This story first appeared in a Colorado Community Media newspaper. Support CCM’s neighborhood news.
The Regional Transportation District on Monday responded to frustration from Adams County officials about buses no longer stopping to drop riders off at the Adams County Justice Center.
The district argued that it technically hasn’t discontinued service as buses still go to two nearby stops. But Adams County commissioners and officials in the 17th Judicial District said buses need to go to the courthouse parking lot.
“With a backlog of more than 700 felony cases, additional courtrooms and hours are being introduced by Chief Judge (Don) Quick to help provide each defendant with their constitutionally guaranteed right to a speedy trial,” Quick, District Attorney Brian Mason, Sarah Quinn of the public defender’s office, and all five Adams County commissioners — Eva Henry, Emma Pinter, Lynn Baca, Steve O’Dorisio and Chaz Tedesco — wrote in a letter to RTD on July 29.
The county officials continued: “The lack of access to public transit will restrict our ability to increase the quantity of cases heard – and could prove to be counterproductive to our goal of reducing the backlog of cases.”
RTD said in a post Monday responding to the letter and news stories that it called “misinformation” that the district decided to no longer have its buses stop at the justice center for a few reasons, including low ridership.
“Public transit is unable to operate as a door-to-door service for everyone, but RTD makes every effort to provide accessibility to final destinations recognizing that first- and last-mile connections can be a challenge,” the RTD post said.