The Regional Transportation District (RTD) announced the launch of Zero Fare for Better Air — an initiative designed to reduce ground-level ozone by increasing use of public transit.

Through a partnership with the Colorado Energy Office, RTD will offer zero fares on all of its services during the month of August.

The effort is made possible by Colorado Senate Bill 22-180, the ozone season transit grant program in partnership with the Colorado Energy Office.  August is Colorado’s high ozone season.

“RTD is committed to promoting better air through its strategic plan priority of Community Value, in which the agency strives to be a strong community partner, providing value to customers as well as to the broader Denver metro region while sustaining planet Earth,” said Debra A. Johnson, GM/CEO. “The agency has already made such commitments as evidenced by its 36 battery-electric sub fleet that operates on the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver and, further, through the recent procurement of 17 additional zero emission buses that are expected to be delivered and deployed to some fixed routes in early 2023.”

In addition to taking RTD with zero fare for an entire month, RTD customers will experience environmental, financial, lifestyle, and community benefits of transit that include: 

• Saving money. Taking the bus or train saves on vehicle expenses such as maintenance, parking and tolls, which add up quickly. A household can save nearly $10,000 annually by taking public transportation and living with one less car. 

• Saving gas. With gas hovering around $5 per gallon, switching to public transit frees up additional funds in customers’ everyday budgets. In addition, public transportation saves the U.S. an estimated 6 billion gallons of gas each year.

• Reducing traffic. Taking public transit removes vehicles from roadways, limiting traffic congestion, air pollution, and ground-level ozone. 

• Reducing stress. Taking public transit eliminates the stress and anxiety of battling everyday traffic.

• Saving time.  While taking public transit, customers can catch up on reading, emails, and podcasts, or just relax.

• Improving air quality. Transportation is a source of greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. Using public transit creates 84% less carbon emissions than driving a car.