Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: 720.326.7311

Email: mediarequests@rtd-denver.com

RTD launches mobile history tour aboard 16th Street FreeRide

RTD invites customers to discover 16th Street’s story through a free on-vehicle link

DENVER (June 24, 2025) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has launched a one-year pilot of a mobile-first, 16th Street FreeRide history tour, offering customers an enhanced travel experience along 16th Street between Denver Union and Civic Center stations.

The mobile history tour, a collaborative effort among RTD, Historic Denver, Denver Public Library, and the Downtown Denver Partnership, highlights the essential role 16th Street has played as a key connector since the late 1800s, tracing how the street’s development has evolved largely as a result of transit innovations.

With simplicity of customer experience as a key objective, the tour features a QR code that customers can scan from an interior card advertisement while on board a 16th Street FreeRide vehicle, at one of the Public Information Displays at Union and Civic Center station, or at an Interactive Kiosk Experience (IKE) bus stop while waiting for a shuttle. The QR code will direct customers to a platform hosted by RTD that offers multiple options at no cost to them that include:

• An option to access a free, three-minute audio tour of the corridor narrated by noted Colorado historian Tom Noel, about the evolution of transit along the corridor and the pivotal role transit has played in development of 16th Street and downtown Denver; or customers can choose individual segments of the audio tour
• A map of historic sites along the corridor, including Union Station, the Tabor Block, the Daniels and Fisher Tower, the Denver Dry Goods Building, and others.
• Customers can customize their adventure by clicking on photos of individual sites along the route to take a deeper dive into the location’s history through the Historic Denver website
• A link to expanded local history content through Historic Denver and Denver Public Library websites
• A link to RTD services and connections and ability to Plan a Trip through RTD’s NextRide app
• A link to information about the historic anniversaries (250/150) celebrated in 2026. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—our nation’s semiquincentennial, is happening concurrently with the 150th anniversary of Colorado’s entrance into the Union—our state’s sesquicentennial.

“RTD is proud to have partnered with History Denver, Denver Public Library and Downtown Denver Partnership to capture key milestones in the history of 16th Street and bring this experience to FreeRide customers,” said Debra A. Johnson, RTD’s General Manager and CEO. “It is remarkable to see the transformational role transit has played in providing vital connections along 16th Street that have driven Denver’s growth from the start.”

“The Denver Public Library is pleased to share from its extensive collection of historic photos to help bring the history of Denver’s 16th Street to life for residents and visitors alike,” said City Librarian & Executive Director Nicolle Davies.

The mobile history tour of 16th Street offers a unique chance to learn about Denver’s illustrious history. “Historic Denver is delighted to have collaborated on the content of the FreeRide History Tour, bringing history to life and making it accessible to Denverites and visitors alike,” said Historic Denver President and CEO John Deffenbaugh. “16th Street has been at the heart of our city for decades and this tour will allow riders insight into the previously unknown stories which have shaped the appearance of downtown.”

“The 16th Street FreeRide History Tour beautifully encapsulates how 16th Street has historically brought opportunities to strengthen connections across downtown and to nearby neighborhoods, creating a more accessible, inclusive center city,” said Kourtny Garrett, President & CEO, Downtown Denver Partnership.”

The history tour will continue through April 2027, at which time results of the pilot will be re-evaluated.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) was created in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly to develop, operate, and maintain a mass transportation system that now benefits more than 3.1 million people in the Denver metro area. The transportation agency is governed by a 15-member publicly elected Board of Directors and has a service area of 2,349 square miles. RTD provides transit services via 126 bus routes, six light rail lines, four commuter rail lines, and paratransit options. 

For more information, visit rtd-denver.com/about-rtd or call 303.299.6000.

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Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Media contact: mediarequests@rtd-denver.com, 720.326.7311

Four virtual meeting options available starting June 22; online survey dashboard available through July 8. 

DENVER (June 10, 2026) – The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is providing customers the opportunity to share feedback on the proposed September 2026 service changes. RTD will provide an overview of these service changes later this month on its website and, once available, customers will be able to provide feedback online through July 8.

The proposed changes would take effect Sunday, Sept. 27. Virtual meetings via Teams outlining the proposed changes will be held at 5:30 p.m. both on Monday, June 22 and on Wednesday, June 24. Two virtual “Ask a Service Planner” sessions will be held at noon on June 22 and June 23.

