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RTD reports rising boardings, new safety measures and steps to expand EcoPass
Summary
RTD told the Joint Transportation Committee ridership is rebounding (October boardings passed 6 million), safety metrics have improved, and EcoPass and neighborhood EcoPass outreach will expand after a strategic marketing push required by state law.
The Regional Transportation District reported higher ridership, expanded safety strategies and an active plan to grow employer and neighborhood pass participation during a SMART Act hearing before the Joint Transportation Committee.
RTD Chair Patrick O'Keefe and General Manager and CEO Deborah Johnson opened the agency’s panel and described priorities including coordination on Front Range passenger rail, a looming contract decision for senior management and FY27 financial challenges tied to sales‑tax revenue. Chief communications officer Stuart Summers and other RTD managers walked the committee through operational metrics and program details.
EcoPass: Summers said EcoPass levels are recovering from the pandemic and the program currently covers more than 130,000 individual employees and generates roughly $7.1 million in revenue for RTD. Neighborhood EcoPass (NECOPass) has about 71 participating neighborhoods and nearly 10,000 pass holders. Summers said RTD implemented a strategic outreach plan in 2025 — paid media, market segmentation and more staff time dedicated to business outreach — to increase participation and retain contracts.
Safety: RTD credited several interventions for improved security metrics, including live‑looking vehicle cameras, increased coordination with municipal police and a customer safety and security communications campaign. The agency reported a 20% decrease in security‑related dispatch calls year‑over‑year and a 62% decrease in customer reports of illicit drug use between 2024 and 2025. RTD also detailed proof‑of‑payment enforcement efforts and said it is emphasizing education and connections to services before citations.
Ridership and operations: RTD reported more than 6,000,000 boardings in October (highest month outside special fare months) and described a customer experience plan of 60 tactics — from wayfinding to fare integration — designed to retain and grow ridership. The agency discussed paratransit programs (Accessride and Access on Demand) and recent changes to bring their terms more in alignment.
Local issues: Legislators raised local complaints about station accessibility and shelter quality (notably Thornton’s 88th Avenue stop and ramp slope concerns). RTD committed to specific follow‑ups, an ADA review and additional bus‑stop infrastructure assessments.
What’s next: RTD will supply committee members with requested metrics, ridership splits and EcoPass historical employer counts; the agency said it has moving pieces including a Clean Transit Enterprise grant award and ongoing accountability committee work.
