RTD faces tremendous financial, staffing and ridership challenges. How do you envision RTD’s role in the Denver metro region evolving to meet its transportation needs?
I feel RTD facing financial, staffing, and ridership challenges are three separate issues that need to be addressed.
a. The financial problems need to be looked at as top managerial issues (pay, too many senior levels of managers, evaluating management pay
b. The staffing issues are problems everywhere: the baby boomers now retiring, and with Covid older workers are retiring. I strongly feel RTD should invest in the local CTA programs in a school district for (mechanics, welders, bodyshop, and CDL licenses). You can have RTD workers apply for the CTA licenses to teach the students and pick the students up for career paths.
c. The ridership challenge is one of the most difficult to overcome. You have to bring trust in customers to feel safe, comfortable, and reliable while in the public use
Do you support seeking voter approval for a sales tax increase to improve existing bus routes, with more frequency and dependability, and to create more new bus rapid transit corridors?
As of today, I don’t support seeking voter approval for a sales tax increase to improve routes. I believe improving existing bus routes could benefit the workers at the RTD with their input. Employees in the trenches know if routes are outdated in today’s time, place and schedule. There are more subdivisions in District K popping up (Commerce City, Brighton, Thornton, Lochbuie) that routes could be changed better, stronger, and healthier with more frequency and dependability to serve the residents. Let’s not seek voter approval until all resources have been tried.
How high of a priority should RTD make finishing the remaining FasTracks rail expansions, including the train to Boulder and Longmont? And how should the agency cover those costs, which are estimated at $2.2 billion?
I think it should be the first priority on the RTD list in finishing the remaining FasTracks rail expansions to Boulder and Longmont. If this is something that is promised to the residents, it should be done by any means necessary because this is what was promised and don’t go back on the RTD word.
I think the cost should come as bonds. The current and retired employees, regular citizens of Colorado, and those who ride the RTD should have the opportunity to buy bonds.
How should RTD restructure its fare system to be more equitable for low-income riders?
If those riders can provide income designated by RTD, they should have a discounted fare for everyone. It would be based on different tier levels.
What should RTD do to improve safety and security on its buses and trains?
a. They do not have enough officers. Go to community colleges, universities, and trade schools that offer undercover security with paid POST training. Try to pay for some of their education.
b. Motion cameras ( like the ones HomeDepot, Walmart)
c. upgrade the lights outside of parking and bus stops
d. Give employees a chance to give more input on how they feel to make the RTD better, safer, and healthier for all
e. More handicap accessibility
f. Snow plowing the bus stop areas during winter months and offering heating at the bus stop
RTD faces tremendous financial, staffing and ridership challenges. How do you envision RTD’s role in the Denver metro region evolving to meet its transportation needs?
RTD should have a significant role in meeting Front Range transportation needs. Through RTD’s strategic plan and Re-Imagine RTD initiative, the current board and staff members are committed to enhancing the agency to meet future needs. We must continue to work on employee retention and recruitment efforts in order to provide excellent service. We have to provide a safe environment for our commuters so they are comfortable in riding in our trains and buses. We must continue to be creative in finding additional funding sources to meet evolving transportation needs and do our part to reduce our ozone pollution issue.
Do you support seeking voter approval for a sales tax increase to improve existing bus routes, with more frequency and dependability, and to create more new bus rapid transit corridors?
At this point, I do not support a sales tax increase for RTD. I do not believe our taxpayers can tolerate higher taxes during these difficult economic times. Colorado transit agencies are not funded very generously by our state government so I think there is an opportunity to work with our legislature and governor to address a state funding source that could supplement our current funding from sales/use taxes and fares.
How high of a priority should RTD make finishing the remaining FasTracks rail expansions, including the train to Boulder and Longmont? And how should the agency cover those costs, which are estimated at $2.2 billion?
Completion of FasTracks needs to remain a priority. However, there are many other priorities such as employee retention and recruitment, fare analysis, system optimization, safety and security, state of good repair, ridership recruitment and many others. RTD does not have the means to complete FasTracks at this time. Additional funding sources are needed. Perhaps state or federal funding or an unsolicited bid from outside governmental sources may provide funds to continue work on unfinished FasTrack routes/facilities.
How should RTD restructure its fare system to be more equitable for low-income riders?
RTD has commissioned a Fare and Equity study to take a comprehensive look at our fare structure. The results of the study will be available next year. I look forward to receiving the results of the study. I believe we do need to lower our fare rates if at all possible. Additionally, RTD’s fare structure is quite complicated and needs to be simplified, especially for those commuters who are not regular riders. Lower fares and easy-to-understand fare structures will help to increase ridership.
What should RTD do to improve safety and security on its buses and trains?
RTD, in conjunction with other agencies, has made significant progress in improving safety and security during the summer months of this year. As a seated RTD board member, I received a number of calls from concerned commuters regarding their safety at our bus depots in Denver. Those calls have greatly diminished as of late. Negative incidents were scarce during the recent Zero Fare to Spare the Air program. Having mental health professionals accompany law enforcement officers to incidents has proven to be helpful in deescalating some interactions. Partnerships with other agencies and organizations are key to increased safety and security. I believe significant improvement in this area has been one of RTD’s best accomplishments in 2022.
How candidate order was determined: A lot drawing was held at the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office on Aug. 3 to determine the general election ballot order for major and minor party candidates. Colorado law (1-5-404, C.R.S.) requires that candidates are ordered on the ballot in three tiers: major party candidates followed by minor party candidates followed by unaffiliated candidates. Within each tier, the candidates are ordered by a lot drawing with the exception of the office of Governor and Lt. Governor, which are ordered by the last name of the gubernatorial candidate.
