Since I first ran for the RTD Board seat, I have always stressed my interest in ensuring that there is accountability and transparency in RTD’s finances.  My initial appointment as Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee and Chair of the Audit Committee placed me in a strong position to achieve these goals.  In particular, on the Finance Committee, I [...]

While it won’t likely make headlines in tomorrow’s newspaper, I am proud of recent forward progress on a proposal that Director Bill Christopher and I made for RTD to adopt a region-specific sales tax forecasting model. A memorandum detailing our proposal is attached.  In summary, though, it has become clear in recent years that the [...]

I can’t think of any colleagues on the RTD Board who enjoyed last Tuesday’s vote on the staff proposed fare increase.  However, in the words of one fellow Director, the majority agreed it was necessary to “bite the bullet” on this one.  The attached Denver Post report provides a pretty good summary of the final vote:  [...]

As I explained in a previous message, the RTD Board has been considering a staff proposal to accelerate a planned increase in transit passenger fares.  The original assumption was that RTD would pursue a fare increase in 2009.  However, staff argues that rapidly rising expenses for such budget items as fuel, mandated disability services, and employee health insurance premiums, are undermining RTD’s ability [...]

RTD staff is proposing a roughly 12 percent increase, across the board, for all transit fares.  For example, standard cash fares are expected to rise 25 cents, monthly passes would rise $9.00 for express service, and all unlimited access passes (i.e. the Neighborhood Eco Passes and regular Eco Passes) would rise 12 percent. RTD staff argues that the [...]

In the past few week, concern has been raised regarding the financial viability of the FasTracks funding model. This is due to duel staff reports detailing rising construction costs and lower than anticipated sales tax revenues. These concerns were heightened by a report in the Denver Post which indicated that a very preliminary staff analysis [...]

At today’s Financial Administration Committee meeting, I requested that staff provide a report to the Board on the cost of each additional passenger RTD adds to its system. This is an important piece of the puzzle in determining the value of marketing initiatives, such as the Eco Pass program, that increase transit ridership. I will [...]