RTD is in the midst of wrestling with budget challenges that are forcing the agency to consider a proposed $12 million in bus and rail service cuts.  The initial menu of cuts that staff presented attempts to eliminate low performing routes and run periods while considering a variety of other factors, such as regional equity.  The full staff proposal is available here: Proposed 2012 RTD Service Cuts.

You can read about my initial response to the proposed service cuts in the Denver Post coverage from a recent RTD Board meeting:  “RTD staff backs bus, light-rail cuts to close budget deficit“.   Fundamentally, as I said in the article, the service reduction proposal is the “most powerful rationale for making (RTD’s) revenue stream more sustainable.”  That is why I spearheaded the effort to identify operating efficiencies and revenue enhancements through the Long Range Fiscal Sustainability Task Force.  The Task Force recommendations (which are available here: Sustainability Task Force Report) provide a host of options that the RTD Board and staff are assessing for implementation over the course of the next few years.

In the meantime, as RTD confronts an immediate $12 million funding gap, service cuts and fare increases are the only two significant budget-balancing options.  I have received a great deal of comments regarding the service cuts that RTD staff is proposing and share your concerns about protecting the Boulder area’s high performing local and regional routes.  We must ensure that RTD truly is making the best use of its limited transit dollars, as I explained in a recent Daily Camera article: “Boulder fears ‘profound impact on transit’ — including Skip, Jump routes –from RTD cuts“. 

In the coming weeks, I will be making the case for a more targeted focus on service optimization in the face of necessary service cuts.  I also will work with my RTD Board colleagues to identify funding which will help us maintain the most possible service during these challenging economic times.  Your continued input is appreciated during this analysis period.