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Rail News Home Passenger Rail

9/14/2026



Rail News: Passenger Rail

RTD-Denver logs commuter-rail ridership growth, decline in light-rail ridership through Q2


Light-rail ridership declined 2.7% in the quarter, influenced in part by the start of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction project in June, RTD officials said.
Photo – Shutterstock / elena.tres

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The Regional Transportation District-Denver (RTD) closed second-quarter 2026 with year-over-year ridership growth on its commuter-rail system and a decline in light-rail ridership.

Through June, commuter-rail ridership was 4.5 million, up 17.5% from Q2 2025, supported by an updated A Line ridership counting methodology implemented in 2025. The 16th Street FreeRide service reached 1.6 million riders, up 58.5% since the completion of the 16th Street renovations and the reopening of the service in October 2025, RTD officials said in a press release.

Light-rail ridership declined 2.7% in the quarter, influenced in part by the start of the Downtown Rail Reconstruction project in June, they added.

Through June 2026, year-to-date revenue reached $602 million, up 19.3%. Total revenue was 2.7% below RTD’s budget, primarily driven by the timing of grant revenue, RTD officials said.