October 14, 2026

Board of Directors’ Finance and Planning Committee considers 2027 Proposed Budget

RTD’s proposed $1.34 billion expense budget for Fiscal Year 2027 was presented during last night’s committee meeting. The 2027 Proposed Budget takes a fiscally disciplined and customer-focused approach that emphasizes operational efficiencies, strategic capital investment, and continued progress in addressing the structural deficit. Click the links below to read more and to access the Proposed Budget.

Discover card added to Tap-n-Ride as fare payment option

RTD has added Discover card as a fare payment option using Tap-n-Ride – a quick, secure, and convenient way for customers to pay fare at any validator. Tap-n-Ride enables customers to tap a Visa, Mastercard, or, most recently, Discover credit, debit, or prepaid card, or a mobile wallet directly on a bus or rail validator to ride. Mobile wallet payment options include Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, available on a mobile phone or smartwatch.

From Communications and Engagement: Inside Connections will publish on a biweekly cadence beginning next month

Inside Connections is changing! Starting Wednesday, Nov. 4, the agency's employee newsletter will publish every other week. This change will allow for a higher volume of meaningful content to be shared agencywide. The Hot Sheet will continue to be sent every Friday. 

Please contact the Inside Connections team (insideconnections@rtd-denver.com) with questions about this change. 

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 impresses customer with dedication to service

Operator Michael Daniel is such an awesome driver; he goes above and beyond for his customers. He is always kind and respectful. I use the Green Mountain FlexRide daily, and he is the best driver I could ask for.

Bus operator helps new parents arrive to hospital safely to hold newborn son

I would like to give a shout-out to Route 105 operator Stacey Hicks. He is a perfect example of RTD at its highest level. His kindness and care for his passengers are appreciated and give me a spirit of gratitude.

CU students tour Elati for firsthand look at light rail trains

On Thursday, students from the mechanical engineering program at the University of Colorado Boulder’s College of Engineering & Applied Science met with Senior Engineer and Supervisor of Rail Equipment Mark Thompson, Rolling Stock Maintenance Assistant Manager Juston Hrubes, and Rolling Stock Maintenance Supervisor Brian Connely to learn how RTD’s light rail vehicles operate. The visit provided students with a firsthand look at key components of the agency’s SD100 and SD160 model light rail vehicles.

Following an introductory discussion about light rail systems, Thompson, Hrubes, and Connely led students through the maintenance area. There, students observed several major components of the vehicles, including drivetrains, transmissions, and auxiliary power supply units. They also examined the converter units that power the vehicles and toured the maintenance pits to view the underside of a parked train.

The tour offered students an opportunity to ask questions about engineering disciplines related to trains, tracks, and electrical systems. It also provided insight into the complexity of designing, operating, and maintaining a modern public transit system.

Hawaii planners, engineers learn about Colorado projects

This week, several dozen government planners and engineers from Hawaii are touring and learning about federally funded transportation projects in the Denver region through a peer exchange organized by the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. The visit serves as the culmination of an eight-month Hawaii Transportation Project Management Training Program, which provides participants with skills in project planning, budgeting, and contract management. Today, the group is taking a look at Denver Union Station, 16th Street, and East Colfax BRT. RTD Corridor Planning Manager Doug Monroe and local partners facilitated the tours. Contracted Services Manager Mike Millage, pictured, provided a primer on the Eagle P3 project. 

Premier League Mornings Live fan festival draws thousands

Maintenance/Sign Out Clerk Rudy Miguel Aguirre decked out in his Chelsea Football Club gear while holding up his jersey of Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, watching along as they played AFC Bournemouth.

Senior Specialist, Public Relations Austin Nettleton stands next to the Premier League trophy as he represents his favorite club, Manchester United, at the fan festival.

On Saturday and Sunday, Denver hosted this year's Premier League Mornings Live fan festival, the biggest celebration of Premier League soccer in the United States, at Union Station. Tens of thousands of soccer fans from Colorado and beyond enjoyed two days of back-to-back Premier League action as they cheered along with their favorite clubs, watched the hosts of NBC Sports' and USA Sports' Premier League Mornings broadcast their show live, and met Premier League legends.

