Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) is expanding service significantly beginning this May. It will increase in-service hours and introduce schedule enhancements that mark continued progress toward restoring and modernizing transit service levels across the Denver metro area.

As of May 2025, RTD will have added more than 27,000 in-service hours, a notable increase from 2024. This increase was made possible through successful recruitment efforts for frontline bus and rail operator positions. 

The expanded service underscores RTD’s commitment to improving accessibility, frequency, and reliability for its riders, the agency said in a press release.

Workforce Growth Enables Service Expansion

The additional service hours reflect the results of RTD’s strategic focus on workforce development.

 Ongoing improvements in operator staffing levels have enabled the agency to run more buses and trains, extend hours of operation, and boost frequencies systemwide. These investments support customer needs, address on-time performance, and meet growing regional demand.

Among the most anticipated changes is the return of Free MetroRide, which resumes weekday service during peak travel periods with 10-minute frequencies. 

Free MetroRide complements the popular Free MallRide, providing efficient, no-cost circulation through downtown Denver.

Data-Driven Service Adjustments

RTD conducts a yearly comprehensive service review, incorporating traffic patterns, operational needs, and customer feedback. Adjustments aim to:

• Improve on-time performance.

• Enhance multimodal connections.

• Allow for efficient maintenance scheduling.

The May service changes are designed to build on those goals, aligning with RTD’s broader efforts to provide safe, reliable, and customer-focused transit service.

RTD is also evaluating the impact of fixed-route changes on Access-a-Ride, its ADA-compliant paratransit service. Any adjustments that affect service coverage or frequency on bus and rail routes may result in changes to paratransit availability.