Customer feedback is important to ensure a more efficient and responsive system that serves community needs. Proposed changes are formulated in response to operational resources, economic factors, traffic patterns, ridership trends, seasonal changes, and to improve reliability and on-time performance.

Ask a Service Planner Public Meeting #1

Monday, June 22, at noon

Click to join

Meeting ID: 275 703 000 807 363

Passcode: nV6RS35y

Proposed September Service Changes Public Meeting #1

Monday, June 22, at 5:30 p.m.

Click to join

Meeting ID: 250 495 323 893 586

Passcode: Kc9xS3Ty

Ask a Service Planner Public Meeting #2

Tuesday, June 23 at noon

Click to join

Meeting ID: 223 902 812 322 999

Passcode: bR24EP3L

Proposed September Service Changes Public Meeting #2

Wednesday, June 24 at 5:30 p.m.

Click to join

Meeting ID: 254 826 249 308 77

Passcode: kK7Ba785

To learn why RTD makes service changes three times a year, watch here.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) was created in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly to develop, operate, and maintain a mass transportation system that now benefits more than 3.1 million people in the Denver metro area. The transportation agency is governed by a 15-member publicly elected Board of Directors and has a service area of 2,349 square miles. RTD provides transit services via 126 bus routes, six light rail lines, four commuter rail lines, and paratransit options.

For more information, visit rtd-denver.com/about-rtd or call 303.299.6000.

Online Resources

Archive of News Releases

Glossary of Terms

Photo Repository

Agency Performance Dashboard

Open Records Requests

Board Meeting Calendar

Transit Watch Mobile Application

Next Ride App and Service Alerts

Language assistance, including translation and interpretation, is available at no cost to the public. Contact RTD at 303.299.2051 or language-services@rtd-denver.com to request help. For disability accommodations, including Braille, large print, or accessible online documents, contact the Americans with Disabilities Act Office at 303.299.2474 or ada@rtd-denver.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Phone: 720.326.7311
Email: mediarequests@rtd-denver.com

RTD’s Light Rail On-Time Performance Surpasses 90% in Less Than a Year

Agency’s focus on rail maintenance and operator hiring drives 30-point increase in reliability

DENVER (Sept. 29, 2025) – The Regional Transportation District (RTD) announced that its light rail system achieved more than 90% on-time performance in July 2025, a significant improvement from 59.9% in August 2024. This milestone follows the completion of major rail maintenance projects and strengthened hiring efforts that improved service reliability across the network.

“Having asked our customers for patience and understanding while these critical infrastructure projects were underway, it is incredibly gratifying to now see such a substantial improvement in on-time performance,” said RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson. “RTD is committed to providing reliable service, and the schedule we keep amplifies that pledge to our customers.”

On-time performance measures the percentage of buses and trains that arrive at stops and stations within one minute early or five minutes late. Performance can be affected by maintenance, weather, infrastructure issues, accidents, and traffic. According to RTD’s 2025 Customer Excellence Survey, customer ratings for reliability have also improved year-over-year.

Service Availability Remains Strong

• Light rail availability averaged 96.8% through August 2025, with 21,160 of 21,848 scheduled trips delivered.
• Bus service availability stood at 99.5%.
• Commuter rail availability averaged nearly 99%.

Strengthening the Workforce

Since 2023, RTD has accelerated recruitment of frontline positions, particularly operators. Streamlined hiring has enabled more service hours, longer operating windows, and greater frequency. With 25 new light rail operators budgeted for 2025, RTD has reduced its operator vacancy rate to 14%, down from 18% in 2024.

Rail Reliability Improvements

RTD’s Back to Basics initiative continues to focus on preserving the long-term integrity of its rail network. Over the past 18 months, RTD has:

• Completed the largest overnight rail replacement effort in its history, removing and replacing more than two miles of track.
• Concluded the second and final phase of the Coping Panels Project in August 2024, restoring regular service.
• Mitigated copper wire theft impacts by launching a dedicated Transit Police detective bureau in January 2025.

During the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project, RTD rerouted the D Line to Denver Union Station to enhance reliability and coordinated E and H line schedules to improve transfer times.

Ridership Growth

Between January and July 2025, RTD recorded 36.7 million total boardings, including 6.1 million light rail trips. Light rail ridership has already approached the full 2024 total of 7.1 million, with five months left in the year. Recent months have shown year-over-year increases in light rail boardings, underscoring customers’ renewed confidence in service.

