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Tap-n-Ride embraced by customers since launch | Approximately 13,305 customers took advantage of the convenient, contactless payment method in January 2026, up from 9,153 customers in December. Tap-n-Ride enables customers to simply tap a Visa or Mastercard credit, debit, or prepaid card on any validator. Also accepted are mobile wallet payments that include Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay via a mobile phone or smart watch. |
| 170 organizations receive TAG awards in third funding round | The $1 million worth of grant funding RTD will award during the Transit Assistance Grant Program’s third year will benefit 170 qualifying nonprofit and community social service organizations or governmental entities. The program was specifically designed to support individuals who need a reliable transportation option to support emergent or immediate need. | | |
Let the Games Begin: Anne Gurley, Information Systems Risk Analyst - and hockey player | While the pros chase after Olympic gold medals and lift the Stanley Cup at the end of the NHL season, RTD’s Anne Gurley, an information systems risk analyst within the Cybersecurity Department, has a different motivation for why she plays hockey – staying active and enjoying late-night post-game parking lot celebrations with her teammates. |
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Security-Related Metrics webpage now includes December 2025 activity | |
Key metrics from December’s report include a 2.5% decrease year-over-year in security-related calls for service; 225 incident reports through the Transit Watch app; 448,793 fare checks conducted on rail; and 88 arrests made as a result of reported incidents. The ratio of security-related calls for service per customer boarding was 1:1,883.
Click the link below to view these and all metrics from 2025.
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At last night’s monthly meeting, the Board of Directors authorized the General Manager and CEO to request, receive, and spend funds awarded to the agency by the State of Colorado and associated political subdivisions. The Board also approved the Internal Audit Function Charter, which is an annual exercise.
The Board voted to take a support position on House Bill 26-1065, which lets local governments pursue approved transit projects by creating special transit investment areas and financing entities that can use a portion of increased state sales tax revenue for related improvements; sets caps and approval processes for those projects; and establishes a new tax credit to support affordable housing in transit‑focused zones.
The Board voted 11-3, with one absent, to authorize the General Manager and CEO or her designee to enter into a contract with Insight Strategies for the development of the agency’s successor strategic plan for the 2026-31 planning horizon.
The Board held an in-depth discussion regarding a proposed High-Volume Events Plan, which explores avenues in which RTD can provide expanded transit services to major events within the service area. The Board heard remarks from General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson, General Counsel Melanie Snyder, Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Stuart Summers, and Chief Operations Officer Patrick Preusser, all of whom outlined at length the opportunities in and challenges of executing such a plan.
Additionally, the Board was visited by Colorado State Sen. Matt Ball, who discussed the latest RTD Accountability Committee Report. The Board also heard reports from the Citizens Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities.
Click the thumbnail above to watch the meeting on YouTube.
| | 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. | | Digital Customer Relations Liaison, bus operator return keys to RTD employee | On the morning of Feb. 13, I was taking the Route FF1 into Union Station from US 36•Broomfield Station as I usually do when I am heading into the office. However, at some point on the ride into downtown, my key case fell off my keyring and under the seat. I did not realize until I got into the office that it was missing. | | Bus operator delivers Shopper Special customers to their destination on time | I would like to give a commendation to our Shopper Special operator, Gregory Nelson. There was a lot of traffic and construction this morning. This operator handled everything like a pro and got us to our destination on time. He is such a good bus driver. | | Customer, staff share photos of commemorative signage honoring Rosa Parks on Transit Equity Day | | |
On Feb. 4, RTD celebrated Transit Equity Day to honor Rosa Parks' legacy by installing "In Honor of Rosa" signage on select bus seats and providing zero fare on all services that day. Bus Operations worked to install nearly 850 signs across the RTD fleet, which prompted customers and communities to learn about and reflect on civil rights and equitable access to public transit. Customers and employees were encouraged to post about the initiative on social media. The first image, from customer Laeticia Williams, is shared with permission. The second features colleagues Wanda Babers and Maria Rouco.
Transit Equity Day coincides with the birthday of Rosa Parks, whose courage on a public bus helped reshape the nation and cemented transportation as a critical civil rights issue. RTD honors Transit Equity Day not only through symbolic recognition, but through ongoing action that advances equity, accessibility, and inclusion across the region we serve. By centering these principles, RTD works to ensure the transit system expands opportunity — especially for those who rely on it most.
| | Over 40 employees honored at February graduation ceremony | | |
On Friday, 38 bus operators and four N Line Commuter Rail engineers graduated from training and received their certificates of completion at this month’s OneRTD Operator Graduation Ceremony. Congratulations to all new colleagues!
Click the thumbnail above to view a recording of the ceremony.
