[Colorado-Talk] RTD Update: A Bigger Win Than Reported, Plus Tomorrow's Angle

[Erin Daley]

Thank you so much, Tim! So tomorrow the board will be deciding which proposed service cuts to look at, and I'm guessing at that point is when RTD will go through and decide which routes, etc. to cut and that will be discussed at the September board meeting? My question is whether or not the board can go back on whatever percentage they vote on tonight. For instance, if they vote on 10% tomorrow and look at routes in September can they lower or increase if they choose? And I will send thank you emails, but correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Director Guzman the same one who mentioned getting rid of the AOD service at an operations or finance meeting a month or two ago?

Thank you!

Erin M. Daley
Membership Development and Strategic Communications Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
Phone: 303.778.1130 Ext: 219
2233 W. Shepperd Ave.
Littleton, CO 80120

From: Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Tim Keenan via Colorado-Talk
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 9:11 AM
To: colorado-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Tim Keenan <tkeenan79 at gmail.com>
Subject: [Colorado-Talk] RTD Update: A Bigger Win Than Reported, Plus Tomorrow's Angle

Hi everyone,
Quick correction and update ahead of tomorrow's Board meeting.
THE AMENDMENT WENT FURTHER THAN I ORIGINALLY REPORTED
Last time, I told you Director Ruscha's June amendment protected paratransit funding. That was accurate but incomplete. Thanks to ADAPT Colorado's newsletter, we now have the actual motion language, and it does more than protect a budget line:
"I move to amend the item to clarify that the service modification models exclude modifications to Access-a-Ride and Access-on-Demand, and that RTD continue the practice of preserving the Access-a-Ride service areas for current customers in the event of a reduction or elimination of fixed route bus service."
In plain terms: the 5-20% cut scenarios on the table for tomorrow do not touch AAR or AOD directly, and current AAR customers keep their service-area eligibility even if the fixed route in their area gets cut or eliminated. That's a real, substantive win, and Director Ruscha (with Director Guzman) delivered it. It passed 10-5.
If you haven't already, a thank-you to Director Ruscha (joyann.ruscha at rtd-denver.com<mailto:joyann.ruscha at rtd-denver.com>) and Director Guzman, Michael.Guzman at rtd-denver.com<mailto:Michael.Guzman at rtd-denver.com>, along with the full Board (RTD.Directors at rtd-denver.com<mailto:RTD.Directors at rtd-denver.com>) goes a long way. Several of us have already sent ours.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR TOMORROW'S PUBLIC COMMENT
Because of this amendment, the eligibility-loss argument we've been leaning on is largely resolved for current riders. If you're planning to speak or submit written comment tomorrow, here's the angle that still matters:
1. The protection is for CURRENT customers only. Someone who isn't yet an AAR customer but lives along a route slated for cuts has no guaranteed path to eligibility once that route is gone. As routes get cut over time and the customer base turns over, that gap will only grow. Ask the Board to commit to extending the same protection to future applicants in affected areas, or at minimum to have the SB 26-150 independent paratransit study explicitly examine this gap.
2. The larger case against cutting service at all still stands. Whatever cut level the Board picks tomorrow (0-20%), remind them that RTD has not exhausted every other option, and that going to voters in 2028 for more funding will land better coming from an agency that visibly tried everything else first.
3. Specific routes won't be decided until likely September, so tomorrow isn't the day to fight for individual routes. It's the day to set the tone: acknowledge the win on paratransit, and hold the line on caution before any cuts at all.

The meeting is Tuesday, July 28 at 5:30 PM at 1660 Blake Street. Written comment can go anytime to RTD.Directors at rtd-denver.com<mailto:RTD.Directors at rtd-denver.com>.

Thanks for your time!


Tim Keenan
State Transportation Chair
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
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