RTD fare checks rose in 2025 as rail security expands

RTD fare checks across Regional Transportation District-Denver (RTD) rail services totaled nearly 5 million in 2025, according to an RTD news update and reporting from Progressive Railroading. Over the year, the agency expanded its police and contracted security presence on light rail and commuter rail.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

RTD fare checks and enforcement activity in 2025

In a press release, RTD officials said fare checks increased by more than 500% between May 2024 and August 2025. The agency tied that rise to a broader effort to strengthen enforcement and visibility on passenger-rail services.

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On the light-rail system, RTD police checked nearly 591,000 transit passes and found a fare evasion rate of 7.3%—riders who had not paid before boarding. On the commuter-rail system, officers checked over 4.2 million transit passes, where the fare evasion rate was 4%, RTD said.

Fare evasion rate findings on light rail and commuter rail

RTD said it recovered fare from 208,722 passengers. Officers also issued 14,664 warnings and 712 citations during 2025.

RTD security plan and what changes in 2026

Looking ahead, RTD said the security presence on its rail network—and the volume of RTD fare checks—will continue to increase in 2026. The agency described this as building on the success of the RTD security plan implemented in 2024, and noted that 105 new officers were sworn in this month, adding to the RTD Transit Police Department.

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