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Council urged to bolster RTD advocacy as agency faces 20% budget cuts
Summary
Staff reported success getting RTD to restore a suspended route after a council letter but warned RTD must find 20% in cuts and will prioritize ridership metrics; councilors asked staff to compile transit destination maps (YMCA, Sister Carmen) to make equity cases to RTD and partner bodies.
Michelle Melanakis briefed council on Lafayette’s coordination with regional partners and recent work with the Regional Transportation District (RTD). She said the city’s letter helped reverse a temporary suspension and that RTD will remove a suspension from the September 2026 service changes, but cautioned that RTD faces significant budget pressure and must pursue about a 20% reduction in service costs.
Councilors pressed staff to highlight equity‑sensitive destinations that would be disproportionately harmed by RTD service cuts, naming the YMCA and Sister Carmen as examples of sites used by seniors and low‑income residents. Council members asked staff to build a GIS layer of critical transit destinations and to explore coordinated advocacy through the Northwest Mayors & Commissioners Coalition, letters from council, and public comment at RTD board meetings. Staff said those channels — and a mix of tactics — will be used moving forward to preserve service where feasible.
