On Saturday, residents will get to test drive the "The Connector" - a "microtransit" service set to arrive to Globeville and elyria-Swansea by mid-November.
"The Connector" provides on-demand rides, like Uber or Lyft, except it's a free service.
In August, the city announced that it would be expanding its "microtransit" service to the area.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, along with other community partners, will be hosting a Community Transit Celebration where residents can see the fleet, ride along a defined route and learn more about public transportation options.
It'll be held in the lower parking lot at that RTD station on 41st and Galapago St. from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. DOTI said they'll be handing out free bike and pedestrian gear. They'll also be hosting a raffle for folks to win free RTD passes.
The service will mimic the existing Montbello Connector, which launched in November 2021. Riders can call or use an app to request a ride and go anywhere within the designated area. There's no defined routes, so users can get dropped off right in front of their homes or wherever they need to be.
While RTD has some bus and train routes in Montbello and GES, there's a lack of frequency and reach. RTD has struggled to meet Denver's needs. City-run transit services, like the Connector, fill in existing public transportation gaps and connect residents to RTD systems.
Since the service launched in Montbello, the Connector has provided rides to about 33,862 total passengers, said DOTI spokesperson Vanessa Lacayo. She added that the top destinations are the Montbello Recreation Center and RTD's Peoria Station.
Lacayo said the service started off slow with only 1,672 passengers in November 2021. In July, there were 4,037 passengers.
DOTI is still working with GES residents to determine hours of operation and the service area. For now, the proposal is similar to Montbello's. Service will run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday within the GES neighborhoods.
As for the Montbello Connector, Lacayo said there's no plans to change the hours but the service will expand to the Gateway neighborhood and a fourth car will be added to the fleet.
