RTD wants your comments on January's bus and rail changes by Thursday. Rides are free on Election Day

The Regional Transportation District is taking public comments this week on bus and rail changes it wants to make in January, and it will run buses and trains for free on Election Day.

RTD is a regional agency with its own elected board, not part of city government. But its decisions shape how Denver residents get to work, school and the polls, and its service levels come up often at City Council.

What RTD has proposed

According to RTD's announcement:

• What: a mix of "service enhancements, service restorations, and service optimizations." Many of the enhancements would be paid for by a 2027 grant from the state's Clean Transit Enterprise. RTD says the package overall is designed to be cost neutral, by shifting existing service.
• When: if the RTD board approves, the changes take effect Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027.
• Comment deadline: Thursday, Oct. 29, through RTD's online survey or its service planning feedback form.
• Meetings today, Oct. 28: an "Ask a Service Planner" session at noon and a public meeting at 5:30 p.m., both online. RTD asks people to register in advance. Free interpretation can be requested at 303.299.2051, and ASL interpretation is offered at the public meetings.

The announcement doesn't list affected routes. The survey does.

Bigger changes are still ahead. This summer, RTD's board voted 9-6 to have staff build the 2027 budget around $20 million in savings from service reductions, and rejected a fare increase, Denver7 reported. Those reductions would take effect no later than May or June of 2027, Denver7 reported. One board member put the cut at about 6.7% of service, while an RTD spokesperson said the share depends on timing. The January package is separate from those cuts.

Free rides to vote

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, RTD will offer zero fares systemwide on all bus and rail service, paratransit and FlexRide, RTD announced. Ballots must be in a drop box or voting center, or you must be in line, by 7 p.m. Drop box and voting center locations are at GoVoteColorado.gov.

What our records add: what Council members have said about RTD

• "Looking at cutting services." At a July 15 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee briefing on the city's transportation goals, Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, now the Council President Pro Tem, noted that the city's plans lean on partnerships with RTD and CDOT while RTD was considering service cuts, and asked what other money the administration was looking at (video at 1:26:09).
• Trying to buy more service. At a June 22 Budget and Policy Committee meeting, Council Member Paul Kashmann said the Cherry Creek area plan recommends buying extra RTD service, and that when the city tried about 18 months earlier, RTD declined because it didn't have the drivers (video at 1:05:28).
• Colfax buses. On Oct. 5, Council Member Chris Hinds talked about level boarding on the new Colfax rapid bus line and said it will be even better once purpose-built RTD buses arrive (video at 15:01).

For the Federal Boulevard rapid bus project, which is run by the state, see our earlier story.

What's next

• Oct. 28: RTD's online sessions at noon and 5:30 p.m.
• Oct. 29: Last day to comment on the January changes.
• Nov. 3: Zero-fare Election Day.
• Jan. 3, 2027: The January changes take effect, if the board approves them.