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 envision that RTD will evolve to meet these challenges through two key areas. Partnerships and the ballot.
RTD needs to work hand in hand with the cities their routes run through to enhance existing service, encourage people to get out of their cars, and make walking, biking, and utilizing a wheelchair on transit possible. Another key partnership is working with Front Range Rail to make that a reality, and having good connections along it, hitting both Boulder and the airport.
Secondly, RTD needs to go back to the voters and ask them for the funds to build a system that hits every part of the cities it serves in a smart, equitable manner.
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?
Yes.
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?
As I stated above, I think we should work with the state to build out Front Range Rail.
How should RTD restructure its fare system to be more equitable for low-income riders?
I think it should consider it. It could also consider giving Ecopasses to those on some sort of government assistance or just doing away with fares altogether.
What should RTD do to improve safety and security on its buses and trains?
It should push cities to double down on mental health services and encourage building tons of new multi-family housing all over the metro area with an emphasis on rail lines and high-frequency bus lines.
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.
