RTD today begins a series of about two dozen public meetings to gather commuter comments about the agency’s plan to cut 10 percent of bus and rail service beginning in January.
The Regional Transportation District says the reductions, aimed at saving $12 million annually, are needed to balance the budget in coming years.
On Oct. 25, RTD directors expect to vote on the service-cut proposal.
“RTD is seeking to establish a baseline, more predictable level of service that can be funded long-term,” the agency said in a recent message.
RTD’s plan calls for the full or partial elimination of at least two dozen bus routes and trip reductions and day-of-service cuts to many other routes.
The agency proposes to reduce weekday, midday service on two light-rail lines, while adding some service to a third line, said Jeff Becker, one of RTD’s top scheduling and route planning managers.
If the rail service cuts are implemented, riders “will still get to all the same points, but it may require a transfer,” Becker said. In all, the proposed light-rail reductions are aimed at saving nearly $1 million.
RTD officials say that when they consider service cuts, they typically look first at “the least productive 10 percent of routes” based on such factors as high subsidy cost per passenger boarding or low number of boardings per hour.
Nancy V. Machin, a resident of the Windsor Gardens senior residential community just off East Alameda Avenue between Quebec and Havana streets, said she’s concerned about RTD’s proposal to limit circulation of its route 3 bus through Windsor Gardens.
RTD’s proposal to reduce bus access to her residential community comes at a time when Windsor Gardens officials are planning to eliminate a separate shuttle service operated by the residential community, Machin said. RTD’s plan is “a total shock to those reeling from the shuttle shutdown,” she said.
Becker said the current, more extensive diversion of No. 3 buses through Windsor Gardens can lead other riders to shun the route because it eats up too much time.
Jeffrey Leib: 303-954-1645 or jleib@denverpost.com
Get more details
For details on the proposed service changes, and dates and locations of public hearings, go to /proposedservicechanges jan2012.shtml.
