RTD committee advances $8.1 million budget increase for 2026
The Finance and Planning Committee voted to send the budget increase, a five-year forecast and a $3.4 million equipment transfer to the full RTD Board for consideration Sept. 22.
The Regional Transportation District’s Finance and Planning Committee advanced an $8.1 million increase to the agency’s 2026 operating budget Tuesday in a 5-2 vote, raising operating appropriations to about $1.121 billion.
The committee also unanimously advanced a five-year financial forecast for 2027 through 2031 and a $3.4 million transfer to accelerate purchases of network routers and modems. The full RTD Board is scheduled to consider all three measures Sept. 22.
The budget amendment’s largest increases include $6.7 million in previously approved budget transfers, $6.5 million for commuter-rail purchased transportation under a concession agreement and $2.3 million to restore the general manager and CEO’s unallocated expense budget to $5 million, according to RTD’s budget amendment staff report. The amendment also reduces the 2025 expense carryforward by $4.3 million and security spending by $3 million.
The detailed appropriation table puts the increase at $8.114 million. Projected 2026 revenue would rise by $27.429 million, including $20.175 million more in sales and use tax, $2.654 million more in passenger fares and $4.6 million in grants and other contributions. The staff report attributes the changes to current trends and execution of a $9 million Clean Transit Enterprise grant agreement.
The amendment would shift $16 million from the Southwest Corridor Curves project to East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit to help buy 47 60-foot articulated buses. It also would reduce new capital expenditures by $15.4 million, increase the 2025 capital carryforward by $16.7 million and increase the operating reserve by $6.4 million. The districtwide amended budget, including capital and other funds, would total about $2.573 billion.
The proposed forecast assumes no fare-rate increase in 2027, low-single-digit fare-revenue growth, 3% annual inflation and $3-per-gallon fuel. It also assumes a $20 million service modification taking effect no later than the May or June 2027 service changes. Total revenue is projected to rise from $1.180 billion in 2027 to $1.366 billion in 2031, while total available reserves are projected to decline from $495.7 million to $407.8 million. Unrestricted reserves are projected to turn negative in 2030 and remain negative in 2031. The forecast excludes about $700 million in known-unknown Asset Management Plan needs, the Board agenda packet says.
The router and modem transfer would move up a 2027 purchase of 1,495 mobile routers and 250 modems for buses, FlexRide and paratransit vehicles. RTD staff estimate that buying the equipment at 2026 prices would avoid about $2.5 million in projected semiconductor-related price increases. The transfer would draw on the general manager and CEO’s contingency expense budget and the unrestricted fund as needed, according to the agenda packet.