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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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> ADAPT Colorado <adapt.colorado@gmail.com> <br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, September 13, 2026 9:06 PM<br><b>To:</b> ADAPT Colorado <adapt.colorado@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Latest RTD News from ADAPT 9/13/26 -AOD rates, independent paratransit study, upcoming meetings...<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:16.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>AOD provider rates -- simplified</span><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal>Another advocacy win! Both Onward and Sunshine Rides revised their AOD rates downward after a troublesome rollout of these new providers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Every AOD trip starts with the same RTD fare:</span><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'>$4.50 standard fare</span><span style='color:black'><br></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'>$2.25 with LiVE</span><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Then the provider pricing determines how far the $20 RTD subsidy gets you:</span><o:p></o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse;border-color:currentcolor'><tr style='height:30.0pt'><td valign=top style='border:solid black 1.0pt;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:30.0pt'><p align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Provider</span></b><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='border:solid black 1.0pt;border-left:none;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:30.0pt'><p align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>WAV Rides</span></b><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='border:solid black 1.0pt;border-left:none;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:30.0pt'><p align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Non-WAV Rides</span></b><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style='height:41.25pt'><td valign=top style='border:solid black 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:41.25pt'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Onward</span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:41.25pt'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>$20 covers first 15 miles, then $3/mile</span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:41.25pt'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Variable pricing based on Uber rates, RTD pays up to $20; rider pays anything over $20</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style='height:41.25pt'><td valign=top style='border:solid black 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:41.25pt'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Sunshine</span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:41.25pt'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>$20 covers first 10 miles, then $3/mile</span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:41.25pt'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>$20 covers first 10 miles, then $3/mile</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style='height:54.75pt'><td valign=top style='border:solid black 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:54.75pt'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Uber / Lyft</span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:54.75pt'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Not available </span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;border-right:solid black 1.0pt;padding:6.0pt 9.0pt 6.0pt 9.0pt;height:54.75pt'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Variable pricing, RTD pays up to $20; rider pays anything over $20</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:16.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Independent Paratransit Study (SB26-150)</span><o:p></o:p></h3><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>The SB26-150 paratransit study is already behind schedule. </span>Despite this mandate being signed into law in May, the RFP hasn\u2019t even gone out yet. The law requires the study to be <b>completed by June 30, 2027</b>, with the <b>contract in place by December 31, 2026</b>. Those dates are in the bill. There are no excuses for missing them.<b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Yet RTD staff is now proposing new dates, suggesting that the study be completed 12 months after contracting. </span><b>Wait a minute</b>. Since when does RTD get to make its own rules and blatantly disregard a statutory requirement? There is a track record here: waiting until the last minute to execute contracts, then rushing the process and producing grossly substandard results that adversely impact the disability community. We saw it in July with the new AOD providers. We cannot let that happen here.<b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Let\u2019s be clear about something: this study did not simply \u201chappen.\u201d It was initially suggested by the RTD Accountability Committee, but ADAPT made sure it became law. We lobbied to keep the study in SB26-150 and worked closely with the bill sponsors to ensure the statutory scope was detailed enough to demand a thorough, independent, meaningful analysis. </span>As Senator Ball said during the legislative process, ADAPT \u201cput meat on the bones.\u201d<b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>This cannot become a quick report built around whatever data RTD happens to provide. </span>Now comes the hard part: we have to make sure RTD follows through. We cannot let them cut corners, reduce the scope, control the narrative, or undermine this study.<b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>We need all hands on deck.</span></b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>We need people watching the procurement process.<br>We need people watching the RFP.<br>We need people watching the data.<br>We need people watching the methodology.<br>We need people making sure riders, families, caregivers, advocates, and the broader disability community are heard.<br>And we need people willing to speak up when something doesn\u2019t look right.</span><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>This is our study. We fought for it. Now we have to watchdog it.</span></b><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>That means making sure SB26-150 produces the comprehensive, independent examination of paratransit that Colorado\u2019s disability community deserves\u2014not another RTD-controlled exercise that tells us what RTD wants us to believe--we've had enough of that! </span>This is a critical opportunity to finally get the facts we need about paratransit. We cannot afford to let this study be watered down, rushed, or captured by the agency being studied.<b><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:16.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:8.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Upcoming RTD Meetings</span><o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'>1) The Finance committee meets on Tuesday, September 15th at 5:30pm (agenda below). We need to keep an eye on the budget discussion.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'>2) The Operations, Safety and Security committee meets on Wednesday, September 16th at 5:30pm (agenda below). We need to ensure that this committee corrects the paratransit study completion date proposed by staff (see attached excerpt from the agenda packet).</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'>3) Full Board of Directors meeting Tuesday, September 22nd at 5:30pm.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>In solidarity,</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img width=110 height=110 style='width:1.15in;height:1.15in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:ii_mos02frl0"></span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>FREE OUR PEOPLE</span><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>