The Regional Transportation District needs to expand efforts to inform the metro area that a change in bus and light-rail fares is coming.
That was the message from members of the RTD board of directors during a Tuesday night work session.
Board members said RTD staffers and consultants should redouble efforts to get the fare message across a variety of media, including local public television.
Many said public meetings held to explain the proposed changes often are poorly attended and don’t reach a broad cross section of the population.
Board member Paul Solano, who represents an area that includes Commerce City, chastised staff members for not holding a public meeting in that community.
“Commerce City is probably the most impacted by any fare changes,” said Solano. “But you’re going to have a meeting in Littleton but not Commerce City. I don’t understand.”
RTD’s study is looking to simplify the agency’s fare structure and possibly make it more economical for low-income residents to ride a bus or light rail.
Lacy Bell, the transportation planner overseeing the fare study, said riders already have said RTD needs to make its fare schedule easier to understand.
That is especially true for light rail, in which fares are levied based on different zones along the light-rail route.
“We’re told that the light-rail zoning is complicated and confusing,” Bell said. “A lot of what we hear (is) we must simplify.”
Still, it’s unlikely RTD will adopt a system where everyone is charged a flat rate for riding, Bell said.
A recommendation for a revamped fare structure is scheduled to go before the board in January.
Staffers hope to have a complete new fare schedule by January 2016.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907, mwhaley@denverpost.com or
