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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><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'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Quick, important correction before tonight's meeting.<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'>CORRECTING THE RUSCHA AMENDMENT<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'>My last update, and ADAPT Colorado's newsletter before it, described Director Ruscha's June amendment as also locking in Access-a-Ride service areas for current customers when a fixed route gets cut. I've now pulled the actual June 23 board minutes, and that's not accurate. The minutes are the final word on what was actually voted on, and here's the full text of the amendment as adopted, 10-5, with Director Guzman seconding:<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 service modification models exclude modifications to Access-a-Ride and Access-on-Demand."<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'>That's the entire amendment. There is no language in the minutes about preserving service areas or eligibility for current customers when a fixed route is reduced or eliminated. That broader assurance may have been said out loud in discussion, but it was never made part of the motion, and it did not get voted on.<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'>Why this matters: the real, confirmed win is that AAR and AOD funding and service hours are excluded from the 5/10/17.5/20% cut-modeling scenarios. That's genuine and still worth thanking Director Ruscha and Director Guzman for. But the bigger question, whether a current AAR customer keeps their eligibility when the fixed route near them is cut, was never formally addressed. That risk is still fully open, and it's exactly what we need to raise tonight.<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'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>TONIGHT'S PUBLIC COMMENT STRATEGY<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 Board meets tonight, July 28, at 5:30 PM at 1660 Blake Street to decide which cut-level scenario to pursue. Specific routes won't be decided until likely September, so tonight isn't the night to fight for individual routes. Here's the angle:<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'>1. Thank the Board, and Directors Ruscha and Guzman specifically, for excluding AAR/AOD funding and hours from the cut models. That's real and it matters.<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'>2. Ask the Board to formally lock in Access-a-Ride service-area eligibility for current customers, regardless of which cut scenario they choose. This was not addressed in June, and tonight is the moment to put it on the record before a scenario is adopted.<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'>3. Reinforce the broader case: RTD should exhaust every other option before cutting any service at all, especially if the agency wants voters to approve a funding measure in 2028.<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'>If you're able to attend in person tonight, thank you, truly. Your presence in the room makes a real difference.<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'>If you'd rather comment from home, you can register for the Zoom webinar here: <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DzEw2DVSQeqvrC9OS-wy_g#/registration">https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DzEw2DVSQeqvrC9OS-wy_g#/registration</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'>Written comment can also 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'>Thanks for sticking with me and raising your voice, however you do it.<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></div></body></html>