Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Regional Transportation District
The Regional Transportation District, more commonly referred to as RTD, is the regional agency operating public transit services in all or a portion of eight out of the twelve counties in the Denver–Aurora combined statistical area in the U.S. state of Colorado. It operates over a 2,342-square-mile (6,070 km2) area, serving 3.08 million people. RTD was organized in 1969 and is governed by a 15-member, publicly elected Board of Directors. Directors are elected to a four-year term and represent a specific district of about 180,000 constituents.
RTD currently operates a bus and rail system consisting of 10 rail lines and 126 bus routes throughout the Denver region. RTD's bus network consists of 86 local, 23 regional, 14 limited, and 3 SkyRide bus routes plus some special services. The rail system consists of 6 light rail lines and an additional 4 commuter rail lines with 77 stations and 113.1 miles (182.0 km) of track.
In 2024, the system had a ridership of 64,507,400, or about 247,600 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2025, making RTD the largest transit agency in the Mountain West by both ridership and the number of routes. In addition to having schedule and route information available on Google and 3rd party applications, RTD also has its own trip planner, NextRide.
Initially a bus-only system, RTD began operating light rail service in 1994 when the first segment of track opened through Central Denver. Following additional extensions into the Southwest and Southeast Corridors in the early-to-mid 2000s, the RTD rail network began to expand rapidly following the 2004 voter-approved FasTracks transit expansion plan. Once complete, FasTracks will have added 122 miles (196 km) of new commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles (29 km) of bus rapid transit (BRT) service, and enhanced bus service across the eight-county district.
Bus service in Denver dates back to 1924, when Denver Tramway began the first bus between Englewood and Fort Logan. Buses had completely replaced the previously expansive streetcar system in metro Denver by 1950, and the privately owned Denver Tramway served the City and County of Denver, as well as older portions of Arvada, Aurora, Englewood, Golden, Lakewood, Westminster, and Wheat Ridge and smaller suburbs. In 1969, the Colorado General Assembly created the RTD to provide public transportation to five additional counties in the metropolitan area. In October 1970, RTD established a Northern Operations Group (NOG) to provide service to Boulder and Longmont.
Denver Tramway Company continued its service under sponsorship of the City and County of Denver until April 18, 1971, when it was taken over by Denver Metro Transit, an entity created by the City and County of Denver. Suburban services only continued for those suburbs willing to contribute a subsidy. It acquired privately owned companies, improved service frequency, and expanded to routes that commercial carriers previously operated such as airport buses.
By 1972, RTD had created a plan for a personal rapid transit (PRT) system in the area, which included 98 miles (158 km) of PRT and extensive bus service throughout the areas served by RTD. Later that year, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) selected RTD to develop PRT as a demonstration project. In 1973, residents voted for a sales tax of 0.5% over the six counties served by RTD for ten years; 20% of the funds would be used for expanded bus services and the other 80% was earmarked for PRT construction, although that project was later scrapped. The tax became effective January 1, 1974 and was raised to 0.6% on May 1, 1983. On January 1, 2005 the tax rate increased to 1.0%.
In 1974, RTD acquired and consolidated the local bus systems. Denver Metro Transit became part of RTD in July 1974. RTD acquired the bus system in Boulder from the Public Service Company of Colorado. Other RTD acquisitions included Evergreen Transit, Longmont Mini, the Englewood-Littleton-Ft. Logan service, Public Service and Northglenn Suburban Service. RTD also acquired the privately owned Denver-Boulder Bus Company, which ran airport buses.
Hub AI
Regional Transportation District AI simulator
(@Regional Transportation District_simulator)
Regional Transportation District
The Regional Transportation District, more commonly referred to as RTD, is the regional agency operating public transit services in all or a portion of eight out of the twelve counties in the Denver–Aurora combined statistical area in the U.S. state of Colorado. It operates over a 2,342-square-mile (6,070 km2) area, serving 3.08 million people. RTD was organized in 1969 and is governed by a 15-member, publicly elected Board of Directors. Directors are elected to a four-year term and represent a specific district of about 180,000 constituents.
RTD currently operates a bus and rail system consisting of 10 rail lines and 126 bus routes throughout the Denver region. RTD's bus network consists of 86 local, 23 regional, 14 limited, and 3 SkyRide bus routes plus some special services. The rail system consists of 6 light rail lines and an additional 4 commuter rail lines with 77 stations and 113.1 miles (182.0 km) of track.
In 2024, the system had a ridership of 64,507,400, or about 247,600 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2025, making RTD the largest transit agency in the Mountain West by both ridership and the number of routes. In addition to having schedule and route information available on Google and 3rd party applications, RTD also has its own trip planner, NextRide.
Initially a bus-only system, RTD began operating light rail service in 1994 when the first segment of track opened through Central Denver. Following additional extensions into the Southwest and Southeast Corridors in the early-to-mid 2000s, the RTD rail network began to expand rapidly following the 2004 voter-approved FasTracks transit expansion plan. Once complete, FasTracks will have added 122 miles (196 km) of new commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles (29 km) of bus rapid transit (BRT) service, and enhanced bus service across the eight-county district.
Bus service in Denver dates back to 1924, when Denver Tramway began the first bus between Englewood and Fort Logan. Buses had completely replaced the previously expansive streetcar system in metro Denver by 1950, and the privately owned Denver Tramway served the City and County of Denver, as well as older portions of Arvada, Aurora, Englewood, Golden, Lakewood, Westminster, and Wheat Ridge and smaller suburbs. In 1969, the Colorado General Assembly created the RTD to provide public transportation to five additional counties in the metropolitan area. In October 1970, RTD established a Northern Operations Group (NOG) to provide service to Boulder and Longmont.
Denver Tramway Company continued its service under sponsorship of the City and County of Denver until April 18, 1971, when it was taken over by Denver Metro Transit, an entity created by the City and County of Denver. Suburban services only continued for those suburbs willing to contribute a subsidy. It acquired privately owned companies, improved service frequency, and expanded to routes that commercial carriers previously operated such as airport buses.
By 1972, RTD had created a plan for a personal rapid transit (PRT) system in the area, which included 98 miles (158 km) of PRT and extensive bus service throughout the areas served by RTD. Later that year, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) selected RTD to develop PRT as a demonstration project. In 1973, residents voted for a sales tax of 0.5% over the six counties served by RTD for ten years; 20% of the funds would be used for expanded bus services and the other 80% was earmarked for PRT construction, although that project was later scrapped. The tax became effective January 1, 1974 and was raised to 0.6% on May 1, 1983. On January 1, 2005 the tax rate increased to 1.0%.
In 1974, RTD acquired and consolidated the local bus systems. Denver Metro Transit became part of RTD in July 1974. RTD acquired the bus system in Boulder from the Public Service Company of Colorado. Other RTD acquisitions included Evergreen Transit, Longmont Mini, the Englewood-Littleton-Ft. Logan service, Public Service and Northglenn Suburban Service. RTD also acquired the privately owned Denver-Boulder Bus Company, which ran airport buses.