTD has joined the initiative, along with transit systems that include the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose initiative also includes public and private partners in air travel, education, hospitality and entertainment.
At RTD, opioid overdose reversal medication Narcan is carried by all POST-certified Transit Police officers and contracted security supervisors. Additionally, all contracted security guards have immediate access to Narcan in their vehicles. Narcan is stored and available at RTD’s major transit hubs across its 2,342-square-mile service area. In 2023, this medication was successfully administered to 103 individuals experiencing an overdose at RTD stops and stations, in buses and trains, and at transit facilities. In the first two months of 2024, RTD-PD administered Narcan to 22 individuals.
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Update: Bus Operations career fair rescheduled for March 28 | | |
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RTD has moved this event two weeks due to the snowstorm forecast for this week. All individuals interested in full- or part-time opportunities as bus operators are invited to attend the event, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center, 15500 E. 40th Ave., Denver. | |
Be one with the Force in a special video shoot | |
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RTD is looking for a few employees to assist with a short, Star Wars-themed video to promote RTD services via social media and/or internal and external RTD newsletters in May. Employees interested in appearing in the video project will need to be available for approximately two hours of filming during standard business hours on Friday, March 29. Limited volunteer spots are available, so please express your interest by contacting Austin Nettleton at austin.nettleton@rtd-denver.com by Friday, March 22. Those who have Darth Vader, Chewbacca, stormtroopers or other Star Wars costumes are encouraged to share them for this Force-filled video project.
For those unable to participate in the video shoot, submit your best Star Wars-related content (e.g., cosplay, events, vacations, Halloween costumes) to insideconnections@rtd-denver.com by April 29 to be featured in a special Star Wars edition of Inside Connections.
Please note that this is an unpaid volunteer opportunity.
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Enjoy the summer at Coors Field with discounted Rockies tickets | It’s almost time to grab the sunscreen, snag some brats and enjoy those famous Colorado days at the ballpark. RTD is teaming up with the Colorado Rockies to offer discounted tickets to select baseball games this season! | |
RTD partners with Empower Retirement for monthly educational webinar series | Join Empower Retirement for the next installment of the company’s monthly retirement education series, about how to navigate the Empower website and manage accounts online. This event will be at 11:45 a.m. March 21. | |
From Cybersecurity: Use the Phish Alert button to report potential phishing emails | |
Phishing is the most common tool used by cybercriminals to steal login credentials, personal information, data and intellectual property. Did an email come through that appears “phishy,” demanding unexpected quick action, comes from an unknown sender, or asks the user to supply login credentials or other personal information? If so, use the Phish Alert button (PAB) in Outlook. | | |
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Debra's Quote of the Week | |
“A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.”
– Melinda French Gates
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