RTD Board of Directors

Researcher's note: The board of the Regional Transportation District (C.R.S. 32-9, the Regional Transportation District Act).

Legal basis

• C.R.S. 32-9-109.5 · governs · Board of directors - membership - powers source
• C.R.S. 32-9-111 · governs · Election of directors - dates - terms source
• SB26-150 (2026) (2026-05) · amends · Modernizing Regional Transportation District source source

Appointed by

electorate. Elected, not appointed: each of the 15 directors is elected by the voters of one director district. All of the City of Boulder lies in District O. From January 1, 2029 (SB26-150) the board becomes 5 directors elected from new districts plus 4 appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate (one from at least 3 DRCOG nominees). source source source

How

Elected at the state general election in even-numbered years; candidates are nominated by petition of at least 250 electors of the director district, filed with the Secretary of State. Districts are reapportioned after each census. The current 15 directors' terms all end January 1, 2029; at the November 2028 election 5 new members are elected and the governor appoints 4. · every two years (even-numbered years, with the state general election) source source source

Seats

15 source as of 2026-10-30

Seat types

• Director elected from a director district (A to O); Boulder is in District O ×15 elected

source

Term

4 years source source

Term limit

For the new board from January 1, 2029: up to two 4-year terms; a term shorter than 2 years does not count. The sources read state no limit for the current 15-member board. source

Staggering

Staggered: about half the directors are elected every two years (District O's term ends December 31, 2026; District A's and D's end December 31, 2028). From 2029 the new board is staggered so that 4 of 9 terms expire on January 1, 2031. source source

Powers

decision-making. Decides: all powers vested in the Regional Transportation District, the regional bus and rail system that serves Boulder (executive and administrative powers may be delegated to RTD staff). To council: nothing binding on council; the city partners with RTD (with CDOT, Boulder County and regional coalitions) to advance its Transportation Master Plan goals source source

Council liaison

not applicable: An elected regional board outside the city; City Council sends it no liaison and holds no seat on it.

Staff liaison

not applicable: RTD has its own staff (a Board Office); no city department staffs the board. The city works with RTD as a partner on transit.

Relations

• electorate appoints RTD Board of Directors · elects: the voters of each director district; Boulder's voters elect the District O director source source

History

• 2026-05 · transitioned · SB26-150 (signed May 2026) ends the 15 elected directors' terms on January 1, 2029 and replaces them with 5 elected and 4 governor-appointed members; it also raises director pay and sets a two-term limit. source source