[Colorado-Talk] Route changes, cancellations greet RTD riders. Here’s why.

[Gary Van Dorn]

Route changes, cancellations greet RTD riders. Here’s why.
Schedule adjustments not part of larger discussion about possible service cuts
John Aguilar<https://www.denverpost.com/author/john-aguilar/>January 13, 2020 at 3:37 pm
[Photo caption] C and D Line trains lines up at the Littleton/Mineral Station for their runs to Union Station in October. Several passengers complained on social media Monday morning that RTD’s schedule adjustments that took effect Sunday are not going smoothly. (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post)

Riders complained about dozens of canceled train runs and other scheduling issues on the Regional Transportation District’s sprawling transit system Monday morning — a day after the agency implemented service adjustments it typically makes three times a year.

RTD cited its ongoing labor shortage<https://www.rtd-denver.com/app/alerts> as the reason for the canceled trips, which affected nearly all light-rail lines but no commuter rail corridors. The agency listed more than 80 canceled light-rail trips on Monday alone.

One Twitter user also said RTD had canceled buses leaving from the Federal Center.

“Worst public transportation system award goes to RTD,” the user complained.

The adjustments to bus and rail schedules that began Sunday are not connected to more permanent service reductions the agency is contemplating<https://www.denverpost.com/2019/10/17/rtd-bus-driver-rail-operator-shortage/>as a way to deal with a driver and operator shortage that has plagued RTD for several years.

Those cuts, if approved by RTD leadership, wouldn’t go into effect until May. The agency’s board of directors is scheduled to tackle that subject in more detail Tuesday evening.

Still, new schedule at the start of the work week prompted several people on RTD’s Twitter and Facebook accounts to voice their frustration with what has become an increasingly aggravating problem with the metro area’s transit system.

“This is unacceptable,” wrote Robin Cunningham on Twitter. “People count on #RTD for transportation. My guess is if they raise pay and improve working conditions the jobs would be filled.”

[cid:CB26EA9F-B9B2-465C-94E5-C821FF3922FC at hsd1.co.comcast.net]<https://twitter.com/SamBoik>
<https://twitter.com/SamBoik>
Sam Boik
✔@SamBoik
 · Jan 13, 2020<https://twitter.com/SamBoik/status/1216698913803116544>
<https://twitter.com/SamBoik/status/1216698913803116544>
So, I counted...

85 TRAINS CANCELLED (so far) this morning.

Operator shortages causing these problems on the C D E F H R and W lines
[cid:A5018021-4B1D-4FBE-A1FC-C402A1BB5DFB at hsd1.co.comcast.net]<https://twitter.com/runninrobin>
<https://twitter.com/runninrobin>
Robin Cunningham at runninrobin
This is unacceptable. People count on #RTD<https://twitter.com/hashtag/RTD?src=hash> for transportation. My guess is if they raise pay and improve working conditions the jobs would be filled.
<https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1216751454851158016>
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8:58 AM - Jan 13, 2020<https://twitter.com/runninrobin/status/1216751454851158016>
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See Robin Cunningham's other Tweets

Donnie Renn expressed disappointment tinged with sarcastic glee.

“Haha on the first Monday of their new ride schedule that was supposed to allow @RideRTD to provide better service…” Renn tweeted.

RTD typically makes changes to its bus and train schedule several times a year and it wasn’t clear whether the January adjustments were causing larger than normal driver shortage challenges. But the agency on its website listed many expected canceled light-rail trips for the rest of the week due to a lack of drivers.

Last month, RTD announced that six bus routes could be axed<https://www.denverpost.com/2019/12/19/rtd-denver-labor-shortage/>, the R-Line and D-Line light-rail corridors could lose runs and the frequency of the popular 16th Street Mall shuttle in downtown Denver could be cut in half — from every 90 seconds to every 3 minutes — to deal with a labor shortage that saw 850 hours of dropped rail service in October alone.

RTD blames a good economy and low unemployment for exacerbating its recruitment and retention efforts while also noting that its requirement that drivers, especially newer ones, work six days a week to fill shifts leads to a high level of turnover at the agency.
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