RTD enacted COVID-19-related service changes on April 19, and is having a series of telephone town halls to answer questions.

These COVID-19 service changes include:

- Suspended fare collection, and enacting rear-door boarding only.
- Operating most weekday bus service on a Saturday schedule and frequency.
- Operating most rail service on a Sunday schedule and 15-minute frequency. However, the R Line will operate on a 30-minute frequency schedule.
- The H Line will operate every day on a Sunday schedule, with transfers available at I-25/Broadway to access the Central Downtown area.
- Bus Route 130 will operate every weekday on a Saturday schedule.
- Bus Route 139 will operate on a Saturday schedule. Selected weekday and Saturday trips will be discontinued.
- Bus Route 153 will operate every weekday on a Saturday schedule.
- Bus Route 157 will not operate while the COVID-19 service changes are in place.

RTD has not announced when normal service will return. In addition to approving the COVID-19 service plan, RTD Board at its March 24 meeting also approved the May 2020 service reductions, which is a “labor shortage”-related plan that went through a public comment period prior to the COVID-19 crisis. The May 2020 service plan will be enacted when the COVID-19 service plan ends.

While the city of Aurora supports equitable, temporary RTD service reductions, we continue to oppose any disproportionate service cuts for the R Line. Specifically, a 15-minute service frequency, which is the minimum RTD service quality standard for light rail, should be restored for the R Line when the labor shortage issue is resolved, and to allow for easy transfers to the A Line, which keeps its 15-minute frequency. The May 2020 service plan that would be enacted after the COVID-19 service plan ends will impact transit service in Aurora as follows:

-R Line rail service every day frequency reduced to 30 minutes, from 15 minutes
-Bus route 139 (Quincy) removal of four early morning trips
-Bus routes 130 (Yale/Buckley) every day frequency reduced to 30 minutes, from 15 minutes

The city of Aurora encourages residents to participate in the town halls, and express support for resuming 15-minute frequency for the R Line in Aurora after COVID-19 passes. To participate, call 855.543-3425 or visit this webpage to listen in live to any of the district events. Interested parties are encouraged to pre-register in advance through the RTD website to automatically receive a call when the event starts.

Wednesday, April 29
6 p.m.: District A, Director Kate Williams
7:30 p.m.: District B, Director Shontel Lewis (district includes Aurora)

Thursday, April 30
6 p.m.: District J, Director Vince Buzek
7:30 p.m.: District L, Director Shelley Cook

Monday, May 4
6 p.m.: District D, Director Jeff Walker
7:30 p.m.: District H, Director Doug Tisdale

Wednesday, May 6
6 p.m.: District O, Director Lynn Guissinger
7:30 p.m.: District M, Director Natalie Menten

Thursday, May 7
6 p.m.: District F, Director Bob Broom (district includes Aurora) 7:30 p.m.: District G, Director Ken Mihalik (district includes Aurora)

Monday, May 11
6 p.m.: District I, Director Judy Lubow
7:30 p.m.: District K, Director Troy Whitmore

Thursday, May 21
6 p.m.: Telephone town hall hosted in Spanish, Board Chair Angie Rivera-Malpiede and RTD Staff