Jessica Sandgren, a 52‑year‑old former city council member from Thornton and a project manager at Axon, has entered the race for the Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors District K seat. District K covers parts of Northglenn and Westminster, extending northeast of Denver.
Why Sandgren is Running
Sandgren says she wants to help RTD “build the future of transit in Denver” by encouraging development around transit infrastructure and by making service more responsive to riders’ needs. She argues that the district could benefit from smaller on‑demand shuttles, noting, “We don’t always need those big buses.”
Track Record in Thornton
While serving as mayor pro tem of Thornton, Sandgren oversaw a pilot program that linked the 120th and Wagon station to local outlet stores and an Amazon fulfillment center. She highlighted the program’s success, saying it achieved the highest ridership of any pilot and demonstrated that changing service routes can be as effective as changing how those routes are used.
Policy Priorities on the Board
Sandgren stresses the need for data‑driven decisions. She called for a study or additional data to inform any changes to RTD routes and service, pointing to the agency’s ongoing comprehensive operations analysis as a source of future recommendations.
She also wants RTD to enforce ticket compliance more rigorously. “I think first and foremost we need to make sure people are paying. People that are unhoused are not paying,” she said, emphasizing the importance of revenue protection.
On staffing, Sandgren proposes a review of expenditures, stating, “Obviously, there’s a lot of money being spent on staffing, and so reevaluating what that looks like.” She further suggests cutting routes with minimal ridership, citing the 88L bus line between Thornton and Commerce City, which she says now sees “pretty much zero” riders.
Funding and Taxation Stance
RTD derives roughly 70% of its revenue from sales taxes collected within its service area. While a higher local sales tax could generate additional funds, Sandgren doubts voter approval. “For now, asking people to pay more tax dollars for RTD, I don’t see that passing. I think more than anything, people would get rid of RTD if they could,” she explained, noting widespread fatigue with tax increases across the state.
She opposes a ballot initiative to raise taxes for the agency, calling it the “wrong approach” and suggesting that RTD should focus on eliminating inefficiencies first.
Colorado Connector and the “CoCo” Train
State officials hope RTD will contribute more than $150 million toward the Colorado Connector, a proposed commuter rail line—nicknamed the “CoCo”—that would link Denver with Boulder, Fort Collins, and five intermediate stops by 2029. Sandgren firmly rejects expanding the tax base to fund the project. “No, absolutely not. I’m glad that Adams County was cut out so that we don’t have to pay taxes for that,” she said, noting that the revised taxing area now concentrates on more urban, liberal precincts.
Endorsements and Competition
Sandgren’s campaign is bolstered by endorsements from the mayors of Thornton, Brighton, Northglenn, and Broomfield, as well as RTD directors Troy Whitmore, Vince Buzek, Kathleen Chandler, and Lynn Gussinger. She faces fellow candidate Michael Farrington for the open seat, which became available after current Director Troy L. Whitmore reached his term limit.
What Voters Should Know
Voters in District K will decide whether Sandgren’s focus on on‑demand shuttles, stricter ticket enforcement, staffing reviews, and a refusal to raise taxes aligns with their vision for RTD’s future. The race underscores a broader conversation about how the region funds and manages its transit system while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.
