A schedule of new fares for riders of Regional Transportation District buses and rail lines will be reviewed at 16 planned public hearings in the Denver metro area over the next few weeks.
The meetings are scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings starting March 23 through April 8.
Officials says they want more public comment on the proposed fares, which have been the focus of study and controversy over the past several months.
RTD is proposing eliminating light rail zones, transfers and distance-based fares and the introduction of a “Day Pass,” which would enable riders to travel all day for the price of a round-trip.
But the fare recommendations have also been attacked as being too expensive for the working poor. A local fare for bus and rail is now $2.25. RTD is asking that be increased to $2.60.
Also, a local monthly bus fare goes from $79 to $104.
RTD is considering providing more access to its reduced fare program, which uses local non-profit groups to distribute discount tickets to clients.
A recommendation on fares is scheduled to be presented to an RTD board subcommittee on April 14.
A final recommendation to the full RTD board is scheduled by July with the new fares slated to be fully implemented in early 2016.
The fare study public hearings will take place at the following locations:
• Edgewater: Monday, March 23, 6:30 p.m., Edgewater Recreation Center, 5845 W. 25th Ave.
• Denver/RTD headquarters: Wednesday, March 25, noon, 1600 Blake St.
• Lakewood: Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 p.m., Clements Community Center, 1580 Yarrow St.
• Denver: Thursday, March 26, 6:30 p.m., Stapleton Master Community Association, 7350 E. 29th Ave.
• Aurora: Thursday, March 26, 6:30 p.m., Aurora Municipal Center, Aurora Room, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway.
• Arvada: Monday, March 30, 6:30 p.m., Arvada City Hall, 8101 Ralston Road, Arvada.
• Westminster: Monday, March 30, 6 p.m., Front Range Community College, Westminster Campus, College Hill Library, 3705 W. 112th Ave., Westminster.
• Parker: Wednesday, April 1, 6:30 p.m. Parker Town Hall, Council Chambers, 20120 E. Main Street, Parker.
• Highlands Ranch: Wednesday, April 1, 6:30 p.m., Highlands Ranch Metro District, 62 Plaza Drive, Highlands Ranch.
• Longmont: Wednesday, April 1, 6:30 p.m. Longmont Public Library, Room A/B, 409 Fourth Ave.
• Englewood: Thursday, April 2, 6:30 p.m., Englewood Public Library, 1000 Englewood Parkway.
• Boulder: Monday, April 6, 6 p.m., Boulder Public Library, Boulder Creek Room, 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
• Aurora: Monday, April 6, 6:30 p.m., Expo Recreation Center, 10955 E. Exposition Ave.
• Thornton, Monday, April 6, 6 p.m., Anythink Huron Street Public Library, 9417 Huron St.
• Littleton, Wednesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m., Ken Caryl Ranch Metro District Ranch House, 7676 S. Continental Divide Road.
• Denver/RTD headquarters: Wednesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. Room T & D, 1600 Blake St.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907, mwhaley@denverpost.com or twitter.com/montewhaley
