July 10, 2024

ADA Manager shares grandmother's experience with RTD's first wheelchair-accessible bus

Norene Chambers (left in both pictures), ADA Manager Gabe Christie's grandmother, stands with first customers to use the wheelchair lifts on RTD buses.

“We will ride!” That is the declaration 19 disabled rights activists, known as the Gang of 19, chanted in unison for 24 hours at Colfax Avenue and Broadway on July 5, 1978. Led by the Rev. Wade Blank, co-founder of Atlantis, a group dedicated to providing free, individualized care to those in need, the Gang of 19 surrounded two buses at the intersection, demanding RTD services be equipped with wheelchair lifts to allow riders with disabilities the chance to use the bus just as the able-bodied could. When the dust settled from the protests, RTD began retrofitting all buses with new wheelchair lifts.

Performance evaluation process for salaried employees begins next Wednesday

Welcome to RTD's newest employees

Seventeen new employees joined RTD at Monday’s orientation. Welcome aboard!

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.

Communications teams shine on multiple projects

The Marketing, Creative Services, and Digital Communications teams within the Communications and Engagement Department are a phenomenal group! To fully understand their impact to RTD and our customers, their work includes but is not limited to project management and design of system shelter boards, system maps, bus wraps, agency brochures and customer resources, Rodeo/Roadeo designs, RTD T-shirts and other wearables, digital signage, award certificates, engaging social media content and, lastly, the work to design and maintain the new RTD website and our mobile apps!

> Read more <

N Line engineer makes trip a smooth experience for packed train

I boarded the N Line northbound on Saturday night around 10:30 p.m. The train was completely packed, standing room only, due to the events that were going on downtown. Certified train engineer Matthew Cruz made it a really smooth ride. No jerky motions or any of that. I consider that amazing with all the people that were on the train. It was great.

> Read more <

5 years

Ty-Janae White

Information Specialist

Andres Rollano

General Repair Mechanic

Jean Tshimanga

Bus Operator

Scott Morrison

Senior Project Manager, Information Technology

Ken Lacroix

Engineer II

Eric Sturm

Facilities Maintenance Supervisor

Roderick Stapleton

Service Person

Eric Giesel

Bus Operator

Cody Sooter

Business Analysis Manager

Sara Francois

Marketing Communications Specialist

10 years

Eboney Samples

Analyst I, Payroll

Manuela Ramirez

Payroll Practitioner

Andre Guy

Bus Operator

Mark Alvarado

Bus Operator

Ravikumar Palakurthy

Transportation Planner III

Rosie Todorov

Service Worker

Dennis Hawkins

Train Operator

15 years

Orlo Petersen

Maintenance Operating Division Manager

Martha Guzman

Facilities Maintenance Mechanic, Public Facilities

Arturo Casillas

Electronic Technician, Revenue Systems

20 years

Zuo Guo

Senior Oracle Developer

25 years

Roy Shockey

Bus Operator

Roxie Williams

Bus Operator

Manny Martinez

Facilities Maintenance Mechanic



Karnail Dhillon

Bus Operator

30 years

Richard Nicholson

Bus Operator

Provide feedback on RTD's internal communications strategies

The final days are approaching to share your thoughts about the agency’s internal communications strategies. Your input will have a direct effect on RTD’s tactics and efforts. Completed surveys will be accepted through Friday, July 19. Click the link below or ask for a paper copy, available at divisions and upon request.

From Cybersecurity: Avoid unauthorized software, browser extensions

Maintaining a secure computing environment is critical to helping RTD meet its strategic priorities. It allows employees to efficiently and reliably perform technology related tasks that support many of RTD’s critical functions. To reinforce the agency’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a secure and productive computing environment, Cybersecurity would like to address the installation of unauthorized software and browser extensions.

Work moves to Stout and California intersections

Full depth reconstruction of the light rail intersections at 15th and Stout and 15th and California streets is planned to take place concurrently starting July 15. The work, which is schedule- and weather-dependent, is expected to last approximately three weeks.

What to expect during construction:

• One lane will remain open on both Stout and California streets between 14th and 16th streets
• There will be sidewalk closures on the east side of California Street and the west side of Stout Street
• 15th Street will be closed in the following locations:
• Between the alley to the east and California Street
• Between Stout Street and the alley to the west
• Alley, parking lot, loading dock and parking structure access will remain open
• All business access will remain open

Bus and rail impacts

During the work, the D and H lines have been rerouted to Union Station. The L Line is suspended, and Bus Route 43 serves as an alternative option.

Beginning Monday, July 15, through the fall, RTD’s Free MallRide service will run only between Union Station and Champa Street. Customers planning to travel to and from Civic Center are encouraged to use the Free MetroRide.

RTD has temporarily reinstated the Free MetroRide to expand transit across downtown Denver with all-day service along 18th and 19th streets, seven days a week. Bus Route 0L also provides all-day connections seven days a week between I-25•Broadway and Civic Center stations.

Regular updates and information are available on the project webpage.

Reminder: Refer to webpage for latest information

Inspections are ongoing throughout the rail system. When issues are identified, locations will be updated on RTD's Speed Restrictions webpage and through Service Alerts.

From IGM: H drives to be eliminated July 31

RTD will be eliminating individual H drives to improve information governance practices and asset management, in alignment with the Back to Basics strategic initiative. H drives were previously provided to employees as a personal work-related file storage location. With the introduction and use of OneDrive, Teams and Laserfiche, these drives are no longer an appropriate place to store records.

Next Dialogue with Debra is July 24 in Boulder

Join RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson and other members of the Leadership Team at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, at Boulder Division to hear agency updates and ask questions. The session will stream live from the main-floor drivers’ break room, and employees at that facility are invited to participate in person. All other RTD employees are encouraged to join the forum on Zoom. Questions can be emailed ahead of time to generalmanager@rtd-denver.com.

Celebrate 50 million customers on the A Line with RTD

This summer, the A Line will have served 50 million customers since it began service in 2016! RTD, in collaboration with concessionaire Denver Transit Operators, is hosting celebrations at stations along the A Line next week. Events include coffee and tea service, snacks, commemorative luggage tags and conversation with customers using the A Line.

A media event recognizing this milestone will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, on the Denver Union Station commuter rail platform near track 7. RTD employees are welcome to attend.

RTD staff interested in assisting with the outreach events are encouraged to sign up for a shift at the following stations:

• Monday, July 15: Denver Airport Station
• Tuesday, July 16: Peoria Station
• Wednesday, July 17: Central Park Station
• Thursday, July 18: Denver Union Station

Empower to host retirement education webinar Tuesday

Join Empower Retirement on Tuesday for July’s monthly retirement education series, about basic investing and how to ride out volatile markets.

The webinar will take place from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. July 16. Click the link below to register!

Results from 2024 Employee Survey are available

Last week, the results of the 2024 Employee Survey were revealed. A video took a deep dive into the results and discussed key findings. Click the link below to view the video and slide deck on the Hub.

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

“Question yourself, yes, but don’t doubt yourself. There is a difference.”

— Charmaine Wilkerson

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