To colleagues joining RTD and in new roles: Congratulations!

Twenty new employees and five colleagues transferring from represented to non-represented roles attended Monday’s orientation. Welcome aboard and congratulations!

5 years

Sophia Sokolowski       

Bus Operator

Dawn Smith

Bus Operator

Berhanu Lageso

Bus Operator

Keanu Maikai

Track Maintainer, CRT

James Kennedy

Track Maintainer

Jeremy Groce

Train Operator

Warren Shacklette

Bus Operator

Roberto Patino

Train Engineer

Israel Martinez

Transit Police Officer

Geraldo Roberts

Electronic Technician, Revenue Systems

Jacob Tonda

Controller, Regional Operations Center (Light Rail)

10 years

Christopher Tripp

Bus Operator

Shiquita Dunn

Transit System & Support Supervisor (Light Rail)

Andon Donev      

Bus Operator

Judy Wheeler      

Bus Maintenance Analyst

Sherrie Tarnutzer

Senior Accounting Technician

Tim Fallon

Electronic Technician, Revenue Systems

Renee Lanora

Bus Operator

Victor Olivas

Bus Operator

Fernando Ruiz-Ramirez

Bus Operator

Noah Stwalley

Quality Management Systems Officer (O&M)

Anthony Martinez

General Repair Mechanic

Rodrigo Delgado

Rolling Stock Maintenance Supervisor (Bus)

Jeremy Gregg

Body Mechanic

Phil Martinez

Rail Maintenance Trainer

Daniel Parker

Revenue Systems Supervisor

Paul Schwarzweller

Train Operator

Sonam Tenzin

Bus Operator

Anthony Padilla

Rolling Stock Maintenance Supervisor (Bus)

Dawn Glenn

Service & Cleaning Supervisor (Bus)



Laszlo Mills

Controller, Regional Operations Center (Bus)

15 years

Karen Brott

Bus Operator

Nick Carbajal

Telephone Information Center Supervisor

Justin Fazekas

Work Assignments Supervisor (Commuter Rail)

Matt Johnson      

Principal, Rolling Stock Maintenance Contract Oversight (Fixed Route Bus & Microtransit)

Carolina Lara

Partnership Program Administrator (Fixed-Route Bus & Microtransit)

20 years

Getu Lullsegede

Bus Operator

Candice Gurule

Sign Fabricator I

Mike Toth

Train Operator

Johnny Vialpando

Train Operator

Kenneth Ortiz

Body Mechanic

Anthony Ashmore

Electro Mechanic LRV

25 years

Mike Smith

Platform Administrator I-SharePoint

Jon Cypher

Technical Support Analyst II

Zelealem Gebremariam-Baffa

Bus Operator



30 years

Jose Rodriguez

Body Mechanic, Body Shop

2027 open enrollment for represented employees ends Dec. 4

From HR: 2027/2028 badge decals to be distributed soon

New badge decals will be implemented starting Nov. 9. The new decal, pictured here, will be valid through 2028. Current 2025/2026 badge decals will remain valid through Feb. 1, 2027.

For departments who have badged contractors, please provide Human Resources with a count of decals needed for these employees so that distribution can be arranged in December.

Please contact HR Administration Services Manager Monica Oakes (monica.oakes@rtd-denver.com) with questions.

Congratulations to newly promoted colleagues

RTD hosting feedback sessions about proposed January service changes

RTD is inviting customers and community stakeholders to share feedback on proposed January 2027 service changes. To provide opportunities for input, RTD will host two virtual meetings on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Watch today’s OneRTD Graduation Ceremony on YouTube

Missed today’s OneRTD Graduation Ceremony? Twelve new colleagues were recognized!

Check out a replay of the event on RTD’s YouTube channel by clicking the link below.

RTD Solicitations

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

"Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve."

— Wilfred Peterson

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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