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| Bus Transportation introduces 'Proud to Represent, Dressed to Lead' initiative | | Operator Vicky Gaschler from Platte Division was named Best Dressed operator for the week of May 12. | | Operator and instructor Ike Veiga from Bus Operator Training was selected Best Dressed operator for the week of May 5. | | There is a saying that goes, “Look good, feel good, perform good.” That’s why RTD has a dress code for its bus and rail operators. Dressing the part is a great way to provide customers with a positive first impression of the agency. To ensure operators are in approved apparel, Bus Transportation is introducing the “Proud to Represent, Dressed to Lead” initiative. | | RTD will have added 27,000 in-service hours in 2025 with May service changes | | With the latest service changes, beginning Sunday, May 25, RTD is increasing its overall level of service, with more buses and trains running, longer operating hours and more frequent service compared with 2024. Notable changes include reinstatement of the Free MetroRide, the addition of a northbound N Line trip from Union Station on Friday evenings, the renaming of Route P to Route PD, and increased service on Routes 16, 44, 73, 153 and NB2. | | Late K-9 Max honored at National Police K-9 Memorial Service | | On Sunday, four members of the Transit Police Department joined fellow law enforcement professionals in grief and gratitude in Washington, D.C., for the National Police K-9 Memorial Service. The event, held at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, was hosted by the National Police Dog Foundation and honored 22 K-9s who gave their lives in service in 2024. | | 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 assists customer on ride to the hospital | |
I need to give a commendation for my driver, Michael Daniel. Mike gave me excellent assistance. I'm 77 years old and blind, and I had to go to the hospital while it was raining. I had a ride scheduled, but it was 30 minutes away from the time it was when Mike pulled in.
> Read more <
| | Bus operator's smooth driving makes trips enjoyable for customer | |
I want to commend Abinash Suryabanshi. This driver is hands down one of the best I’ve ever ridden with. His driving is smooth, consistent and incredibly mindful of passengers. I usually struggle with motion sickness on buses, but not this time.
> Read more <
| | Steve Martingano sworn in Tuesday as Chief of Police and Emergency Management | | |
Yesterday at Union Station, longtime RTD leader Steve Martingano was sworn in as the agency’s next Chief of Police and Emergency Management. He joined RTD in 2015 as a commander, was promoted to deputy chief in 2017 and was named an acting chief in July 2024. Martingano assumed sole responsibility for the Transit Police Department in February. As was noted at Tuesday’s event, substantial improvements have been made under his leadership to address safety and security concerns. The chief’s observations about customer needs led to the creation of the country’s first mental health co-responder unit in transit policing, for example, and data from this approach helped identify the need to add outreach coordinators focused on the unhoused population.
In his comments, Martingano said that his top priority as chief is reducing crime across the RTD system. He also noted investments the department has made in technology to help officers respond swiftly and effectively, along with ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with community organizations, social services and mental health professionals.
“As I step into this role, I do so with great humility and even greater optimism,” Martingano told those in attendance. “I believe that together – with smart strategies, strong partnerships and a shared vision – we can make RTD one of the safest and most welcoming transit systems in the country.”
Click below to watch a recording of the ceremony and browse a gallery of images from the event.
| | Transit Police officers work in service of the public | | |
Transit Police Cmdr. Brian Cousineau shared two images that illustrate some of the work the department’s members have been doing.
In the first photo, Officer Keith Cambra, Cpl. Misa Peterson, Officer Scott Butler, Officer Brian Cambra and Officer Ian Galgano are pictured with a man who was stuck at Denver Union Station last week because he lost his ticket to Albuquerque, N.M., and did not have the resources to purchase another one. The man was also hearing-impaired and non-verbal, which challenged his ability to communicate with others and caused him some frustration. These officers and Sgt. Jason Spillis (who took the photo), Cousineau said, “were patient with the gentleman, understood his difficult situation and took it upon themselves to help him. The officers collected money out of their own pockets and purchased a ticket for the gentleman and assisted him so he could make it home.”
