[Colorado-Talk] RTD Meeting Update

Tue May 26 16:12:48 UTC 2026

Brenda - thanks for forwarding that response. We likely will have to vote
on more funding for RTD, but that's a way ofof.

In the meantime, as Julie R points out, making cuts has a disproportionate
effect on ridership. If they were to cut 20 percent of the services, RTD
would lose more than 20 percent of its ridership. That becomes a death
spiral at some point.

On Tue, May 26, 2026 at 8:35 AM Julie Reiskin via Colorado-Talk <
colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> I love all of the activism.   Transit only works if people use it and
> people other than us who have a choice have already said they do not use
> RTD because the busses are too infrequent.  If they reduce service
> frequency or have services start later or end earlier that could further
> deter usage.  That is why it was so hard to get users back after the
> pandemic.  The frequent routes are better used.   If they cut poorly
> performing routes we should advocate to hold AAR harmless or freeze
> eligibility if that cut is moving passengers out of the 3/4 mile radius.
>
> Julie Reiskin  Co Executive Director CCDC
>
> On Mon, May 25, 2026, 11:15 PM Brenda - Personal Email via Colorado-Talk <
> colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>> Brenda,
>>
>> I appreciate your email. The truth is we don’t have the money to run the
>> services that we offer. So we don’t have any other option than to make
>> cuts.
>>
>> We will be asking the voters to increase taxes in the next two years and
>> that will be the only option to prevent service cuts, so I hope you will be
>> supportive of that tax increase when it reaches the ballot.
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> *Chris Nicholson*
>>
>> Director — District A
>>
>> Board of Directors
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On May 25, 2026, at 9:17 PM, Brenda - Personal Email <plcandles at juno.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Thank you for providing that link Dan. I just sent my plea.
>>
>> Let’s do this!!!  write your thoughts and have ChatGPT polish it up for
>> you to send. It is much more professional way to get your feelings and
>> thoughts across.
>>
>> Brenda Harrison
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On May 25, 2026, at 5:40 PM, Dan Burke via Colorado-Talk <
>> colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> 
>> Hi all -
>>
>> It's been a lovely Memorial Day weekend, hasn't it? Now back to RTD
>> reality. As Tim said in Friday's post here, now is not the time to stay
>> silent! We have a great opportunity to give push-back on these proposed
>> cutbacks to RTD early, meaning the board has more opportunity to pusch back
>> on RTD's management.
>>
>> So, pasting the link to send public comment to the entire RTD board, just
>> to make it easy! We put our voices out there for the rideshare bill and it
>> worked. Let's show  that spirit now! Tell them to vote no on these cuts!
>>
>> RTD.Directors at rtd-denver.com
>>
>>
>> On Fri, May 22, 2026 at 10:03 AM Tim Keenan via Colorado-Talk <
>> colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hey, RTD riders and transit advocates!
>>>
>>> Quick but important update before Wednesday's Board meeting.
>>>
>>> I've been digging into the newly posted agenda for the May 27 meeting,
>>> and I can confirm: the proposed service cuts are not on the agenda for a
>>> vote Wednesday night. The Recommended Actions section — which is where a
>>> vote on management's proposal would appear — is completely empty. I
>>> compared it to prior agendas where actual votes were scheduled, and the
>>> difference is clear. When something is being voted on, it shows up there
>>> with a full description. Wednesday's agenda has nothing.
>>>
>>> There's a Board Study Session scheduled at 3:00 PM before the 5:30 PM
>>> Board meeting. As far as I know, that session is open to the public to
>>> attend or listen to, though there's no public comment during study
>>> sessions. My best guess is that management will use the study session to
>>> present whatever revised proposal they've been working on, and the Board
>>> will discuss it — but no vote will happen Wednesday.
>>>
>>> So what does this mean for us?
>>>
>>> It does not mean we stay silent. Not even close.
>>>
>>> Public comment at Wednesday's meeting is still one of the most powerful
>>> things we can do right now. Here's why: the Board is clearly still
>>> deliberating. The fact that management's proposal isn't on the agenda for a
>>> vote suggests the Board hasn't given them the green light yet — which means
>>> our voices are landing. Showing up Wednesday and making noise reinforces
>>> that message before any decision gets locked in.
>>>
>>> It also means the fight isn't over in one night. The vote will likely
>>> come at a future meeting — possibly June 23, which is the next regular
>>> Board meeting. We'll keep watching the calendar and keep you informed.
>>>
>>> For Wednesday, here's what you need to know:
>>>
>>> The Board Study Session starts at 3:00 PM. This should be public, but
>>> there’s not a Zoom link. If it’s private, Jaime Lewis of the Colorado
>>> Cross-Disability Coalition is looking into why and trying to make it
>>> public. This is important because that’s where we’re likely to hear
>>> whatever management is currently thinking, which could be very useful when
>>> formulating your public comment for the meeting.
>>>
>>> The Board Meeting starts at 5:30 PM. Whether you show up in person or
>>> attend via Zoom, we still need everyone affected to make public comment.
>>> Register for the Zoom meeting at
>>> https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_x8BY5TdBSH-kLMrJO3zOUg#/registration
>>>
>>> And be sure to submit written comment to RTD.Directors at rtd-denver.com
>>> beforehand.
>>>
>>> The fact that management's proposal isn't ready for a vote tells us
>>> something important: the pressure is working. Let's keep it up.
>>>
>>> See you Wednesday.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Enjoy your long weekend, and remember why most of us have a day off
>>> Monday!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Tim Keenan
>>>
>>> State Transportation Chair
>>>
>>> National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Dan Burke
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair
>>
>> "Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"
>>
>> My Cell:  406.546.8546
>>
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-- 
Dan Burke

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair

"Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"

My Cell:  406.546.8546
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