Free premium access to third-party mobile application no longer available to RTD customers
Free access to Transit Royale, a premium version of a third-party mobile application, is no longer available to RTD customers. On Jan. 15, 2025, no-cost access to Transit Royale was deactivated, but free access to the app’s core version continues.
Transit first began providing RTD customers with free access to Royale in 2022 as part of a promotion. Premium access allowed users to explore bus routes and rail lines that are geographically farther away, see departure times in the future, create custom avatars, and participate in other transit-related gamification features.
The third-party app’s premium feature is fully managed outside the agency.
Transit app users who previously had no-cost access to the premium service received a notification that free Royale subscriptions would no longer be provided by the third-party app. Individuals wishing to continue having access to Royale can pay an annual or monthly fee through the third-party app. The Transit app also provides free Royale subscriptions for individuals who are unable to afford the monthly or annual cost.Requests for free subscriptions, which are based on income and need, can be made through Transit’s mobile app. The entire process is externally managed and unrelated to RTD’s operations.
Transit’s free version will continue to support RTD customers who choose to use the third-party app instead of the agency’s trip-planning (Next Ride) and fare payment (MyRide) applications. Transit’s no-cost, core features include access to create an account, plan trips, see arrivals and departures at nearby stops and stations, and the ability to make specific routes and lines favorites.
Additionally, as publicly announced in April 2024, RTD is continuing its multi-year trip integration pilot project that utilizes the Transit app. RTD received a $687,000 grant funding award for the Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) pilot program from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The FTA funding supported the development and deployment of a mobile solution that now provides end-to-end travel connections via RTD, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)’s Bustang service, Lone Tree Link, e-scooters, and Boulder BCycle. The grant funding pays Transit to support single-application integration for the above-noted mobility options. When the project concludes in 2026, RTD and the FTA will evaluate the pilot program and measure its success.