About RTD

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) was created in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly to develop, operate, and maintain a mass transportation system for the Denver metro area. Today, RTD serves more than 3.1 million residents across 2,345 square miles with 126 bus routes, six light rail lines, four commuter rail lines, and paratransit services. RTD is governed by a 15-member publicly elected Board of Directors.

For more information, visit rtd-denver.com/about-rtd or call 303.299.6000.

PHOTO CUTLINE:
RTD’s light rail on-time performance exceeded 90% in July 2025 following key infrastructure and hiring initiatives. High-resolution photos available in RTD’s online album.

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Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: 720.326.7311     Email: mediarequests@rtd-denver.com

Customers traveling to/from Union Station should anticipate delays, use agency apps for information

DENVER (June 23, 2025) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD) will conduct routine maintenance and overhead wire inspections Saturday, June 28, on tracks 2 through 7 at Denver Union Station that will affect

commuter rail service on multiple rail lines. Service to and from Union Station on B and N lines will be interrupted the entire service day on Saturday. Regular service for all lines will resume Sunday, June 29. Service impacts include:

A Line: A Line service will operate between Union and Denver Airport stations; however, there will be a delay of approximately five minutes on westbound trains from 38th•Blake into Union Station.

B Line: For the duration of the service day on Saturday, the B Line will NOT include service to and from Union Station. The B Line will operate normal service between 41st•Fox and Westminster stations on Track 1.

B Line customers traveling from Westminster Station may connect to the G Line at Pecos Junction or 41st•Fox stations to reach Union Station. Customers should expect longer travel times, with northbound transfers taking up to 45 minutes. To minimize delays, riders who normally park at Westminster Station may consider parking at Pecos Junction or 41st•Fox stations and taking the G Line from there.

B Line customers traveling from Union Station should board the G Line on Track 8 at Union Station and switch to the B Line at 41st•Fox or Pecos Junction stations. B Line service will run as normal between 41st•Fox and Westminster stations.

The G Line will operate on track 8 at Union Station, and on Track 2 at 41st•Fox Station.

G Line: Service on the G Line will operate as normal from Union Station to Wheat Ridge•Ward Road Station; however, The G Line will arrive and depart on Union Station Track 8.

N Line: For the duration of the service day on Saturday, the agency’s N Line will NOT include service to and from Union Station. N Line trains will operate normal service between 48th & Brighton•National Western Center and Eastlake•124th stations. RTD is offering bus shuttle service for N Line customers between Union and 48th & Brighton•National Western Center stations for the entire service day on Saturday. N Line bus shuttle locations are as follows:

Union Station: Gate B22 located in the underground bus concourse

48th & Brighton•National Western Center Station: Pickup with service to Union Station – Gate B (on Brighton Boulevard). Dropoff at station – Gate A (on Brighton Boulevard)

Customers should anticipate delays due to the maintenance work and are encouraged to use RTD’s Next Ride web app to plan their trip, view other options and receive Service Alerts. For additional route and schedule information, call RTD Customer Care at 303.299.6000. Agents are available 6 a.m.–8 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m.–6 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

What to expect when bus shuttles replace rail service

RTD schedules bus shuttles to provide service to customers during planned rail maintenance, unplanned service disruptions, or elevator outages. Bus shuttles provide service at or between affected rail stations. This video briefly explains what to expect if your station requires a bus shuttle.

The post Saturday work at Union Station to affect multiple commuter rail lines appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Phone: 720.326.7311

Email: mediarequests@rtd-denver.com

Results reflect double-digit improvements for safety, vehicle cleanliness, on-time performance, and the agency’s overall value.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DENVER (June 23, 2025) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD)‘s recently conducted customer and community surveys show double-digit, year-over-year improvements in several categories, including perceptions of personal safety and security, the cleanliness of buses and trains, on-time performance, the frequency of service, and the agency’s overall value in the Denver metro area. RTD’s bus operations exceeded the national average for transit agencies in all 16 comparative categories, and rail operations exceeded the national average in 15 of the 16 comparative categories. The survey results also highlighted the fact that “getting to work” is the primary reason people use RTD’s bus and rail services, up more than 7% from 2024. A full breakdown of the survey results, including key takeaways, highlights, and historical data, is available at rtd-denver.com/2025survey.

