Transit Is Worth Investing In—If We Deliver

Based on this Article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ripple/2026/08/06/philbrick-what-is-the-value-of-investing-in-transit/

A recent piece by Karen Philbrick in The Washington Post makes an important point about transportation funding: people are willing to invest in transit—but they need to believe their money will produce results. That resonates with me. Moving forward RTD Needs to rebuild the public trust.

As a longtime transit rider, I know how much reliable transportation matters to people’s everyday lives. But asking taxpayers and riders to invest more in transit also means being willing to show them what they are getting in return.

That starts with the basics: frequent service, reliable buses and trains, clean and safe stations, and clear communication when things go wrong. It also means being transparent about where every dollar goes and holding ourselves accountable for delivering improvements.

The article cites research showing that support for transportation funding rises significantly when people know exactly what their money will accomplish. That should be a lesson for RTD.

If we want the public to invest in transit, we have to give them a reason to believe in it.

Reliable transit keeps us moving forward. But reliability also builds trust—and trust is what makes long-term investment possible.

-JG