RTD update: late night light rail, tricky fares, new app

interview with Pauletta Tonilas

It’s been nearly 20 years since light rail service began in Denver.  RTD’s senior manager of Public Information Pauletta Tonilas took “D” Line to KUVO studios to give listeners an update on RTD news.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years, but we’ll be celebrating that milestone next month (on Oct. 7),” said Tonilas.  ”We carry 25 million light rail trips per year, and think how packed our trains are every morning and every afternoon.”

Other highlights of the conversation:

ON LIGHT RAIL SCHEDULES: “Just recently we modified our light rail schedules.  Sunday through Thursday starting at 11:00 p.m. we have just hourly service to allow maintenance crews to get out on the tracks.  Friday and Saturday nights we still operate trains until 2:00 or 2:30 a.m. depending on your route.”

ON THE COMPLICATED FARE STRUCTURE:  ”We’re in the process of a fare study.  Our focus is on how we can simplify the fare structure.  We have many various types of fares and zones and packages.  We’ll come back to the public with some alternatives for a fare structure, then we’ll look at pricing.”

ON RTD’S NEW APP “TRANSIT WATCH:”  ”With this free app, people can send us suspicious activities or incidents or pictures instantaneously.  This is going to be a great tool so the public can let us know what they think our transit police should know about.

ON PROGRESS OF THE AIRPORT TRAINS: “Next month (and displayed in November at Union Station) we will start getting delivery of our new rail cars.  Commuter rail cars are bigger and heavier, holding more people and with room for luggage and golf clubs, etc.  We display the new cars in November at Union Station, and people can board and try out the seats.”

The closing song is The Hollies classic “Bustop,” performed by MaryLynn Gillaspie with the Michael Schuller Ensemble, from their CD Starlight.