Service Changes

RTD implements service changes three times a year, typically in the winter, spring, and fall, to increase reliability, enhance connections, improve on-time performance, account for seasonal changes to ridership, and support scheduled maintenance projects across the transit system.

LEARN MORE: Watch this two-minute video about service changes.

Each of RTD’s proposed service changes are organized into one of five categories. The categories provide customers, stakeholders, and community members with a quick and concise overview of each change.

1. Seasonal Adjustment: Temporary modifications made to bus and rail services in response to seasonal variations in demand or operational conditions.
2. Service Increase: Increases to the frequency, trips, span of service, or operating hours.
3. Service Reduction: Reductions to the frequency, trips, span of service, or operating hours.
4. Schedule Timing: Alterations to the running time of bus and rail services, typically to better align with customer demands and trip connections, and to improve on-time performance.
5. Route Adjustment: Detours and changes to routes or stops to optimize efficiency, improve accessibility, respond to changing travel patterns, or facilitate planned maintenance projects. Some of these adjustments may also come from the implementation of RTD’s System Optimization Plan.

RTD is hosting in-person and virtual public meetings to communicate the proposed changes, answer questions, and collect feedback from customers, stakeholders, and the community.

• Tuesday, June 18 at Noon
  Virtual Meeting
  Join the meeting now
  Meeting ID: 223 758 414 776
  Passcode: Pn7MaH
  Dial in by phone +1 720-443-6193,,473332783#United States, Denver
  Find a local number
  
  
• Tuesday, June 18 at 6:00 p.m.
  La Alma Recreation Center
  1325 West 11th Avenue, Denver
  
  
• Virtual Office Hours
  Drop-in between 5:30 and 7 p.m. to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed September Service Changes. Note that there will be no formal presentation at this event.
  Monday, June 24
  5:30-7 p.m.
  Register in advance for this meeting
  
  
• Thursday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m.
  Blake Administration Building, Rooms T and D
  1660 Blake Street, Denver
  
  
• Saturday, June 22 at 1:00 p.m.
  Carla Madison Recreation Center
  2401 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver
  
  
• Tuesday, June 25 at 5:30 p.m.
  Englewood Public Library, Anderson Room
  1000 Englewood Parkway
  

In addition to the public meetings above, RTD is also available to answer questions about the proposed service changes during its participation at community events. A full calendar of RTD’s community events is available online.

If you need an interpreter at an event that RTD is hosting, such as a board meeting, open house or other community engagement, please email RTD’s Transit Equity Specialist and Language Access Coordinator at [email protected] or call 303.299.2051. Include the name and date of the event as well as the language(s) needed. Please submit the request at least 5 business days prior to the event to ensure that we can secure an interpreter.

RTD is collecting customer, stakeholder, and community feedback about the September 2024 Service Changes until Friday, June 28, 2024. All feedback will be shared with RTD’s Board of Directors during the July meeting cycle.

There are five ways to provide feedback about the proposed service changes.

• Send an email
  [email protected]
• Call Customer Care
  303.299.6000
• Provide comment at one of RTD's public meetings (see above), or a Board meeting
• Visit with RTD staff at a local community event
• Complete the online feedback survey (surveys for Proposed September 2024 Service Changes closed Friday, June 28)

Need RTD materials translated into a specific language beyond Spanish? To the extent possible, RTD will provide the translation that you need! Click here.

What are Service Changes?

Service Changes are adjustments to bus and rail services and schedules.

Why does RTD make Service Changes?

RTD periodically adapts services to increase service reliability, enhance system connectivity, improve on-time performance, account for seasonal changes to ridership, and to support scheduled maintenance projects across the transit system.

When do Service Changes happen?

RTD implements service changes three times a year, generally in January, May, and either August or September.

What types of changes does RTD make during Service Changes?

Each of RTD’s Service Changes are organized into one of five categories. The categories provide customers, stakeholders, and community members with a quick and concise overview of each change.

1. Service Increase: Increases to the frequency, trips, span of service, or operating hours.
2. Service Reduction: Reductions to the frequency, trips, span of service, or operating hours.
3. Schedule Timing: Alterations to the schedule of bus and rail services, typically to better align with customer demands and trip connections, and to improve on-time performance.
4. Route Adjustment: Detours and changes to routes or stops to optimize efficiency, improve accessibility, respond to changing travel patterns, or facilitate planned maintenance projects. Some of these adjustments may also come from the implementation of RTD’s System Optimization Plan.
5. Seasonal Adjustment: Temporary modifications made to bus and rail services in response to seasonal variations in demand or operational conditions.

What is the Service Change process?

The process for changing services at RTD is as follows:

• RTD announces Proposed Service Changes after reviewing ridership, traffic, resources, and feedback from the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1001 (ATU 1001), customers, and stakeholders.
• Customers and community members submit feedback on the proposed changes during the public comment period.
• All feedback is shared with the Board of Directors before they make a decision.
• Once approved by the Board, Proposed Service Changes become Final Service Changes.

How do I know if my route(s) will be impacted?

RTD announces Proposed and Final Service Changes widely. Advertisements are placed on all buses and trains, and information is available on the RTD website and social media. RTD also uses public engagement and media relations to keep everyone informed. Customers can view the changes at www.rtd-denver.com/service-alerts/service-changes.

How does RTD prevent service changes from negatively impacting customers, including marginalized customers?

RTD ensures that service changes do not affect marginalized populations 10% more than non-marginalized populations. If a proposed change causes a disparate impact or disproportionate burden, RTD will work to modify the proposal to avoid, minimize, or mitigate these issues. If there is a 25% addition or reduction in the service hours of any route that would remain in effect for 12 or more months, it is subject to an equity analysis that includes an analysis of adverse effects on customers.

How can I provide feedback on RTD services or Proposed Service Changes?

RTD provides customers several ways to provide their thoughts on all services, and Proposed Service Changes, including:

1. Completing the online survey available at www.rtd-denver.com/service-alerts/service-changes
2. Sending an email to [email protected]
3. Calling Customer Care at 303.299.6000
4. Providing public comment at the Board of Directors’ meeting
5. Attending RTD’s Proposed Service Changes public meetings (held online and in person)
6. Visiting the RTD team at local community events

If you have a question about the proposed service changes, please send an email to [email protected]. Responses to questions will be provided to the sender and added to the webpage.

RTD implemented Final May Service Changes on May 26, 2024 to increase reliability, improve on-time performance, address seasonal school adjustments, and accommodate the Downtown Rail Reconstruction Project.

View Final May Service Changes Here