I wrote my state legislators about plans to privatize more bus routes

I hear that there are plans to further privatize bus and train service in the Denver Metro area. Bus riders in Boulder County have endured ten years of cuts to service. In 2018 and 2019, RTD could not keep buses running as the drivers quit the private services.

This has made life difficult for low income people, and led to dangerous increases in greenhouse gases.

Don't Democrats have a majority in the Colorado Legislature? Should we not be strengthening our transit systems throughout the state instead of weakening them?

RTD Service Change Meetings Have Gone Digital

RTD is hosting five virtual meetings about the service changes that will start on January 10, 2021. I missed the first couple of meetings, but there are three to come. You do not need to attend at meeting to comment. You can email comments to service.changes@rtd-denver.com.

To access meetings go to https://www.rtd-denver.com/service-changes/january-2021 and click on the link for the time that you want. This will take you to a Microstoft Teams page where you will have to choose whether you want to take part in the meeting through your browser or if you want to download Microsoft Teams. The Microsoft Teams logo is big, but you don't have to download the app to join the meeting online. You cannot register for the meeting ahead of time. You can also call in to 720-443-6193 and use the conference ID# for audio only.

The Monday noon meeting is Facebook live only and can only be accessed through the link at https://www.rtd-denver.com/service-changes/january-2021. 

 

Saturday, October 10 at 10:30 am, Conference ID: 305 474 306# 

Monday, October 12 at 12pm, https://www.facebook.com/events/766983194098818/ You can RSVP ahead of time.

Lunes, Octubre 12 a las 6 de la tarde, Conference ID: 899 354 645# (Solamente en español.)

Rocky Mountain Rail wants to run private rail from Denver to Longmont

They are going to present their proposal at a series of public meetings, one of which was already held in Broomfield. All meetings last from 6 to 8 pm.

Wednesday, January 22
Lafayette Public Library
775 Baseline Road
Lafayette
Bus: 225, LD2, LD3

Thursday, January 23
Louisville Public Library
951 Spruce Street
Louisville
Bus: DASH

Wednesday, January 29
Westminster City Building
4800 W. 92nd Avenue
Westminster
Bus: 92

Wednesday, February 5
Boulder Public Library
1001 Arapaho Avenue
Boulder
Bus: HOP (2 blocks away)

Wednesday, February 12
Longmont Public Library
409 Fourth Avenue
Longmont
Bus:  The 324, Bolt, LD1 and LD2 stop 2 blocks away.
The 323 ends around 6:30 in both directions.

This train is a good idea, but I am concerned that the goal of this project is to privatize our bus and train system.

FlexRide Trainings in Louisville

Monday, November 18, 9-10 am

Louisville Senior Center

900 West Via Appia Way

Bus: 228

Thursday, Dcember 5, 1:15 -2:15 pm

Louisville Public Library

951 Spruce Street

Bus: DASH

I am not sure if there is going to be any training, but you can get a free daypass by attending either event. You can also get a daypass by going to trytheflexride.org, clicking on the colorful box near the bottom of the page and giving Commuting Solutions your email address. The pass can ve used any day until the end of December and should work on any bus or train in the RTD system.

Telephone Town Halls are Here

Wednesday, October 9 at 7:30 pm
Kate Williams, District A
She represents downtown and south Denver.

Thursday, October 10 at 6 pm
Doug Tisdale, District H
He represents Highlands Ranch, Southglenn, and Cherry Hills Village.

Thursday, October 10 at 7:30 pm
Shontel Lewis, District B
She represents northwest Denver and north Aurora.

Thursday, October 17 at 6 pm
Peggy Catlin, District N
She represents west Jefferson County.

Thursday, October 17 at 7:30 pm
Natalie Menten, District M
She represents Lakewood and Wheat Ridge.

Monday, October 21 at 6 pm
Vince Buzek, District J
He represents Westminster, Thornton, and Northglenn.

Monday, October 21at 7:30 pm
Bob Broom, District F
He represents east Aurora.

Monday, October 24 at 6 pm
Angie Rivera-Malpiede, District C
She represents west Denver and Edgewater.

Monday, October 24 at 7:30 pm
Troy Whitmore, District E
He represents west Aurora.

Monday, October 28 at 6 pm
Lynn Guissinger, District O
She represents Boulder.

Monday, October 28 at 7:30 pm
Shelley Cook, District L
She represents Arvada.

Wednesday, October 30 at 6 pm
Judy Lubow, District I
She represents east Boulder County and Broomfield.

Wednesday, October 30 at 7:30 pm
Ken Mihalik, District G
He represents the most southwest parts of the RTD district.

My descriptions of districts are approximate. To find your district go to https://www.rtd-denver.com/board-district-map. There is also a PDF map at https://www.rtd-denver.com/sites/default/files/files/2017-06/directors-district-map.pdf.  Some districts may have already held their town halls, the website is not clear. In fact, I only spend time on this  website because the RTD website is not clear.

These town halls look like they are ads for the Reimagine RTD thing that is happening. I think if Reimagine RTD was a good thing, it would not need this kind of promotion.

You can call 855-543-3425 to participate.

January Service Change Public Meetings are Here

Wednesday, September 25 at 6 pm
Lafayette Library
775 Baseline Road
Lafayette
Bus: 225, LD2

Thursday, September 26 at 6 pm
Commerce City Eagle Recreation Center
6060 Parkway Drive
Commerce City
Bus: 62
48 and 88 within close walking distance

Tuesday, October 1 at 6 pm
Longmont Museum
400 Quail Road
Longmont
Bus: 324
LD1, LD2, LX2

Thursday, October 3
2 meetings at noon and 6 pm
RTD Administrative Offices
1660 Blake Street, Basement
Bus: I need to check because they seem to have changed significantly or Google is messed up again.

RTD continues to kick people off the buses, especially people with disabilities, by shutting down bus stops.

Service to Southwest Plaza may be ending.

The 225 is going back to its old route. The route between Lafayette ParknRide is going to be a new route, LD3. We need to see how accessible that route is.

Two More Meetings remain to find out about changes to bus service when the North line opens

Wednesday, August 21 at 6 pm
Northglenn Recreation Center
11801 Community Center Drive
upstairs in Senior Center
Northglenn
Bus: The closest buses are across the highway at the Wagon Road ParknRide: 8, 12, 120, 120X, 122X, 128, AA

Thursday, August 22, Noon and 6 pm
RTD Adminstrative Offices
1660 Blake Street, Room T&D
Denver
Bus: 1, 20, Free Mallride (Also some Greyhound buses.)
It looks like buses to this location have been drastically cut.

So I got the announcement for these meetings as the first one was taking place. So sorry for the short notice. The notices on the bus just went up as well. No information so far on how bus routes are going to change.