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Jim Bacon
Transit Police Sergeant (4 years)
James Cody
LRT Field Supervisor (25 years)
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Shantikar Adhikari
Bus Operator
Nyachiang Bile
Bus Operator
Don Birdsong
Bus Operator
Mulualem Delibo
Bus Operator
Yannick Dushime
Bus Operator
DeShawn Farris-Brewer
Bus Operator
Christopher Justiniano
Bus Operator
Kyle Kitchen
Bus Operator
Francisco Monsivais-Martinez
Bus Operator
Sergio Pavon
Bus Operator
Adane Wolde
Bus Operator
Fekadu Chani
Bus Operator
Mycha Coleman
Bus Operator
Jacob Dye
Bus Operator
Stephen Freas
Bus Operator
Karma Gurung
Bus Operator
Fantahun Guye
Bus Operator
Dawit H. Mariam
Bus Operator
Jeans Hernandez
Bus Operator
Ink Humagai
Bus Operator
Felemon Kebede
Bus Operator
Melkamu Ketara
Bus Operator
Davita Lane
Bus Operator
Kebadsew Mekuriaw
Bus Operator
Sabsebe Milikamo
Bus Operator
Abenet Olbamo
Bus Operator
Karanbir Sodhi
Bus Operator
Alassane Sow
Bus Operator
Doela Womebo
Bus Operator
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Dawit Wudage
Bus Operator
Lorri Kelly*
Bus Operator
Ruben Calzada
Train Operator
Tariko Duarte
Train Operator
Carlos Hernandez
Train Operator
John Huang
Train Operator
Markiera Jackson
Train Operator
Amanuel Kahsay
Train Operator
Erick Peltz
Train Operator
Faisal Sikandary
Train Operator
Chase Venning
Train Operator
Taylor Vetter
Train Operator
David Holland*
IT Operations Coordinator
Donovan McGinnis
General Repair Mechanic
Anthony Rodriguez Flores
General Repair Mechanic
Ignacio Trejo-Madrid*
General Repair Mechanic
Ryan Hancock
General Repair Mechanic
Jorge Sanchez Montes
General Repair Mechanic
Kourtney Brookins
Paratransit Customer Service Representative
Morrigan Sparrow
Parts Clerk, Warehouse
Natasha Martindale
Manager of Accounting
Timothy Marquez
Procurement Contract Administrator
Lewis Crosby
Equipment Maintenance Supervisor
Scott Altman
Telecommunications Analyst
Malcolm Daigle
Transit Police Officer
Deanna Douglass
Transit Police Officer
Charles Roth
Transit Police Officer
Shawn Schossow
Transit Police Officer
Zachary Evans
Transit Police Sergeant
(*) denotes rehire
| | Best Dressed Operators of the Week: Aundra Wayne Alexander, Juan Ibarra | | Meet last week’s best dressed operator, Aundra Wayne Alexander from East Metro Division (first photo), and this week’s best dressed operator, Juan Ibarra from Boulder Division (second photo). Congratulations to both of you! | | The Great Copilot Journey: Elevate your expertise with Copilot Chat | | | | |
In this week’s stop in The Great Copilot Journey, hit the ground running with Copilot Chat and learn how to use it to take what you know and expand that knowledge even further.
Click the link below to learn more.
| | From Benefits: Important details about how to access 1095-C forms | |
Starting March 2, 1095-C forms will be available upon request instead of automatically being sent via postal mail. Employees who would like a copy of their 2025 1095-C form or who have questions can contact the Benefits team (Benefits@rtd-denver.com).
These forms provide information about the health care coverage offered to employees by RTD. Requests will be fulfilled within 30 days.
| | From Cybersecurity: Know when to use the Phish Alert Button | Picture this: You receive an email asking you to take immediate action. Sounds suspicious, right? Don’t panic, but instead, take the correct action, and give the Information Technology (IT) Department the information they need to defend RTD against the effects of malicious email attacks. It’s easy, thanks to the Phish Alert Button (PAB). | | Next Dialogue with Debra is March 19 at East Metro | | | | Join General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson and members of the Leadership Team at the next Dialogue with Debra session, taking place 9:30-10:30 a.m. March 19 in the operator break room at East Metro Division. | | Employees unable to attend in-person are encouraged to tune into the livestream via Zoom, linked below. Questions can be sent in advance by filling out the form linked below. Attendees at East Metro are also welcome to ask questions during the session. | | Learn about RTD’s Customer Experience and Transit Utilization Plan at next week’s Lunch-n-Learn | | | | Join Business Program Manager Betsy Hinojosa, Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Stuart Summers, and ITS systems administrators Alan Pratt and Brandon Fowler as they take a deeper dive into the Customer Experience and Transit Utilization Plan at the next Lunch-n-Learn! | | Two virtual sessions will be available for employees to attend, on Monday and Tuesday. Click the links below to RSVP. | | From Benefits: Empower hosting tax planning webinar | Join Empower Retirement for a live webinar discussing the basics of tax planning, such as types of taxes, tax filing information and forms, tax minimization strategies, and common tax filing errors. Click the link below to register for the virtual sessions, at 3 p.m. today and 9 a.m. and noon Friday. | | 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 am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger."
— Serena Williams
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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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