Spring 2006 SkyRide Referendum

 

IMPORTANT: Referendum is not related to the current RTD union strike. The student bus pass is valid on all currently operating bus routes, including the HOP. Click here for information regarding RTD operation during the strike.

 

VOTE ONLINE

View Press Release (PDF)

Contact Peter Roper, program manager, at 303-492-6486 or peter.roper@colorado.edu for more information.

Students next week will vote whether to limit their bus pass fee to a 10 percent increase while cutting service to the airport or to increase the student fee by $15 and maintaining current levels of bus service. (Vote online.)

If students choose to limit the student fee to a $3.49 (10 percent) increase, the 2006 fee will be $38.43 and will provide unlimited, fare-free access to all regularly scheduled local and regional services. If students choose to also keep fare-free access to the SkyRide service to Denver International Airport, the student fee will increase by $15, or 43 percent. (Vote online.)

 

Facts

Ridership:

• Use of all RTD routes increased 36% from 1,427,476 in 2002 to 1,945,603 in 2005.
• Use of local service increased 40% from 1,071,004 in 2002 to 1,502,701 in 2005.
• Use of HOP service decreased 10% from 561,912 in 2002 to 508,466 in 2005.
• Use of regional service increased 33% from 305,725 in 2002 to 405,108 in 2005.
• Use of the AB SkyRide service increased 77% from 21,386 in 1998 to 37,794 in 2005.

Fares:

• RTD Local fares increased 36% from $1.10 in 2002 to $1.50 in 2006.
• RTD Regional fares increased 7% from $3.50 in 2002 to $3.75 in 2006.
• RTD AB SkyRide fares remained constant since 2002.

RTD Contract:

• The price for local and regional service only in 2006 is $1,920,864 (43% increase).
• The price for local, regional, and SkyRide service in 2006 is $2,524,171 (88% increase).
• The RTD contract increased 24% from $1,082,787 in 2002 to $1,345,143 in 2005.

Student Fee:

• To maintain local and regional service only, the student fee must increase $3.49 (10%).
• To maintain all service the student fee must increase by $14.96 (43%).
• Student fees increased 25% from $27.85 in 2002 to $34.94 in 2005.
• Total student enrollment may decrease 5% in 2006.
• RTD and HOP service made up 87% of the 2005 student fee.
• The student fee budget in 2005 was:

RTD:

$1,345,143

HOP & Night HOP:

$498,615

Administration & Marketing:

$119,469

STAMPEDE Improvements:

$62,455

Real-Time Transit Info:

$14,476

Ski Bus:

$10,000

Pass Production & Distribution:

$5,000

General Administrative/Infrastructure Recharge:

$57,647

TOTAL:

$2,112,805

 

Vote online.