Dave Genova, GM and CEO of Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) announced his voluntary retirement after a nearly 26-year career at the agency.
Genova notified the chair of the RTD Board of Directors, Doug Tisdale, of his decision on Thursday evening.
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“It has been a privilege to serve the board, our incredible team of employees, and our community. I am confident that our very capable leadership team will continue to guide the agency in our mission to serve the traveling public,” said Genova. “It has been an honor to have shared in many industry-leading projects and I am proud of the successes we achieved during my nearly five-year term as General Manager and CEO.”
Genova began his career at RTD in January 1994 as a manager of safety and environmental compliance. He moved up the ranks to assistant GM, safety, security, and facilities, and was ultimately named GM and CEO in December 2015.
Genova said he is fully committed to completing his time at the agency and will work with the board and staff to assure a seamless and smooth transition. No formal date of departure has been determined yet.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.