DENVER — Today, Colorado lawmakers announced legislation to modernize the Regional Transportation District (RTD), aiming to improve reliability, rebuild ridership and ensure the transit agency better serves communities across the Denver metro region.

SB26-150, sponsored by Sen. Matt Ball, Sen. Iman Jodeh, Rep. Meg Froelich and Rep. Jamie Jackson, draws from recommendations put forth by the RTD Accountability Committee, which was established by SB25-161 to evaluate the agency’s performance and propose reforms after years of declining ridership, service challenges and public trust concerns. 

In comparison to other major transit systems, RTD has struggled to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2024, it had only regained 62% of its 2019 ridership levels and 76% of service hours. Ongoing issues with reliability, maintenance and financial oversight have also affected rider confidence in the system.

Recent challenges highlight the need for structural reform. RTD has faced projected budget deficits of more than $200 million and delayed key maintenance that led to widespread service disruptions. In 2024, a state audit found that the RTD Board of Directors had failed to plan for $153 million in approved projects. Earlier this year, an article by the Denver Post revealed that the agency has been paying a contractor for more rail service than it has actually received over several years.

The RTD Accountability Committee released its final report in January 2026 after months of research and engagement with a diverse group of stakeholders, including transit riders, labor representatives, local government, RTD board members, business owners and disability, equity and environmental advocates. Their findings concluded that RTD governance is the most urgent issue to address, and that the current board’s size, a need for deeper expertise and absence of competition for elected seats prevent effective leadership and oversight.

The bill would streamline RTD’s board structure and strengthen accountability by:

• Reducing the size of RTD’s board to nine members to improve decision-making
• Ensuring four of the nine board seats are appointed experts in finance, land use, transportation planning, disproportionately impacted communities and other key areas
• Maintaining democratic representation with a majority of elected board members
• Requiring annual reporting to the legislature on implementation of reforms
• Clarifying the board’s responsibilities for budgeting, strategic direction and leadership oversight

Transportation is the largest source of climate pollution in Colorado and one of the biggest expenses for households across the state. Strengthening RTD’s governance and performance is essential to making transit a reliable, affordable option for more riders. These reforms will help position the agency for long-term success while advancing Colorado’s climate and affordability goals.

Statements from bill sponsors, Accountability Committee members and Conservation Colorado:

“RTD is essential to our region, but we’re not seeing the level of performance riders and taxpayers deserve,” said Sen. Matt Ball. “This bill takes a practical approach to improving governance so the agency can follow through on commitments and deliver more reliable service.”

“For many Coloradans, transit is not optional — it’s how they get to work, school and essential services,” said Sen. Iman Jodeh. “We’ve been working for several years to strengthen RTD’s planning and accountability. This legislation builds on that progress and helps ensure the system allows people to live and work in the communities they choose.” 

“The Denver Metro Area is a world-class destination deserving of a world-class transit system,” said Rep. Meg Froelich. “A modernized RTD will better meet residents’ needs, allowing us to more easily take transit to work, shop, attend sporting events and concerts, among other destinations. The result is less money spent on gas, less time in traffic and reduced pollution.” 

“Right now, RTD’s structure makes it too hard to move quickly or make the kinds of strategic decisions needed to grow ridership,” said Rep. Jamie Jackson. “We need a governance model that is focused, accountable, and built to deliver results. This reform is about aligning leadership with outcomes so that every decision the board makes is grounded in one clear goal: getting more people on transit and making the system work better for the communities who rely on it every day.”

“It’s clear that RTD must evolve to keep up with this region’s needs,” said Maria Garcia Berry, chair of the RTD Accountability Committee. “These reforms are grounded in months of collaboration and research and are designed to help RTD become a system that our communities can depend on.”

“Transportation is and will be a major influence on how our region grows in the next few decades,” said Jamie Lewis, transportation advocate for the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition. “Collaboration between our State legislature, counties and communities with RTD will be the key to success. Recommendations from the accountability committee will strengthen RTD’s approach to provide reliable, cost-effective and safe transportation for our region.” 

“Mass transit is economic infrastructure,” said Andrew Iltis, senior vice president of Planning and Community Impact at the Downtown Denver Partnership. “Reliable service supports workers, businesses and the overall vitality of our region. These changes will help create the consistency and accountability needed for RTD to serve both riders and the broader economy better.”

“Coloradans are already feeling the impacts of rising costs and worsening climate pollution,” said Renée Larrarte, climate & transportation campaign manager at Conservation Colorado. “With transportation as a major source of emissions and household costs, modernizing RTD is essential to expanding affordable transit options and cutting pollution.”