New RTD fares kick in for 2016 as Aurora line readies to open

AURORA | The Regional Transportation District is increasing its bus and rail fares starting Jan. 1.

Under the new fare system, local one-way bus and light rail fares will increase from $2.25 to $2.60, and a monthly local pass will increase from $79 to $99. One-way fares that travel through three light rail zones — currently known as “express” tickets — will also increase from $4 to $4.50 under the new system, and express bus routes will become local or regional trips.

At the same time, the new fare system will implement all-day passes that will be the same rate as round-trip fares, and help eliminate the need for transfers. A local day pass will cost $5.20, and a regional day pass will cost $9.

Under the newly approved fare system, a trip from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport costs $9.

The number of travel zones used to determine fare price have also been reduced from four zones to three.

For Aurora residents using two particular stops on the new Interstate 225 light rail system — the station serving the Aurora Municipal Center and the Second & Abilene Station — a round-trip to Denver will be $9.

Residents traveling from any other station on the line to downtown Denver will only have to pay a local fare.

Dubbed the “R” line, Aurora’s new light rail will also open sometime in 2016 and will connect the East Commuter Rail Line through Aurora to metro Denver’s Southeast Corridor light rail.

RTD has included a new discount fare program for nonprofits in 2016 that provides a 50-percent discount for all 10-ride ticket books, day and monthly passes. RTD said its new low-income model reduces the paperwork burden for participating nonprofits.

Half-fare discounts will still be available for elementary, middle and high school students ages 6 to 19, Medicare recipients, passengers with disabilities and people ages 65 and above. Active military personnel will continue to ride RTD services at no cost.

The nonprofit Mile High Connects — which heads an affordability task force of more than 100 nonprofit, government groups and businesses — presented a study to RTD board members in the spring of 2015 that showed low-income riders make up a large part of RTD’s ridership and would be most impacted by the changes.

Hanni Raley, director of systems advocacy for The Arc of Aurora, said the nonprofit fare program is a great place to start.

“But discussions shouldn’t be over,” she said.

Raley said area nonprofits would still like for RTD to create an official low-income program for individual riders.

Tom Tobiassen, the RTD board first vice chair whose district encompasses Aurora, said RTD is working on expanding its low-income fare program but that lower sales tax revenue and the lack of private sector support have made those efforts challenging.

“We continue to work on expanding a low income fare program with the Affordable Fare Task Force,” he said.    

Tobiassen said RTD is also phasing in the “MyRide” smart card with the first 1,000 cards being issued to riders in January. The reusable plastic card, which is about the size of a credit card with a chip in it, will allow riders to purchase and store fares electronically.

The agency’s new fare structure stems from a nearly two-year process that included extensive public engagement across the eight-county Denver metro region.

For more information, go to rtd-denver.com/fares-2016.shtml or call 303-299-6000.