Inside Connections - July 31, 2024

July 31, 2024

A message of gratitude from GM and CEO Johnson

Greetings, Team RTD.

On behalf of many grateful colleagues and our customers, I want to extend a sincere, genuine thank-you to every employee supporting what has been a particularly demanding summer of light rail repairs. The agency began the season with plans to complete a reconstruction project on the oldest light rail alignment, as well as to continue repairing the retaining wall caps known as coping panels. Amid these projects, enhanced inspections on light rail have led to the implementation of speed restrictions until necessary repairs or preventive maintenance work is completed. This combined reality has been hard on customers – and on many of you, as employees.

I see all that you are doing, and I want you to know that progress is being made. Rail reconstruction is ahead of schedule. Slowdown zones are being lifted. Across the agency, from Rail Operations and Maintenance of Way to Capital Programs, Bus Operations, and Communications and Engagement, entire groups are delivering service to the best of their ability and keeping the public apprised of changes. Thank you for rising to the occasion as RTD invests in a state of good repair. Your contributions are making a discernable difference to the life and health of the region, and your dedication is inspiring. It is my privilege to be a member of this dynamic team.

Thank you for showing up and showing out.

Debra A. Johnson

General Manager and CEO

Board approves Zero Fare for Youth program beyond the one-year pilot

The zero-fare program, which enables youth ages 19 and under to use all RTD services at no cost, will now become a permanent fare change for the agency.

The Board of Directors also unanimously approved Zero Fare to Vote by offering no-cost fares during Early Voting Day, on Oct. 29, and Election Day, on Nov. 5.

Multiple recent cases of stolen copper wire are impacting RTD's rail services

RTD is reporting multiple cases of copper wire theft near track signals, switches and rail crossings. Each incident has resulted in significant impacts to light rail service, including train delays, crossing arms staying active in the down position and the need for bus shuttles.

RTD-PD gives media demonstration of live look-in system

On July 25, local media outlets visited RTD’s Security Command Center to hear Integrated Security Systems Program Manager Israel Laufer and Deputy Chief Steve Martingano share the advantages of RTD’s new live look-in equipment. CBS4, Denver7, 9News and FOX31 were among those who watched Laufer and Lead Public Safety Dispatcher Danielle Vargas demonstrate how RTD dispatchers respond to incident reports and activate live look-in video when needed.

When staff are responding to calls, Martingano said, the live look-in system “gives officers real-time information, so they know exactly how to handle the situation, and it lets operators focus on driving the vehicle for the safety of our customers.”

Laufer recommended that customers download the free Transit Watch app to report suspicious activity. “That report will immediately reach our dashboard here, and one of our dispatchers will be able to view the live look-in and perform video playback to see the incident immediately,” he said.

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.

Light rail operator discusses disruptions with customer

I want to give a commendation to a light rail operator Roberto Aranda I met July 27 on the E Line. I was coming from Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre and I ran into a customer that was down on his luck. So much so that when we sat down he provided a list of problems in his life.

> Read more <

Bus operator provides money-saving tip for couple using system

I would like to say that this is one of the best and nicest drivers that RTD has. (Operator Jimmy Romero) just helped me and my wife. We are both handicapped people. I use a walker and she uses a cane. I have never ever gotten service from another driver like that.

> Read more <

Amy Burow

Public Safety Dispatcher

David Slater

Transit Police Officer

Darcy Williams

Transit Police Officer

Johan Sherpa

Transit Police Cadet - Intern

Alfonso Nunez

Service Person

Elyssa Marsh

Service Person

Lorenzo Wilson

Rail Laborer

Abolade Alapini

Bus Operator

Grant Davis Jr.

