$4,000 RTD Bonus May Not Be Enough

Denver's RTD offering $4,000 hiring bonus in an effort to fill open positions for drivers and mechanics.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver is facing a serious challenge in filling vacancies within its transit system. To attract new hires and meet the growing demand for public transportation, the agency has announced a groundbreaking event in the popular RiNo neighborhood on October 2 and 3. Attendees who sign up for open positions will receive a generous $4,000 hiring bonus.

RTD's General Superintendent of Transportation, Chris Deines, is confident that the starting hourly wages for bus drivers and mechanics are highly competitive, even for those without previous experience. However, despite these exceptional benefits, the agency is still struggling to fill a significant number of positions.

In August, it was reported that RTD had a staggering 181 vacancies for bus operators, resulting in a 19% vacancy rate. The situation is similar for other key positions within the maintenance department, with 48 open positions and a 13% vacancy rate for roles such as general repair mechanics and body shop technicians.

But why are these well-paying and desirable positions at RTD proving to be so difficult to fill, even with the added incentive of a hiring bonus? Some speculate that it may be due to unsatisfactory working conditions and low morale, or the challenges of working with Denver's homeless and mentally ill population, particularly for drivers.

And let's not forget the safety concerns that come with working for RTD. Just recently, a stabbing incident on an RTD bus resulted in the deaths of two passengers. The perpetrator, 29-year-old Vinchenzo Moscoso, was captured on RTD's surveillance footage attacking a man on the bus, emphasizing the danger that employees may face while on the job.

The RTD video shows the RTD bus stop at 32nd and Federal while the driver has a conversation with a man who police identified as Moscoso. The bus driver eventually lets him on, then he can be seen walking to the back of the bus where he pulls a knife out and stabs a man in the neck.

Drug sales and use are also a growing issue for RTD, with over 16,000 complaints from riders and operators since the beginning of the year. One bus operator even had to cancel multiple trips due to the overwhelming smell of drugs on their bus.

In response to these escalating issues, RTD has implemented its own police force of 25 POST-certified officers, with plans to hire over 200 more in the future.

While RTD takes pride in its comprehensive benefits and training programs for employees, it's clear that there are other factors at play leading to staffing shortages and high turnover rates. The exorbitant cost of living in the Denver metro area is undoubtedly a major obstacle, making it difficult for potential employees to afford housing and other basic necessities.