Keep RTD Elected

RTD is a public agency that plays a major role in mobility, access, economic opportunity, and quality of life across the Denver region. Its decisions affect riders, taxpayers, employers, students, seniors, and communities in every part of the district. An agency with that much public importance should remain directly accountable to the people it serves.

An elected board gives residents a clear voice in who governs RTD. It allows voters to reward strong leadership, demand change when performance falls short, and ensure that the people making major decisions about transit remain answerable to the communities they serve.

RTD does need strong governance and sound oversight, but those goals do not require reducing the public’s role. Concerns about board effectiveness, training, expertise, and accountability should be addressed in ways that strengthen governance while preserving democratic representation.

Replacing elected seats with appointed ones would reduce direct voter control over one of the region’s most important public institutions. RTD should remain governed by representatives chosen by the public, not handed over to appointment by state officials.

For these reasons, we support maintaining an elected RTD Board of Directors.