RTD expresses gratitude to its workforce on National Transit Employee Appreciation Day

March 18 marks National Transit Employee Appreciation Day, an annual tradition that commemorates the inauguration of the Carrosses à cinq sols, the world’s first bus line, which took place in Paris, France, in 1662. The 17th-century bus was pulled by horses, and could only carry eight passengers, all of whom needed to be part of the feudal nobility.

A lot has changed since then. In our modern and globalized world, public transportation is vital to maintaining accessibility to career, educational and recreational opportunities, getting people to where they work, live and play. In 2009, Seattle residents Hans Gerwitz and Shannon E. Thomas advocated for a day dedicated to appreciating bus operators, and in 2014 Trimet, a transit public agency in Portland, extended the appreciation to include rail operators.

The agency thanks its 3,273 employees who work tirelessly, day and night, to keep the agency running and ensuring buses, rails and shuttles keep moving and transporting members of the community to their destinations. All transit employees are greatly appreciated and indispensable to quality public transit service. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!

Join us by submitting a message of thanks for a bus or rail operator or express gratitude to any other RTD employee, department or service by visiting here.