Thanks for the comments!

I will definitely share your observations on the registration/picture-taking process with RTD staff and ask what they can do to avoid similar customer inconvenience in the future.

In general, along with addressing the pricing issues through the new Study Group (which is the major objection staff has to the various unlimited access passes, like the Eco Pass), I hope we can initiate significant improvements in administration of the pass programs. This includes such things as simplifying the cumbersome registration procedures for the neighborhood and business passes . . . as well as shrinking the picture-taking line at the Boulder Station.

Thanks again for your comments (and checking-out the new web site)! – John

1) The process of getting pics taken and eco-pass card is pretty bad. I went for the first time this year and listened to a young woman get very emotional about how hard it was to get there in time after picking kids up from school, only to be turned away as the cut off point in a line that stretched far before her and far after her. I don’t remember the exact times we could go down to the Boulder Station to get our cards, but I do know it was difficult for Bob, who worked, and for parents who work and have kids in school. I also experienced a long wait time. The time structure, sorry to say, reminded me a bit of voting….I had to ask myself: “do they really want people to be able to do this?”

2)As far as the price being too low for eco pass, my own experience indicates that the eco pass may be giving RTD some unexpected donations. We paid $120 for a our first year’s pass for three people (I understand it goes up each year that we’re in the program). We’ve used the SKIP and the SKYride, for a total of about $58, in the first 5 months. Even if we do that much again before year end, we won’t use up all of our eco-pass fee.

Our usage may change during the summer months, or if Bob’s work slows down enough that he can afford the extra 35 minutes it takes to get to work by bus(total time by bus is 55min), but who knows. I think the research you mentioned regarding actual use of eco-passes is important to complete.

I said 2 comments, but here’s a 3rd….RTD should think about the sales potential/pitch for eco-pass. One of the reasons I will always spend 20-50 bucks on an annual pass for my son over the next few years is that he doesn’t drive, and I want him to have necessary transport if he gets stranded somewhere. Likewise, for the ease and convenience of being able to hop a bus anywhere, anytime, no change to count, and knowing that I’m supporting public transport, I can deal with a $5 to $10 donation each year in eco-pass fees I may choose not use.

Thanks for being such a good rep for us,

Ceal