RTD continues to be a trailblazer, with the broader industry looking toward Denver to learn from the transit agency’s groundbreaking projects and initiatives.
Denver RTD
2 min to read
RTD continues to be a trailblazer, with the broader industry looking toward Denver to learn from the transit agency’s groundbreaking projects and initiatives.
Denver RTD
Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) and commuter rail concessionaire Denver Transit Partners (DTP) marked a milestone, with ridership reaching 20 million passengers on the University of Colorado A Line. RTD’s first commuter rail line has covered more than eight million miles between downtown Denver and Denver International Airport since it began carrying the public in April 2016.
The popularity of the University of Colorado A Line has consistently exceeded projections since opening three years ago, with the line carrying an average of 20,600 weekday passengers this year through March. Ridership has grown steadily since it opened, and in January RTD introduced four-car trains to the corridor a full year ahead of schedule, doubling capacity on the rail line to accommodate the increasing volume of passengers.
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As RTD celebrates 50 years of service, the University of Colorado A Line has become an important part of transportation history. It is the first of three rail lines within the transit industry’s first successful public-private partnership (P3), as well as the first rail line to have federally required positive train control (PTC) technology implemented from the ground up.
RTD continues to be a trailblazer, with the broader industry looking toward Denver to learn from the transit agency’s groundbreaking projects and initiatives.
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While recognizing regional economic constraints and continuing to improve service, the budget increases the jurisdictional subsidy to less than 1.8%, significantly below the inflation rate and the 3% regional target, said agency officials.
With more than 59,400,000 boardings since the service’s debut, the A Line’s utilization surpassed that of all other RTD rail services in 2025, the agency reported.
The plan outlines funding for transit operations, capital projects, and freight and passenger rail initiatives, as state officials seek public input on priorities shaping mobility and infrastructure across the Commonwealth.
