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The Internal Communications team last month put out a call for nominations for Transit Employee Appreciation Day, asking employees to identify colleagues who do amazing work and consistently go above and beyond. You delivered – and it has been a joy to see it!
Individual honorees from Bus Operations, Light Rail and N Line Operations, as well as four track maintainer teammates, graciously agreed to discuss their work in depth. Those profiles are below. See also a gallery of additional nominees along with commendations by their colleagues.
Thank you to every RTD employee for the skills, experience and dedication you bring to your role. The public we serve sees your contributions – and those around you see it, too.
| | Jeff Carlson, Light Rail Operator | | Track maintainers Orville Cummings, Solomon Martinez, Luis Hinojo and Jason Siragusa | | Brandon Fernandez, Train Engineer | | Jaime Contreras, Bus Operator | | A message from RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson for Transit Employee Appreciation Day | | | | Click the thumbnail to view a special message of appreciation from RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson, and click the link below to view a special public webpage highlighting RTD's employees for Transit Employee Appreciation Day. | | Click the links below to view an infographic highlighting some of the amazing milestones employees collectively achieve for the agency, as well as the TEAD Kudoboard. | | RTD announces CBA with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #72 | At a special media event last Wednesday, the RTD Board of Directors authorized the agency’s General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson to enter into a three-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #72 to represent the RTD Transit Police force. Following a special Board of Directors meeting to approve the agreement, RTD held a news conference and signing ceremony of the CBA's preamble at the agency's Blake Street headquarters. | | Women's History Month: 'Why RTD?' | Jess Shipers | |
RTD is celebrating Women’s History Month by highlighting its employees who contribute to RTD’s mission of making lives better through connections. Each week, RTD is sharing a short video featuring an employee about what it’s like to be a part of RTD.
This week, meet Jess Shipers, Director, Talent Acquisition, Human Resources. Click the thumbnail above to learn about her.
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| RTD celebrates latest class of bus, light rail operators | | |
Last Friday, 18 bus and seven light rail operators graduated from training at a joint ceremony at the RTD headquarters.
In the left photo, from left to right and starting with the front row, RTD’s newest bus operators are Richard Greenlee, Troy Gallegos and Heresy Banks; and in the back row: Douglas Larson, Tigist Gebreegziabher and Fasika Abicho. In the upper right photo, from left to right and starting with the front row: Satish Acharya, JD Quintero, John Tipton and Kachyto Jacobi; and in the back row: Jack Jeffries, Paz Hardy, Shante Simpson, Maryam Hasan, Yaquelin Rangel, Alfredo Dominguez, Kent Williams and Landry Quedraogo.
In the lower right photo, from left to right and starting with the front row, RTD’s newest light rail operators are Salina Rios, Maureesha McAdory and Baja Silalahi; and in the back row: Randall Browner, Hunter May, Doug Mallory and Matthew York.
| | Welcome to RTD's newest employees! | Forty-five new employees joined the agency at Monday’s orientation, making it the largest orientation class of 2025 to date. Welcome aboard! We are glad that you are here. | | RTD, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #72 enters CBA at media event | | |
Last Wednesday afternoon at RTD’s headquarters, RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson joined Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #72 President Corey Averill and RTD Board members to officially enter into a three-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the FOP Lodge #72, thus unionizing RTD’s Transit Police officers.
At the event, attendees, including members of the local media and RTD employees, heard remarks from Johnson, Averill, Board Chair Julien Bouquet and Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Stuart Summers and witnessed the official signing of the CBA preamble.
| | RTD employees, TMA/O partners host Transit Employee Appreciation Day events across metro area | | |
Yesterday morning during Transit Employee Appreciation Day, RTD employees teamed up with local Transportation Management Association/Organization (TMA/O) partners at Central Park, Civic Center, Federal Center, I-25·Broadway, Littleton·Downtown, and US 36·Sheridan stations, as well as the Wagon Road Park-n-Ride, to celebrate transit employees across the metro area. Customers had the opportunity to leave kind messages on poster boards for transit employees to read while staff members handed out treats to bus and light rail operators and other frontline employees.
Click the link below to view a gallery from yesterday's activations.
| | 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 assists elderly customer with stop directions | |
At Louisiana•Pearl Station, the driver, Tyler Connell, got out of his seat to speak to an elderly rider and explain to him that this station has a light rail connection to downtown—presumably trying to help the man with his destination. The rider didn’t want to get off the bus after all, but the driver was courteous, quick, very polite and tried his best to help his rider. Fantastic bus driver, thank you.
