New safety protocols have been implemented by the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) at the Union Station bus concourse due to what RTD calls problematic and unsafe behavior in the station.
These additional protocols, combined with existing safety requirements, are intended to protect people against the spread of COVID-19 and will remain in place until otherwise noted.
New protocols include:
- Prohibiting people from lying or sitting on the floor at all times;
- Prohibiting eating in the bus concourse; and
- Limiting the number of people in the restrooms to two at a time.
“RTD has been meeting with public health officials each week since the COVID-19 pandemic began,” said RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson. “We are implementing these restrictions at Union Station to comply with public health orders to ensure that this important space is a safe and healthy environment for employees, customers and the general public. Station personnel will be monitoring behavior and educating people who are not following safety protocols and adhering to the rules.”
Over the past several months, RTD says there has been an increase in health-related service calls to Union Station. The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment has issued two citations to RTD, on Dec. 15 and Jan. 8, for violations of the public health orders regarding use of face coverings, congregating and social distancing. RTD is legally required to comply with public health orders and will be fined for violations that could lead to court summons, fines and facility closure.
As of early January, RTD has four full-time mental health clinicians on staff and is in the process of recruiting and hiring a homeless outreach coordinator to assist people experiencing homelessness who might be at RTD facilities.
