| | The approach of Thanksgiving invites each of us to rest and reconnect with family and friends while considering all that we have. It is a holiday that encourages reflection on one's place within the world and the connections with others that make life meaningful and beautiful. | | Gratitude is interwoven into the fabric of all that Team RTD does, in the relationships we share with colleagues, the daily interactions with customers who depend on us, and the communities we serve across the region. Your dedication, skills, and thoughtfulness make a difference every day in thousands of people's lives. |
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RTD introduces Tap-n-Ride for convenient fare payment on the go | RTD introduced Tap-n-Ride, the agency’s new fare payment option that provides a quick, secure, and convenient way for customers to pay their fare at any validator, during a media event yesterday. Customers simply need to tap a Visa or Mastercard credit, debit, or prepaid card – or use a Visa or Mastercard loaded into a mobile wallet – directly on a bus or rail validator and ride. Mobile wallet payment options include Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, and are available in a mobile phone or smart watch. RTD plans to add American Express and Discover card options to its Tap-n-Ride program in 2026. |
| RTD launches near-term plan to enhance customer experience, increase transit utilization | RTD has launched a comprehensive Customer Experience (CX) and Transit Utilization Action Plan to improve how the agency delivers services, communicates, and connects with customers. Developed over several months, the plan includes nearly 60 tactics shaped by feedback received from RTD’s customers, staff, Board of Directors, and annual surveys. The near-term action plan closely aligns with the agency’s Strategic Plan and Annual Scorecard and focuses efforts during a seven-month timeline. | | |
RTD releases third quarter financial results, agency update | |
Last Friday, RTD released financial results for the third quarter (Q3) of fiscal year 2025, ending Sept. 30, 2025. Compared with the same period in 2024, total revenue rose to $321 million, an increase of $41 million, or 15%. However, revenue fell short of budget projections by $21 million (6%).
The agency reported a net position decrease of $77 million, which was $47 million lower than prior year but $58 million (43%) better than budget.
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Improvements at I-25•Broadway Station are making access better | |
Since June 2023, the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) Travel and Safety Improvements project at Broadway and I-25 has been working to build safer and more accessible features at RTD’s second busiest light rail hub, I-25•Broadway Station.
One of this project’s most significant milestones occurred earlier this month when crews activated the traffic signals and pedestrian indicators at three intersections: Broadway and Ohio, Ohio and Lincoln, and Lincoln and Walsh.
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Crews completed train testing for the fully reconstructed tracks at Kalamath Street on Sunday, Nov. 23. Staff from Light Rail Operations, Maintenance of Way (MOW), Safety and Environmental Compliance, and Construction Engineering, along with representatives from the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) observed as test trains operated on both tracks through the intersection, Downtown Loop, and along Welton Street in preparation for Friday’s reopening of the intersection and return of light rail service to the Welton Street corridor and Central Business District.
As of today, this phase of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project is 100% complete.
| Click the thumbnail above to see a video recapping the testing, and click the link below to learn more about the special holiday service through the Downtown Loop and Welton Street corridors between I-25•Broadway and 30th•Welton stations starting Friday. | To access the latest project reports, progress updates, photos, videos, news and resources, click the links below. | | 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 constantly impresses customer with courtesy, helpfulness | I just wanted to say that our Route LD1 operator, Michelle Coates, is one of the best operators I've had while taking RTD services. They always remember me and are happy to help with my bike if it needs to go under the bus. They are an incredible driver, and I always feel safe, even in heavy traffic. They are also very personable and nice to me, as well as every rider I've seen them interact with. | | Street supervisor gives customer ride to their workplace after bus left stop | I would like to give kudos to street supervisor Jonathan Magana, who was at the Wadsworth & Hampden Park-n-Ride when the bus did not stop for me. I walked over to his car and was ready to go off, but he saw what happened and said, "Get in the car, I will take you," and he dropped me off at my job, which is not too far away. Great guy! | | RTD staff hands out gingerbread cookies, delights to customers at Denver Airport Station | | |
Last Friday, RTD staff took time out of their busy Friday schedules to treat customers at both Union and DEN Airport stations with gingerbread cookies in celebration of the holiday season. Staff engaged with customers, answered their questions, and expressed gratitude for those using RTD services to get to where they needed to be.
Pictured left to right in front of the Christmas tree, the Union Station crew consisted of Jennie Waski (Manager, Benefits and Well-Being), Bodessa Trotman (HR Business Partner), Marta Sipeki (Senior Manager, Public Relations and Engagement), Rochelle Montez (HR Business Partner), and Victoria Broce (Senior Labor Relations Generalist). Not pictured are Jess Shipers (Director, Talent Acquisition) and Kiernan Maletsky (Project Manager I, Planning).
Not pictured are those who volunteered at DEN Airport Station. Those volunteers were Tina Jaquez (Manager, Public Relations), Betsy Hinojosa (Business Program Manager), Zach Bales (Supervisor, Revenue Systems), Mandi Singleton (Learning and Training Specialist), and Gabe Worstell (Talent Acquisition Partner).
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Welcome to RTD's newest employees | |
Twenty-five employees joined the agency at Monday’s orientation. Welcome aboard! We are thankful for you and wish you success in your new journey with the agency.