“The survey results reflect RTD’s direct impact and value public transit has across the communities it serves within the Denver metro area,” General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said. “Over the last year, the agency has implemented several consequential tactics related to creating a Welcoming Transit Environment and enhancing the customer experience. The results of RTD’s strategic and multi-faceted efforts are evident. And, while I am encouraged to see that RTD is nationally leading the way across several categories, the agency remains focused on the future and continuous improvement.”

For the fifth consecutive year, RTD commissioned a comprehensive survey of its customers and the community to better understand the agency’s strengths and identify opportunities for improvement. In April, research firm ETC Institute conducted the annual surveys and provided comparative national data and benchmarks.

Four separate statistically valid surveys were conducted to better understand customer and community perceptions, attitudes, experiences, and opinions. The bus and rail surveys were conducted using a customer intercept method, which allowed researchers to gather immediate, real-time feedback from individuals using RTD’s services. This survey method ensures feedback is provided by actual customers, and that the data collected is proportionate to boardings across all bus routes and rail lines.

RTD’s combined Net Promoter Score for bus, rail, and paratransit customers was 37, up 24 points form 2024.

Net Promoter Score

An important metric provided by RTD’s customer and community surveys is a Net Promoter Score (NPS). The NPS measures the likelihood that a person would recommend RTD’s services to someone else, based on a scale between -100 and +100. RTD’s combined customer NPS increased 24 points in 2025, and the score is up 13 points for bus and 19 points for rail.

The across-the-board positive NPS means RTD has more individuals promoting its services than acting as detractors. RTD’s NPS in the community increased 36 points in 2025 and is up 58 points from 2023.

Bus Customers

•78% of respondents are reliant on RTD’s services

•85% agree or strongly agree that RTD provides value to the community

•71% use RTD’s services three or more days a week

•8% year-over-year increase in overall satisfaction

•11% increase in customers feeling safe and secure while waiting at a stop

•13% increase in customers indicating the vehicles are clean

•7% increase in customers satisfied or very satisfied with the frequency of service

•3% increase in customers indicating bus operators are courteous

•Bus exceeded the national average across all 16 comparative categories

•Bus’s NPS is +26, and the national average is -16

•The factors of most importance to bus customers are (1) frequency of service, (2) hours of operation, (3) stop location, (4) fare price, and (5) timely arrival of buses

Rail Customers

•65% of respondents are reliant on RTD’s services

•59% use RTD’s services three or more days a week

•12% year-over-year increase in overall satisfaction

•17% increase in customers indicating the trains are clean

•7% increase in customers satisfied or very satisfied with the frequency of service

•10% increase in customers indicating the trains run on time

•14% increase in customers feeling safe and secure while riding the train

•12% increase in customers feeling safe and secure while waiting at a station

•5% increase in customers indicating rail operators are courteous

•Rail exceeded the national average in 15 of the 16 comparative categories

•Rail’s NPS is +31, and the national average is -3

•The factors of most importance to light rail customers are (1) frequency of service, (2) station location, (3) fare price, (4) hours of operation, and (5) timely arrival of trains

Paratransit Customers

•85% of Access-a-Ride customers are satisfied or very satisfied

•96% of Access-on-Demand customers are satisfied or very satisfied

•Access-a-Ride’s Net Promoter Score is +54

•Access-on-Demand’s Net Promoter Score is +81

Community

•Getting to work is the No. 1 reason people use RTD’s services, up 7% from 2024

•11% increase in the community indicating that RTD provides value to them personally

•82% believe their investment in RTD provides value

•83% indicate RTD is valuable or extremely valuable at reducing pollution and achieving sustainable practices

•90% feel that RTD vehicles are mechanically safe

•80% feel RTD is valuable or extremely valuable at reducing traffic congestion

All surveys were conducted in English and Spanish, with language assistance available in an additional 20 languages, as well as accommodations for customers who are visually impaired. Surveys were administered to a representative sample of the customer and community population to ensure the results were statistically valid. More information about the surveys’ methodology and confidence intervals is available on RTD’s website. The national comparative data was provided by ETC Institute and is based on household surveys conducted by the research firm in hundreds of cities nationwide.

RTD’s leadership team has started to analyze the survey results to better understand opportunities to support customers and improve operations. The 2025 customer and community survey results were shared with RTD’s Performance Committee on June 23, and a recording of the presentation is available online.

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