Following years of declining ridership and a looming budget deficit, the state’s governing transit agency is on the brink of potential reform. Members of an accountability committee convened by lawmakers last year have suggested reducing the number of RTD’s board members from 15 to nine, and allowing the governor to appoint four of those positions.
The move would have significant impacts on who makes RTD’s biggest decisions and how. It’s a debate that is dividing much of the transit community. So what exactly does RTD’s board of directors do? And how do the board’s decisions impact everyday commuters?
First, What Is RTD?
RTD (the Regional Transportation District) provides and oversees public transportation across eight Colorado counties — Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, and Weld. Services include bus, rail, shuttle, ADA paratransit, and more. The agency was created in 1969 and originally governed by an appointed board of directors. In 1980, RTD transitioned to a publicly elected board, which is how it operates today.
Who Makes Up RTD’s Board of Directors?
Currently, RTD’s board of directors consists of 15 publicly elected members — though the proposal being considered by local lawmakers right now could change that. Each member represents a district (A through O), serves a four-year term, and receives a modest part-time salary. They can be reelected once. The board meets 10 times a year, usually on the last Tuesday of the month, with the exception of August and December.
➡️ Find out your district and representative with this interactive map.
Primarily, the board is in charge of setting policy and strategic direction for the agency, approving the annual budget, hiring management, and receiving feedback from the public — all of which is done through a variety of committees:
- Audit Committee
- Citizens Advisory Committee
- Executive Committee
- Finance and Planning Committee
- Independent Accountability Committee
- Operations and Safety Committee
- Performance Committee
Getting Involved
Anyone interested can attend RTD board meetings, which are open to the public. You can find a full schedule here, as well as the board’s YouTube channel where meetings are streamed. A public comment session is usually held at full board meetings. Attendees are invited to participate in-person or virtually. You can also submit written comments directly to the board members at rtd.directors@rtd-denver.com.
🗓️ Coming up: A community open house to discuss the ongoing East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit project is scheduled for next Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Manos Sagrados (9975 E. Colfax Ave.) in Aurora.
🎧 Tune in: This week on the City Cast Denver podcast, we’re following the proposed RTD board changes closely. Yesterday, we spoke with the chair of the RTD accountability committee, Marie Garcia Berry, and co-chair Jamie Lewis (listen here). Tomorrow, we’ll speak with RTD board member Chris Nicholson. Follow City Cast Denver, wherever you get your podcasts.
