Citing low ridership and the second-highest per-rider subsidy in the region, the Regional Transportation District is considering eliminating one of two Belmar Call-n-Ride routes.
The RTD Board of Directors will vote in August on eliminating the shuttle that serves the area of 13th Avenue to Jewell Boulevard and Wadsworth Boulevard to Kipling Parkway between 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. five days a week.
“We’ve made some modifications to the service area and have done some marketing to get ridership up, and it simply hasn’t worked,” said Brian Matthews, RTD’s manager of special services. “We’re hoping that by eliminating the peak route, riders will move to the remaining route.”
within specified boundaries, with riders paying either $2.25 or $1.10 for a one-way trip after scheduling drop-off and pick-up times.
RTD board member Natalie Menton said Belmar Call-n-Rides are getting about two riders per hour when the district requires three. The numbers haven’t budged since the route began in 2012 after certain bus routes were eliminated in the area to accommodate the West Rail Line.
Last year, 3,490 riders generated $13,996 in revenue, yet the route cost $289,984 to run. Menton said the $37.50 per-rider subsidy is unacceptable, and far above the Call-n-Ride average of $16.55.
“I don’t like that we’re offering door-to-door service,” Menton said. “It’s outrageous that each time someone steps on one of those buses for a round trip, it’s an $80 subsidy paid for out of taxpayer pockets.”
She pointed out that a private ride-hailing company like Uber can deliver a person anywhere in the service area for less than $10 and suggested RTD look at a voucher program.
Unlike other cities that have faced losing Call-n-Ride services, there has so far been no public outcry in Lakewood.
drew enough public wrath that RTD relented and kept the highest-subsidized service area in the region, where each trip cost $47 per rider.
In many cities, Call-n-Ride is the only affordable option for some residents — especially seniors or those with disabilities — to go shopping, make it to doctor’s appointments or simply to take care of daily needs.
Lakewood offers Lakewood Rides, a city-sponsored program that can pick up residents over the age of 60 at a cost of anywhere from $1.25 to $4.50 per trip for the rider, with a subsidy of $25.
Dawn Sluder, the older adult and transportation supervisor who oversees , said there is a high demand for affordable rides.
“We have a waiting list every single day,” Sluder said. “Residents will schedule an important trip months in advance to make sure they can make it.”
She said the city has been notified of the proposed Belmar route elimination but hasn’t looked at how that will affect Lakewood Rides.
Matthews said RTD will continue marketing the single Belmar route if the board decides to cut the peak route.
“We’ll see what happens next year, and if ridership numbers aren’t up, there’d probably be a recommendation for the other route to be discontinued,” Matthews said. “We’re open to the public, so if our service goes away, it can have a big impact on community members who rely on it.”
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com
Lakewood call-n-ride
Info: or (303)519-0373