Bus Operator

Sitan Diallo

Bus Operator

Addise Dole

Bus Operator

Goiteom Gebreyohannes

Bus Operator

Calvin Johnson

Bus Operator

Kassa Kassawmar

Bus Operator

Marco Pedroza

Bus Operator

Michael Miller

Bus Operator

Crystal Porter

Bus Operator

Orvelle Nance

Bus Operator

Nina Rhodes

Bus Operator

Raymond Thomas

Bus Operator

Arne Warpness

Bus Operator*

Sagar Acharya

Bus Operator

Devon'Naiye Alexander

Bus Operator

Mark Anthony Barnedo

Bus Operator

Suequia Davis

Bus Operator

Deatra Dukes

Bus Operator

Alan Gomez

Bus Operator

Brian Grubbs

Bus Operator

Emoni Jones

Bus Operator

William Laverty

Bus Operator

Yonatal Meles

Bus Operator

Zachary Thomas

Bus Operator

Jerimiah Von Akre

Bus Operator

Glenn Balzer

Train Operator

Dominique Criss

Train Operator

Joseph Rios Pineda

Train Operator

Christopher Smith

Train Operator

Nathaniel Youngdale-Rodriguez

Train Operator

Tyler Lanckriet

Train Operator

Bengie Towers

Train Operator

Valencia Sanchez

Body Mechanic, Body Shop

Hassel Loera

Body Mechanic, Body Shop

James Olguin

Support Vehicle Mechanic

Shawn Godwin

Electro Mechanic LRV

Maria Lanford

Materials Management Specialist

Tyrone Tatum

Supervisor, Storeroom

(*) denotes rehire

Board meeting recap

At last night’s Board of Directors monthly meeting, Directors unanimously approved continuing the Zero Fare for Youth program, which will now seamlessly continue beyond its one-year pilot. The Board also approved zero fares on National Vote Early Day and Election Day this fall. Other action taken during the meeting included approval of the September 2024 Service Changes, Title VI equity analysis for the service changes, the 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, and the refinancing of up to $100 million in certificates of participation originally issued in 2010. Additionally, a $6 million appropriation was approved by the Board for the replacement of ticket vending machines across RTD’s service area. A property station naming policy was also approved by the Board to outline policies, procedures and a review rubric for the honorary naming of RTD-owned stops and stations.

The Board also heard updates from General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson about progress made on the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project; the Coping Panels Project, which is currently two weeks ahead of schedule; and the lifting of speed restrictions in slow zones across RTD’s light rail system. Chair Erik Davidson commended staff for their recent hard work and dedication to customers during a busy time of planned and unplanned disruptions, including the recent global outage that impacted RTD’s services.

Click the thumbnail above to watch a full recording of the session.

Join Empower Retirement at the 711 building Thursday to discuss retirement

Learn more about your financial picture, retirement benefits and how to get the most out of them with Empower Retirement. RTD’s retirement advisor will be at the 711 building 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 1. Questions? Contact the Benefits team at benefits@rtd-denver.com.

Coming soon: Laserfiche is moving to the Cloud

Laserfiche, RTD's enterprise content management (ECM) system, allows employees to efficiently manage records and information. It provides a platform to easily define and share records and information across multiple departments or teams. Laserfiche Cloud will provide RTD with more flexible access, automatic updates, lower maintenance costs and tighter security.

Users with current write access will be moved to the new Laserfiche web client. Users with current read access will find the application more robust for searching for files. Each department or division will be supported with training, from initial setup to an end-to-end user experience. More information will be shared in late August. Please contact Patty Schmidt-Reed, at patty.schmidt-reed@rtd-denver.com, with any questions.

Join physical therapist Momoko Cordova at 2 p.m. tomorrow on Microsoft Teams as she shares information on health and sleep coaching, and provides tips and tricks on how to stay on top of wellness goals. Click the link below to join the session.

Click here to join

Get ready: 2024 Light Rail Rodeo is coming up Aug. 10

The 2024 Ro(a)deo season kicks off a week from Saturday with the Light Rail Rodeo at Elati!

Head on down for a fun-filled day of activities, food and entertainment while watching RTD's finest light rail operators and mechanics duke it out to become this year's champions.

Have a sweet ride you would like to show off? Spots are still available for the Annual Car and Bike Show! To learn how to enter, click the link below.