In the second photo, Officer Keith Cambra conducts a routine search of a light rail train with K-9 Koa, “ensuring all of our customers have a safe and welcoming environment for wherever their travels take them,” Cousineau said.
| | Welcome to RTD's newest employees | Twenty-five employees joined the agency at Monday's orientation. Welcome aboard! We are glad you are here and look forward to meeting you. | | |
5 years
Firmin Lucas
Operations Analyst
Elizabeth Michels
Train Operator
George Andresen
Train Operator
Cody Holt
Track Supervisor
Raymond Ferreris
Supervisor, Light Rail MOW
10 years
David Kenyon
Custodian/Public Facilities Maintenance
Monika Treipl-Harnke
Senior Manager, Revenue
Anvay Pathak
Oracle Database Administrator
Rafal Kijak
Train Operator
Christopher McClaren
General Repair Mechanic
Everet Lease
Public Safety Dispatcher
Steve Palma
Accounting Clerk
Joshua Erickson
Support Vehicle Mechanic
Zacheria Lamorie
Facilities Maintenance Mechanic, Public Facilities
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20 years
Sarah Bender
Service Person
Tina Aragon
Executive Assistant I
Jill Fontaine
Lead Dispatcher
John Prather
Certified Facilities Maintenance Mechanic (Electrician)
Jason Jolly
Lead Field Supervisor, Commuter Rail
Matthew Millard
Electro Mechanic LRV
25 years
Van Tran
Senior Web Developer
Zhi-Yong Zhang
Senior ETL Developer
Marcus Morris
Bus Operator
Nadir Boumghar
Bus Operator
30 years
James Newman
Electronic Technician, Revenue Systems
Lisa Chacon
Business Support II
40 years
Pamela Johnson
Maintenance/Sign Out Clerk
| | Save the date: 2025 Light Rail, Snowplow and Bus Ro(a)deos | | |
Operators and mechanics, do you have what it takes to be the best at RTD? Prove it at this year’s ro(a)deos! The Light Rail, Bus and Snowplow Ro(a)deos return for 2025, giving operators, mechanics and service workers a chance to showcase their skills in friendly competition for a chance to earn the title of RTD’s best, and to represent the agency at the international ro(a)deos in 2026. Save the dates below — and start getting those skills dialed in.
- Light Rail Rodeo
- Aug. 16 at Elati
- Snowplow Roadeo
- Aug. 22 at District Shops
- Bus Roadeo
- Sept. 13 at District Shops and Platte
All employees are invited to attend with their families and friends. All three days will be filled with fun, food and activities for all.
Registration is now open for the annual car show and 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Click the link below to register.
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| From Government Relations: 2025 State of Colorado legislative session wrap-up | | | | The 2025 legislative session adjourned Wednesday, May 7. There were three primary bills that RTD interacted with throughout the session. Click below to read a summary of those bills and their impact to the agency. | | |
Coors Light Denver Pride Parade
Celebrate LGBTQ+ culture the Mile High way with your colleagues in the 2025 Coors Light Denver Pride Parade on June 29! The parade route begins at 17th Avenue and Franklin Street and will proceed down 17th Avenue to Lincoln Street. Family and friends of employees are welcome to participate, but everyone must sign up using the link below.
| | Level up your education next week at RTD college fair | | | | Interested in continuing your education? Looking to take the leap into a new degree program? If so, head to paint bay No. 4 at District Shops from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 21. Once there, chat with representatives from Arapahoe Community College, Colorado Christian University (online), Colorado Technical University, Community College of Aurora, Grand Canyon University, Post University, Red Rocks Community College and Regis University, and discover how to take the next step into furthering your education. | | Click the link below to learn more about the colleges and universities attending. Questions? Email Learning Administrator Eryn Grover (eryn.grover@rtd-denver.com). | | New APTA reports show strong industry growth, ridership reaching 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels and rising | | |
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) today released two reports with new data showing U.S. ridership has rebounded to 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Together, the reports reflect an industry in strong recovery.
APTA’s 75th edition of the Public Transportation Fact Book and its latest Ridership Policy Brief highlight the sector’s rebound, with transit agencies delivering 7.7 billion passenger trips in 2024 – 491 million more than the previous year.
| | 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 | |
"Choose the positive. You have a choice. You are the master of your attitude. Choose the positive, the constructive. Optimism is a faith that leads to success."
— Bruce Lee
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