The Regional Transportation District (RTD) voted to reinstate BroncosRide, a bus service that was a staple for decades, running buses from Park-n-Ride lots to Broncos games and other events like Rockies games. The motion passed with a 9-5 vote.

Background

BroncosRide was suspended before the Broncos’ 2020-21 season. RTD board members voted to reinstate the service, with some calling it a “win-win” that would increase transit options and win some public goodwill as the agency faces a budget crisis.

The service could allow RTD to serve an additional 6,500 train passengers and 3,870 bus riders during events, the agency estimated. It could require four additional rail operators and 101 additional bus operators for each event.

Challenges Ahead

RTD will need to figure out how to pay employees who may be working on “goodwill” for a sixth or even seventh day of the week to drive buses and trains. Then there’s the simple matter of where RTD will park buses during games.

Given the time crunch, some RTD board members proposed an amendment to push reinstatement to 2027. The vote failed narrowly.

RTD is strapped for it, and the estimated $2.1 million the service would cost is yet another bite out of the budget. RTD just voted to spend a similar amount on marketing for the planned Colorado Connector.

For now, RTD will go forward with reinstating BroncosRide. Timelines are still being hammered out, and a July meeting should shed further light on plans to potentially get service up and running for the Broncos’ first home preseason matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 21.

Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.