While union bus and light-rail drivers consider a new contract proposal from the Regional Transportation District management to end a three-day strike – there are lingering calls to turn more routes over to private contractors, who have kept some buses running.
Gov. Bill Owens proposed putting more routes in the hands of contracted drivers, a move that is in the hands of the RTD board.
“A few board members have inquired about doing that if the strike continues in an effort to put more service on the street, but no formal action has been taken,” said Scott Reed, RTD spokesman.
“Management could propose it to the board, but is not considering it now,” Reed said.
A state law enacted after union employees threatened to strike in 2003 requires that a minimum of half of RTD routes be serviced by private contractors.
Those routes are being operated by Laidlaw Transit Services Inc., First Transit Inc. and Connex.
In addition, contractors run access-a-Ride for disabled passengers and the taxi-like “call-n-Ride.”
The law also says that union drivers can’t lose their jobs to contracted employees, said Reed.
“So it has to be through attrition. No one can be laid off because of it,” Reed said.
Contract drivers working for the three companies driving fixed routes make from $11 to $16 an hour, Reed said.
By contrast, top hourly pay for union bus drivers was $18.05 before a settlement.
It costs RTD a total of $63.55 an hour for contracted services compared with $76.12 an hour for RTD service, less vehicle and facility depreciation costs.
There are 800 contracted drivers compared with about 1,000 unionized drivers, said RTD’s Bruce Abel, assistant general manager for contracted services.
Typically, contractors drive 53 routes. During the strike, RTD deployed its contract drivers to 33 routes with the highest number of riders and with the highest number of people dependent on buses, Abel said.
Those include high-volume routes such as the 0 service on Broadway and routes 15 and 16 on East and West Colfax.
The contractors are driving fewer routes with more frequent service, said Abel.
“I’ve heard a number of comments from our customers indicating their appreciation that contractors are continuing to provide service,” Abel said.
Privatizing lines began with 1986 legislation that required 20 percent of bus routes be turned over to contractors to save money.
The legislature raised the minimum to 35 percent in 1998, then in 2003 it went to 50 percent.
“If the board wished to increase privatization it would take a board action and then it would require us to either amend existing contracts or put out a request for proposal depending on the magnitude,” Abel said.
Staff writer Dave Curtin can be reached at 303-820-1276 or dcurtin@denverpost.com.
