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

Tue Jul 28 10:06:37 UTC 2026

He was, and he did, which seemed weird given how he fought for us on Access
on Demand. Director Ruscha told me that he is really in our corner, and he
did as well, so I guess I'll take what he said at that May meeting as just a
one-off. "Since this isn't mandated, we would be forced to cut it."

Your question regarding whether the Board can later alter a percentage they
agree to at tonight's meeting is a good one, and I don't know the answer.

Does anyone else out here? Gary? Claudia? Julie? Jaime?

Thanks,

Tim

From: Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Erin
Daley via Colorado-Talk
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 4:01 PM
To: NFB of Colorado Discussion List <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Erin Daley <edaley at cocenter.org>
Subject: Re: [Colorado-Talk] RTD Update: A Bigger Win Than Reported, Plus
Tomorrow's Angle

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
<mailto: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 <mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> 
Cc: Tim Keenan <tkeenan79 at gmail.com <mailto: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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