Reimagine RTD

Client:

Regional Transportation District (RTD)

Location:

Denver Metro Area, Colorado

Brief:

FHU is currently leading Reimagine RTD, a multi-year effort to evaluate and forecast the changing transportation needs of the Denver metropolitan region. The project focuses on both near-term investment strategies and long-term visioning for future development.

The near-term System Optimization Plan (SOP) includes an extensive technical analysis of the existing RTD network and services and a comprehensive review of existing travel patterns using cell phone travel data to understand trip distribution patterns. The SOP integrated demographic data to optimize the deployment of services while considering social equity, ridership, and cost efficiency.

The SOP included a successful public and stakeholder engagement process with over 1,500 comments received. Based on input from the public, key stakeholders, and the RTD Board of Directors, a fiscally constrained, recommended SOP was and finalized. It is anticipated that the Board of Directors will adopt the System Optimization Plan in summer 2022.

The second phase of Reimagine RTD is the creation of the long-term vision: the Mobility Plan for the Future. When complete, the Mobility Plan for the Future will identify comprehensive, forward-thinking strategies to better connect people to the places they want and need to go. The planning effort includes recommendations around fleet and facility electrification, workforce development and retention, emerging mobility apps, new mobility technologies, funding needs and opportunities, the agency governance structure, and RTD’s role as the region’s mobility integrator.

Services Rendered:

• Resources constrained System Optimization Plan with updated rail and bus service patterns
• Fiscal and financial analysis and financial planning recommendations
• Workforce retention and attraction strategies memo
• Evaluation of long-term parking needs
• Fleet and facilities electrification analysis and feasibility
• Partnership strategies and grant program development