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RTD's proposed 2026 budget will balance transit delivery with careful navigation of fiscal challenges | |
RTD is proposing a $1.3 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, an amount that includes appropriations for operating expenses, state of good repair work, and debt service before carryforwards. The proposed 2026 budget was made available on Oct. 10 and presented during the Board’s Oct. 14 Finance and Planning Committee meeting. The proposed budget aligns expenses with RTD’s Strategic Plan, minimizes impacts to transit service delivery, and retains the agency’s people power needed to deliver its mission.
The Board will consider taking action on the proposed budget at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2, following a public hearing. To learn more and to review the FY 2026 proposed budget, click the links below.
| | Meet 2025 Mobility Hero Deidre Leggett, RTD’s beloved paratransit driver | | | | Every day across the Denver metro area, Deidre Leggett is doing far more than transporting customers. Behind the wheel of her Access-a-Ride vehicle, she is a steady hand, a friendly face, and in many cases, the first human connection of the day her customers have on their way to work, medical care, or family. Her compassion and dependability have earned her admiration among her customers, and now, the title of Paratransit Favorite Transit Driver and recognition as a Mobility Hero through the Boulder County Mobility and Access Coalition and Mobility for All Program. | | |
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Week 4: When you see something, say something | It’s all been leading up to this — the fourth and final level in the fight against cybersecurity threats. This stage brings together everything shared this month to date, and it focuses on one of the most important actions employees can take to defend themselves and RTD against cyberthreats: reporting. Whether identifying a suspicious email or finding an unfamiliar device, knowing when and how to report helps protect the agency. |
| Phil Anderson, IT Network Engineer (10 years) | | | | “There are 3,000 miles of fiber and over 1,000 devices that we use. We’re on every rail platform, every bus platform, every parking lot, every property that RTD owns, we have communications there. And we cover that with our network. One of the things that isn’t realized is how big RTD’s network is. We’re one of the largest networks in the state, and we cover so much ground." | | | Week seven recap and project lookahead | |
On Sunday, a full closure began of southbound Kalamath Street between Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue. Crews demolished the light rail tracks on Kalamath, work that included sawcutting and removal of rail, ties, and ballast. Over the weekend, crews continued flooding ballast on Track B between Colfax at Auraria Station at Kalamath Street.
This week, crews will reconstruct the tracks on Kalamath Street using concrete crossing panels. This work includes pouring a concrete leveling slab, placing the crossing panels, installing rail, and restoring the road surface on both sides of the tracks. Kalamath Street is anticipated to reopen Sunday to through traffic.
| 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. | | Information specialist assists customer with complex FlexRide reservation | I want to thank Information Specialist Crystal Estrada for her help today. She was fantastic at helping us with a very complex FlexRide trip reservation. She was extremely professional and efficient with booking our trips. | | Bus operator displays patience with customer making a tight connection | I would like to give a commendation to Rosendo Moreno, the operator of the JUMP I was on that was heading eastbound this morning. The previous bus I was on was running behind and he waited for me. | | Work, growth of Transit Police highlighted in IACP video | | |
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference and Exposition, which convened Oct. 18-21 in Denver, attracted more than 16,000 public safety professionals from all over the world. RTD’s Transit Police Department was well-represented at the event – and its growth and work were made visible to conference-goers in a video presented on the show floor at the Colorado Convention Center.
The approximately 6-minute film features comments from General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson; Chief of Police and Emergency Management Steve Martingano; K-9 officer Corey Averill, President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 72; Lead Video Investigations Specialist Jaime Ruddock; and Lead Dispatcher Michael Finnell. Also highlighted are the department’s K-9 teams, newly formed honor guard, and mental health clinicians, a co-responder approach pioneered by the chief.
Click the thumbnail above to watch the video.
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Best Dressed Operator of the Week: Ruben Capo-Chichi | Bus Transportation congratulates East Metro operator Ruben Capo-Chichi for being chosen as this week’s best-dressed operator! When it comes to earning style points while representing RTD, Ruben knows how to do both very well. |
| Coming to a division near you: Chat with the Chief | | | | Do you have a question about safety or security? Meet with RTD’s Chief of Police and Emergency Management Steve Martingano at an upcoming Chat with the Chief visit, starting next week. See the full schedule below, and click the link to learn more about these sessions. | | |
In-person
- 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Elati (Light Rail Transportation) – crew room
- 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at East Metro (Bus Transportation) – operator break room
- 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at Platte (Bus Transportation) – operator break room
- 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 711 Building (Commuter Rail Transportation) – break room
- 10 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, at Rio Court (Light Rail MOW) – first-floor training room
- 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Steele Street (Commuter Rail MOW) – shop area
Virtual
- 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18 (Bus Maintenance managers)
- 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 (open to all RTD employees)
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| Back by popular demand, the RTD Holiday Store returns this week | | |
The RTD Holiday Store returns for the 2025 holiday season! Employees and RTD fans alike will soon be able to purchase this year’s RTD-branded holiday-themed sweater and beanie, which features a gingerbread house design that evokes nostalgia and childhood traditions.
Before the online store opens to the public next week, RTD employees will have the opportunity to get first access to place orders! In addition, employees will be able to pick up their orders at Blake Street — and avoid shipping — by using the promo code “EMPSHIP” at checkout.
Be on the lookout for the link to the store in this week's Hot Sheet and on The RTD Bulletin.
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Join Senior Performance Analyst Ben Celius as he dives into the agency’s Strategic Initiatives for 2026.
Dates, times, and attendance options follow. Invites to the sessions will be sent Thursday via email and can also be accessed through the Facts-n-Snacks page linked below.
- Session 1: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28 (virtual, Microsoft Teams)
- Session 2: Noon Wednesday, Oct. 29 (virtual, Microsoft Teams)
- Session 3: Noon Thursday, Oct. 30 (in-person, Blake Street, Conference Room A)
Please contact Senior Specialist, Public Relations Austin Nettleton (austin.nettleton@rtd-denver.com) with any questions or concerns.
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| | Sign up to participate in winter programming opportunities | |
Winter is right around the corner, and the Community Engagement team is ready to bring holiday cheer to RTD’s customers all November and December long. The team is looking for colleagues who are eager to participate in winter programming opportunities.
Employees can participate in a wide range of outreach, such as handing out fresh gingerbread cookies to customers and singing holiday carols at stations.
Participating employees will receive a 2026 RTD holiday sweater as a token of appreciation for their assistance.
Interested? Click the link below to sign up today!
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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 | |
"I don't need easy. I just need possible."
— Bethany Hamilton
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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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