[Colorado-Talk] Fw: CCDC "AOD Recommendations"

Tue Jul 8 00:32:33 UTC 2025

FYI

________________________________
From: Jaime Lewis <jlewis at ccdconline.org>
Sent: Monday, July 7, 2025 4:33:05 PM
To: Bond, Angel <abond at bouldercounty.gov>; Tracy Alverson <tcalverson at hotmail.com>; Amy Petre Hill <aphill at ccdconline.org>; april.schildmeyer at denver7.com <april.schildmeyer at denver7.com>; Bob Dinegar <bobdinegar at gmail.com>; Brian Grewe <briangrewe at atlantiscommunity.org>; Barry Rosenberg <coloradorosenberg at gmail.com>; Via: Frank Bruno <fbruno at viacolorado.org>; Carol Buchanan <Ecbuchanan88 at gmail.com>; Coleen Samuels <csamuels at drmac-co.org>; Hinds, Chris - CC Member District 10 Denver City Council <chris.hinds at denvergov.org>; Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com>; Dawn Russell <cdawnrussell1965 at gmail.com>; Curtis Garrett <curtis at atlantiscommunity.org>; Claudia L. Folska, PhD. <cfolska at yahoo.com>; Damon McLeese <damon at accessgallery.org>; Gary Van Dorn <garyvdrn at msn.com>; Greater Denver Transit <greaterdenvertransit at gmail.com>; Earl Lee (lee.earl1 at gmail.com) <lee.earl1 at gmail.com>; William Estrada <william at teameei.org>; Meg Froelich <repfroelichhd3 at gmail.com>; Frank Kane <mrfrankkane at gmail.com>; Sen. Winter <faith.winter.senate at coleg.gov>; Gabe Christie <Gabe.Christie at rtd-denver.com>; Hillary Jorgensen <hjorgensen at ccdconline.org>; Hanni Raley <hraley at thearcofaurora.org>; Rachel Kaplan <rachel at guidedbyhumanity.org>; Kenneth Maestas <kmaestas at ccdconline.org>; Krutsinger, David - DOTI Transit Director <David.Krutsinger at denvergov.org>; Shontel Lewis <yallknowshontel at gmail.com>; Latoya Prante <lprante at drmac-co.org>; Linda Wirth <wirthalot at live.com>; Nate Trela <ntrela at gmail.com>; Stephanie Oneill <soneill at drmac-co.org>; Jordan Sibayan <jordansibayan at yahoo.com>
Subject: Fwd: CCDC "AOD Recommendations"

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jaime Lewis <jlewis at ccdconline.org<mailto:jlewis at ccdconline.org>>
Date: Mon, Jul 7, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Subject: CCDC "AOD Recommendations"
To: <RTD.Directors at rtd-denver.com<mailto:RTD.Directors at rtd-denver.com>>

As the Regional Transportation District moves into the final stages, to change the fare structure for Access-on-Demand, CCDC is sharing its final concerns of the proposed changes.

  1.  Current applicants, who are approved for service for paratransit, need to wait 3 months before receiving Access-on-Demand service.  There are no other services that RTD provides that require a waiting period for service.  This appears to be a discriminatory action towards people with disabilities.

  2.  Proposed $6.50 fare is not in alignment with other fare structures throughout RTD.  The Federal Transit Administration recommends that transit agencies’s paratransit fares should not exceed base fare for fixed route X 2.  Therefore, the largest fare should be $5.50.  RTD often refers to FTA guidance only when it provides justification for their policy suggestions.  Otherwise, they refer to AOD as a premium service that has no federal rules guiding it.

  3.  Restricting time of service and geographic area are placing unnecessary restrictions on riders.  A majority of AOD riders are using the service because it provides efficiencies that Access-a-Ride does not provide.  Restricting time and location will reduce the independence of people utilizing the system.

  4.  The Board of Directors never set a budget goal for AOD.  The number was provided by staff.  This leads to the question of what is the right amount of savings that is needed to continue to provide this service.  36%, 40%? This is not how a large transit agency should be setting policy or budget.

  5.  Access-on-Demand Updates

It has come to the attention of RTD staff that the booking and reservation application utilized by one of the agency’s Access-on-Demand partners allows individuals to request multi-stop trips when booking services. This multi-stop option, while certainly convenient, is not available to other RTD customers, including Access-a-Ride customers who utilize the agency’s traditional accessible services provided through the agency’s branded paratransit vehicles.

“This is on the RTD website.  The multi-ride option makes the system more efficient for riders and provides a system that closely aligns with a fixed route experience, which the FTA recommends. Fixed route users can make several stops before their bus pass expires. RTD needs to require other vendors besides Uber to provide this service. Lets improve the service not restrict it because a vendor refuses to provide the service needed.

Jaime Lewis
CCDC Transit Advisor

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