It will soon be easier for RTD security officers to kick people out of bus and train stations
Denver CO April 17 2020
Stricter rules for RTD stations will give police and security guards broader power to kick people out of the publicly owned buildings in the name of safety if a vote by transit officials holds up.
On Tuesday night, the RTD Board of Directors operations committee approved system-wide changes to its code of conduct that governs the public’s movements — a document that private security guards and RTD police officers enforce.
Because every RTD board member sits on the committee, its proposals are expected to pass during a regular board meeting, which would codify them, later this month.
Under the new guidelines, authorities could make anyone leave RTD property if they believe the person is not traveling. Members of the public can currently be on RTD property for two hours without using transit.
“RTD may, in its sole discretion, regulate the movement of individuals to enable the provision of transit services,” the proposed changes state. Soon, RTD property will “be used only for travel-related purposes.”
The new rules would also give RTD more discretion to determine whether someone sleeping in public interferes with the agency’s transit functions or “the comfort” of its patrons.
Directors Bob Broom, Vince Buzek, Peggy Catlin, Shelley Cook, Lynn Guissinger, Judy Lubow, Angie Rivera-Malpiede, Doug Tisdale, Jeff Walker, Troy Whitmore and Kate Williams voted for the changes. Directors Claudia Folska, Shontel Lewis, Natalie Menten and Ken Mihalik voted against them.
RTD’s head of safety, police chief and general manager are also eyeing major restrictions for who can be at Denver Union Station’s bus terminal — and when they can be there. They presented their proposal, which the board will likely vote on later this year, on Tuesday night.
The group proposed that the underground concourse close at midnight and reopen at 4:30 a.m., even though RTD offers bus service in that window. The terminal currently closes at 1:45 a.m. and reopens at 3 in the morning. Mike Meader, RTD’s chief safety officer, said “accommodations” will be made for riders whose buses leave during the proposed new times.
The proposal would require anyone inside the bus terminal to have a valid ticket. Customers might get just 10 minutes to wait for a bus, documents show. RTD would also designate “free speech” zones where the public can do things like collect signatures for petitions.
Changes to Union Station’s bus terminal will have to go before the board twice more for a vote before being approved.
denverite.com
