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<p class="MsoNormal">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?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Erin M. Daley</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Membership Development and Strategic Communications Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Pronouns: she/her<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">National Federation of the Blind of Colorado</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Phone: 303.778.1130 Ext: 219<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">2233 W. Shepperd Ave.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Littleton, CO 80120<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"> Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Tim Keenan via Colorado-Talk<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, July 27, 2026 9:11 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> colorado-talk@nfbnet.org<br>
<b>Cc:</b> Tim Keenan <tkeenan79@gmail.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Colorado-Talk] RTD Update: A Bigger Win Than Reported, Plus Tomorrow's Angle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Quick correction and update ahead of tomorrow's Board meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">THE AMENDMENT WENT FURTHER THAN I ORIGINALLY REPORTED<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">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:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">"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."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">If you haven't already, a thank-you to Director Ruscha (<a href="mailto:joyann.ruscha@rtd-denver.com">joyann.ruscha@rtd-denver.com</a>) and Director Guzman,
<a href="mailto:Michael.Guzman@rtd-denver.com">Michael.Guzman@rtd-denver.com</a>, along with the full Board (<a href="mailto:RTD.Directors@rtd-denver.com">RTD.Directors@rtd-denver.com</a>) goes a long way. Several of us have already sent ours.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">WHAT THIS MEANS FOR TOMORROW'S PUBLIC COMMENT<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">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:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The meeting is Tuesday, July 28 at 5:30 PM at 1660 Blake Street. Written comment can go anytime to
<a href="mailto:RTD.Directors@rtd-denver.com">RTD.Directors@rtd-denver.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Thanks for your time!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Tim Keenan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">State Transportation Chair<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">National Federation of the Blind of Colorado<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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