RTD Light Rail Crisis
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“Customers and the general public must be confident that the RTD transit system is a safe system. Recent events have shaken that confidence along the SE Corridor.”
Rebecca White, Colorado PUC Director
We try to avoid hyperbole at GDT, but it is now very clear that RTD is experiencing a crisis in terms of the state-of-good-repair of it’s Light Rail system.
Colorado PUC Letter to RTD – Jun 14th, 2024
“As a rail transit professional, I cannot emphasize enough how serious this letter is. The Colorado PUC have been absolutely scathing in their assessment of RTD’s asset management, safety plans and maintenance planning procedures. Riders on the E, H & R lines have born the brunt of these failures.”
Richard Bamber, Greater Denver Transit Co-founder
On Jun 14th, 2024 the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) sent a scathing letter to RTD’s Management detailing a number of performance issues such as deficient asset management, safety plans and maintenance planning procedures. The agency’s Transit Asset Management Plan (TAMP) and Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) were heavily criticized as “not being adequate”.
In addition, RTD’s failure to report safety issues to the PUC in a timely manner and general lack of transparency to the public were highlighted in the letter which you can read here:
“The poor condition of the downtown rail lines and the deterioration of the SE line indicate that the PTASP has not been adequate to identify these conditions ahead of time so that repairs can be made in a measured way that minimizes impacts to the traveling public.”
Rebecca White, Colorado PUC Director
“The PUC was not notified of these [issues in track conditions] findings along the SE line nor the issuance of a slow order but rather learned of this development through media inquiries.”
Rebecca White, Colorado PUC Director
“I’m just pretty baffled right now at [RTD] staff’s lack of creativity, lack of contingency plan and lack of respect for riders.”
Jaime Lewis, RTD Director District A
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