RTD’s new program allows youth to get to their destinations with zero stress about how they are going to pay for the fare. photo by Ravi Apte
Is it a bike? Is it a plane? No, it’s the RTD saving the day!
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) was created in 1969 to “develop, operate, and maintain a mass transportation system” to benefit Colorado’s community by offering people a way to get anywhere, anytime. “Our transportation decisions determine much more than where roads or bridges or tunnels or rail lines will be built. They determine the connections and barriers that people will encounter in their daily lives, and thus how hard or easy it will be for people to get where they need and want to go.” Former House representative for Maryland, Elijah Cummings’ words on transportation are reflected throughout Denver with RTD. Since RTD’s creation, it has grown into a transportation service in eight counties, offering bus, rail, shuttle, and FlexRide services. With a new school year starting, RTD started Zero Fare for Youth, a one-year pilot program allowing youths 19 or younger to ride for free from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024.
Zero Fare for Youth was created with the intent to introduce the future generation to RTD and to “remove barriers to education and employment” by allowing youth to use the service to get to their destination without worrying about cost. The Zero Fare for Youth program has already had an effect on the TJ community. TJ’s Treasurer and Athletic Secretary Carla Allen loves this program because it takes off an extra burden on students and their parents. With this new program, families no longer have to worry about how youth are going to pay for the bus fare, so students are able to get wherever they need without parental involvement. Even though Allen does not qualify for the program, she still benefits from it. “It just makes it easier for everybody,” she explained. Everybody, including junior Alex Mitchell, a TJ student who explained how they “do not have access to a car regularly” and with this program, they are able to go anywhere they want, anytime they want. Mitchell also pointed out that “youth are more unreliable than older drivers,” so more youth riding RTD makes the streets safer and cuts down on air pollution.
Although there are many benefits to riding RTD, there are some disadvantages as well that could deter students from participating in the Zero Fare for Youth program. One of the struggles Mitchell faces when riding RTD is the lack of bus timeliness.Around ten percent of local/regional buses and six percent of light/commuter rails are late. On top of this, people may have to wait for a long time if they miss their bus. RTD explains that riders have to wait 15-30 minutes to ride the next train and 30-60 minutes to ride the next bus. Another problem with RTD is safety as accessible transportation for everyone includes people who might be more dangerous. Mitchell states that they are “a bit more anxious to ride the bus when it is late at night” and that their “main concern is safety.” The drug problem is also a big concern for riders – Denver 7 reported that RTD “has received more than 16,000 complaints from riders and operators regarding drug use since 2022.”
RTD has opened a new world for youth with their Zero Fare for Youth program. Along with not having to worry about transportation costs or how they are getting places, youth have more freedom to explore the city and many students at TJ intend to utilize that privilege.