Editor's note: A photo of this week's new employee class was not available at the time this issue of Inside Connections was produced.
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Daniel Abraha
Bus Operator
Shalonda Andre
Bus Operator
Jennifer Bash
Bus Operator
Flavio Chairez
Bus Operator
Tigistu Ergo
Bus Operator
Raquel Gama
Bus Operator
Yechale Hussen
Bus Operator
Erica Lopez
Bus Operator
Julian Martinez*
Bus Operator
Shirley Martinez
Bus Operator
Ketema Maruta
Bus Operator
Fetsum Melketsadike
Bus Operator
Mengistu Sewore
Bus Operator
Berihun Teklehaimanot*
Bus Operator
Tomas Teklu
Bus Operator
Essance Brown*
Bus Operator
Destiny Aguirre
Bus Operator
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Mengasha Zeleke
Bus Operator
Je Biru
Bus Operator
Samuel Dessalegne
Bus Operator
Terefe Goshu
Bus Operator
Lorenzo Hernandez
Bus Operator
Cheikh Ka
Bus Operator
Wondwosen Lemma*
Bus Operator
Martin McKinney
Bus Operator
O’shea McNair-Smith
Bus Operator
Travis Owen
Bus Operator
Shaquille Pearson
Bus Operator
Michael Rawaillot
Bus Operator
Abdelouhab Sekhri
Bus Operator
Julio Valdiviezo Perez
Bus Operator
Bayu Wondim
Bus Operator
Tamenech Tafese
Bus Operator
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Luis Garcia
General Repair Mechanic
Christopher Guzman
General Repair Mechanic
Edward Rathmann
General Repair Mechanic
Cody Cummings
General Repair Mechanic
Justin Frye
General Repair Mechanic
Leo Olivas
General Repair Mechanic
Justin Paul
General Repair Mechanic
Daniel Baughn
Support Vehicle Mechanic
Nateria Williams
Parts Clerk, Bus Maintenance
Keith DeGolier
Lead Instructor, Bus Operations
Kristian Smith
Custodian
Dami Clark
Reporting and ETL Engineer
Zachary Alexander
Business Support
Steven Weichel
Transit Police Officer
Ian Yanai
Instructor, Commuter Rail
Mae Thompson
Transportation Planner I
(*) denotes rehire
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Best Dressed Operator of the Week: Carlita Duron | This week’s best dressed operator is Carlita Duron from Boulder Division! Congratulations, Carlita, and thank you for representing RTD in style. |
| From Information Technology: Upgrades coming to RTD's WiFi networks Dec. 10, creating a faster, easier and more secure connection to the internet | | | | |
Getting online at RTD facilities is about to get much easier! On Dec. 10, RTD is launching new WiFi networks designed to make connecting faster, more secure, and simpler for everyone.
Employees who have been issued an RTD laptop will automatically see their device connect to the new TransIT_Corp network.
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Employees who have been issued an RTD phone or use a personal device can use the new TransIT_Personal network. When prompted, enter the following password: TransIT!D3pt (no period). After connecting to the network for the first time, there will be no need to enter that password again! Devices will automatically connect from then onward.
For RTD guests, such as customers or visitors, the MOBILE network remains available. When prompted, enter the following credentials.
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Username: limited
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Password: wifiuser
The old networks SCRMBL and BRKRM will be retired Jan. 9.
The IT Service Desk is available for any questions.
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Register to attend next week’s employee drug forum sessions | |
Next week, hear from and engage with researchers David Cooper, Willem Klumpenhouwer, and Nancy-Ellen Zusman, authors of the special report, “The Impacts of and Response to Drug Use on Transit," as they share key findings and discuss how the results pertain to the agency.
Both employee sessions, 8-10 a.m. at Elati Division and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Platte Division, take place Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Click the link below to register for the sessions and to submit questions that will guide the discussion.
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Next week: attend a virtual all-employee Chat with the Chief session | |
Employees will have the opportunity to ask safety- and security-related questions of Chief of Police and Emergency Management Steve Martingano and learn more about the work Transit Police is doing to make RTD a welcoming transit environment for employees and customers alike.
The virtual session, open to all RTD employees, will take place at 10 a.m. Dec. 4 via Microsoft Teams. Click the link below to register for the session.
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| Reminder: Special holiday light rail service begins Friday | This special light rail service, which mirrors the original D Line corridor, will temporarily serve stations between I-25•Broadway and 30th•Welton, including those in the Downtown Loop and along Welton Street, every 15 minutes 6 a.m.-11:30 p.m. seven days a week through Jan. 3. Click the link below to learn more about the special holiday train service and to view an updated rail map featuring the service. | | |
From Internal Communications: Next week's Inside Connections will be published Thursday, Dec. 4 | |
In light of next week’s drug forums, the Internal Communications team will be publishing the next issue of Inside Connections on Thursday, Dec. 4. Inside Connections will return to its traditional Wednesday publishing schedule with the Dec. 10 issue.
Please contact the Internal Communications team (insideconnections@rtd-denver.com) with any questions or concerns.
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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 | |
"A single twig breaks, but the bundle of twigs is strong."
— Tecumseh
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| What did you think of this edition of Inside Connections? | | | | |
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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