<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">First Tim, I want to thank you for your excellent leadership and advocacy here--this is a very big deal and I am glad no one wants to take a position that preserving paratransit only for current people is OK. I am also concerned about leaving any neighborhood that currently has service with nothing, even for fixed route because for us non-drivers we do not have other options outside of transit, at least not affordable ones. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">I do think that the board can make a decision at any time to reduce services even if they previously decided not to do so, except if their decision impacts a civil rights issue. Right now I think that even if it was a civil rights issue not sure DOT would enforce or care. They also may start with one set of recommendations and then make adjustments as they see how it plays out. The cost and ridership estimates are guesses, good guesses but guesses. So I am not sure it would be inappropriate for them to revisit as they move into implementation, but it has to be done appropriately because having a system with constant changes is not good either and will drive away the few choice users we have left. However I would defer to others if I am incorrect. </div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.8px">With Gratitude,</span></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Julie Reiskin</span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Co-Executive Director</span><br style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Email Address: <a href="mailto:jreiskin@ccdconline.org" target="_blank">jreiskin@ccdconline.org</a></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px">Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition<br>1385 S. 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Director Ruscha told me that he is really in our corner, and he did as well, so I guess I\u2019ll take what he said at that May meeting as just a one-off. \u201cSince this isn\u2019t mandated, we would be forced to cut it.\u201d<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Your question regarding whether the Board can later alter a percentage they agree to at tonight\u2019s meeting is a good one, and I don\u2019t know the answer.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Does anyone else out here? Gary? Claudia? Julie? Jaime?<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Tim<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><div><div style="border-width:1pt medium medium;border-style:solid none none;border-color:rgb(225,225,225) currentcolor currentcolor;padding:3pt 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Colorado-Talk <<a href="mailto:colorado-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">colorado-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Erin Daley via Colorado-Talk<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, July 27, 2026 4:01 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Colorado Discussion List <<a href="mailto:colorado-talk@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">colorado-talk@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> Erin Daley <<a href="mailto:edaley@cocenter.org" target="_blank">edaley@cocenter.org</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Colorado-Talk] RTD Update: A Bigger Win Than Reported, Plus Tomorrow's Angle<u></u><u></u></span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much, Tim! So tomorrow the board will be deciding which proposed service cuts to look at, and I\u2019m 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\u2019m wrong, but wasn\u2019t Director Guzman the same one who mentioned getting rid of the AOD service at an operations or finance meeting a month or two ago?<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you!<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8pt;line-height:105%"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Erin M. Daley</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:11pt;line-height:105%;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8pt;line-height:105%"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Membership Development and Strategic Communications Coordinator<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Pronouns: she/her<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:8pt;line-height:105%"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><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"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Phone: 303.778.1130 Ext: 219<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">2233 W. Shepperd Ave.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Littleton, CO 80120<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><div style="border-width:1pt medium medium;border-style:solid none none;border-color:rgb(225,225,225) currentcolor currentcolor;padding:3pt 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> Colorado-Talk <<a href="mailto:colorado-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">colorado-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> <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> <a href="mailto:colorado-talk@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">colorado-talk@nfbnet.org</a><br><b>Cc:</b> Tim Keenan <<a href="mailto:tkeenan79@gmail.com" target="_blank">tkeenan79@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> [Colorado-Talk] RTD Update: A Bigger Win Than Reported, Plus Tomorrow's Angle<u></u><u></u></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Hi everyone,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Quick correction and update ahead of tomorrow's Board meeting.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">THE AMENDMENT WENT FURTHER THAN I ORIGINALLY REPORTED<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">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:<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">"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."<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">If you haven't already, a thank-you to Director Ruscha (<a href="mailto:joyann.ruscha@rtd-denver.com" target="_blank">joyann.ruscha@rtd-denver.com</a>) and Director Guzman, <a href="mailto:Michael.Guzman@rtd-denver.com" target="_blank">Michael.Guzman@rtd-denver.com</a>, along with the full Board (<a href="mailto:RTD.Directors@rtd-denver.com" target="_blank">RTD.Directors@rtd-denver.com</a>) goes a long way. Several of us have already sent ours.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">WHAT THIS MEANS FOR TOMORROW'S PUBLIC COMMENT<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">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:<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">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" target="_blank">RTD.Directors@rtd-denver.com</a>.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Thanks for your time!<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Tim Keenan<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">State Transportation Chair<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">National Federation of the Blind of Colorado<u></u><u></u></span></p></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>
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