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VOLUME 120

Issue 10

WEEK OF MARCH 9, 2023

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RTD looking to lower fares, attract more riders

SIDELINED

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Brighton. If voters approve on the Nov. 2023 ballot, one version of the tax would begin in 2024. Domenico said new technology, like body-worn cameras, have increased staff time. Videos from the cameras need to be reviewed, cataloged and archived while calls for service to a wider area demand more officers’ time. The department has a need for new officers, but also support staff to help. “One of the benchmarks that is

RTD is in the process of lowering and simplifying costs, with new, lower fares a possibility by the first quarter of 2024 and if approved by the board. It came out of their Fare Study and Equity Analysis the RTD Board reviewed and released to the public on Feb. 14 “...customers expressed a strong preference for simplifying the existing fare structure. The design was also modified to include lower Local fares in response to customer feedback and to align with equity goals,” a news release from RTD reads. According to Brandon Figliolino, a spokesperson for RTD, the Board of Directors is looking at a plan to combine local and regional fares, and lower the airport fare. A threehour pass would cost $2.75, a day pass $5.50 a monthly pass $88 and the airport fare would be $10, under a modified version of that plan. “In April, RTD staff will ask the Board to release the draft recommended fare structure, policies and programs and draft fare equity analysis to the public. Throughout the month of May, members of the public will be able to attend fare study information sessions and provide comments on the proposal,” Figliolino wrote in an email. It may be one way to get more riders. RTD saw an increase in ridership during its Zero Fare for Better Air period in August 2022, when services were free. According to a final report on the program, overall

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SEE RIDERS, P23

Riverdale Ridge’s Macayla Start heads down the sideline against the defense of D’Evelyn’s Macy Scheer during an elite 8 round game in the state 4A girls basketball tournament March 3 in Denver. D’Evelyn held on to win the game 54-47. See more in Sports. PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH

Brighton considering public safety tax ten years, about a 20% increase,” Councilors could pick sales last Domenico told City Councilors their Feb. 28 study session. or property tax increase, during “During that time, demands on law enforcement have consistently gone refer to voters up.” BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Brighton Police Chief Matt Domenico laid out his request for a dedicated $1.9 million in new taxes devoted to public safety Feb. 28. “We have had a pretty significant increase in population size in the

City Councilors are considering putting the matter before voters in November. If voters agree, the city would create a new tax — either a 0.15% sales tax or a 2.5 mill rate property tax. Either would generate about $1.9 million that would be dedicated to public safety for hiring new officers and support staff to respond to the growing needs of

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