> Read more <
| | FlexRide operator's kindness resonates with customer | |
I'd like to leave some compliments for my driver. He picked me up at 3 p.m. and was really polite and friendly. He's a new driver, yet he made it a great experience. His name is David Gallardo.
> Read more <
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June Olson
Senior Information Security Analyst (One year)
| | Brand book, toolkit now available on the RTD website | |
The RTD brand is about so much more than just the logo. It is the visual and verbal expression of who RTD is as an organization, why it exists and the promise the agency makes to its customers every single day.
Through carefully chosen words, images and service offerings, RTD communicates the value we provide, as well as its unyielding commitment to the people it serves. RTD's brand signifies and influences everything it does as an agency.
To download the latest Brand Book and refreshed branding toolkit, please click the link below. For more resources, visit the Marketing page on the Hub.
| | Volunteers are still needed to assist with Future Fest event | Don't forget that RTD will be attending Future Fest, an inclusive, free event in Denver on Saturday, April 26–and passionate colleagues are needed to support this youth outreach effort! | The festival is intended for young people and their families. At least one Spanish speaker is desired for each shift. If you would like to participate, click the link below by Friday, March 21, to sign up. | | Today's Dialogue with Debra is now available to view online | | | | |
Earlier today, RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson joined dozens of employees in the paint bay at District Shops for the first Dialogue with Debra of the year.
Employees who missed today's session can view it online at any time by clicking the link below.
| | Free MallRide stop at Civic Center Station to be temporarily relocated | | RTD will temporarily relocate the Free MallRide stop at Civic Center Station to complete concrete repairs in the shuttle turnaround. The work will begin Monday, March 24, and is expected to last approximately one week. | | |
While repairs are being made at Civic Center Station, the turnaround for RTD’s Free MallRide will be temporarily closed. Customers will board and deboard on the west side of Broadway at Cheyenne Place.
The Free MallRide will continue to provide service to customers on 15th and 17th streets between Curtis Street and Civic Center Station through completion of the 16th Street Mall project in 2025.
Check RTD’s Service Alerts webpage or more information. The MallRide runs seven days a week between Civic Center Station and Union Station.
| | Event recorder system Q&A now available on the Hub | |
RTD is working to replace the SmartDrive event recorder system on its bus fleet, which has been in place since 2013 and has become obsolete. The new system will provide the same information that the SmartDrive system has been providing. The event recorder system is designed to promote safe bus operations through the collection of data on bus events. This data will be used to assist accident investigation, mitigate risk to the agency and notify operations of risky driving behaviors.
Click the link below for more information.
| | From Cybersecurity: Use 'Phish Alert' in Outlook to flag phish attempts | You receive an email asking you to take an action. Sounds suspicious, right? But don’t worry. You can be a hero by taking the correct action–and giving your IT department the information they need to defend your organization against the effects of malicious email attacks. It’s easy. Thanks to the Phish Alert Button, or PAB for short. | | RTD GM/CEO speaks with TAM America to discuss vision for agency | Transit Asset Management of America, or better known as TAM America, interviewed RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson to discuss her approach and vision in positioning RTD for success with customers, employees and local communities. Click the link below to read the full interview. | | Bus Transportation and Maintenance Department begins personnel transition process | |
In light of the upcoming departure of Assistant General Manager (AGM) of Bus Operations Fred Worthen this Friday, RTD will be implementing a leadership transition plan to ensure the continuity of operations through the recruitment process for the newly vacant position.
Effective close of business Friday, Greg Smith, currently Deputy AGM, Bus Operations, will serve as Acting Assistant General Manager, Bus Operations and will report directly to RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson. Erin Vallejos, currently Senior Manager, Contracted Services, will serve as Acting Deputy AGM, Bus Operations and will report directly to Smith. Bus Operations’ Paratransit Division will report directly to Vallejos. Lastly, Jessie Carter, Senior Manager, Service Development, will continue to serve in his current role and will report directly to Johnson.
Details on the recruitment process for a new permanent AGM of Bus Operations will be shared in the coming weeks.
| | 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 biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."
— Oprah Winfrey
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