Enrollment in LiVE, the Regional Transportation District (RTD)’s new, income-based fare discount program, begins July 29, one week from today. The LiVE Program provides a 40 percent discount to qualifying riders whose household incomes are at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level.
“The LiVE Program brings discounted fares to more riders who qualify,” said RTD General Manager and CEO Dave Genova. “Until now, individuals had to work through some government agencies and nonprofit organizations to obtain an income-based discount. Now, they can apply directly through PEAK, the state’s public benefits application system, and receive a proof of eligibility card within weeks.”
“The LiVE Program brings discounted fares to more riders who qualify.”
Dave Genova, RTD
All applications for the LiVE Program – pronounced as one would say, “live your best life” – will be processed through PEAK. A link to the PEAK portal will be added to RTD’s LiVE Program webpage on July 29, when enrollment begins. Reference documents and a breakdown of LiVE Program fare products are available on the webpage.
Interested riders will have to qualify and enroll in the LiVE Program to receive the discounted fare. Applicants must be between 20 and 64 years old and live within the RTD district to qualify. The LiVE Program income threshold amounts will be updated each April, based on the most recent guidelines. In 2019 on an annual basis, 185 percent of the federal poverty level is as follows (with household/family size): $23,107 (1), $31,284 (2), $39,461 (3), $47,638 (4).
LiVE Program applicants not already enrolled in certain medical, cash or food assistance programs must provide household income information and documents that verify income, such as pay stubs, self-employment income and expense statements, and award letters for cash assistance programs or unemployment benefits.
Customers already enrolled in certain medical, cash or food assistance programs can enter the PEAK system, select the LiVE Program and complete a shortened application. Such applications will not be subject to income verification.
All applicants must provide a current photo of themselves that is suitable for an ID card. Completing a LiVE Program application through PEAK may take 30 to 60 minutes.
Once approved, applicants will receive a LiVE Program eligibility card by postal mail, to be used alongside any of the following forms of LiVE Program fare media: a MyRide card, a mobile ticket (three-hour or day pass) or a ticket issued by a nonprofit agency. Qualifying riders will need to carry both items to ride the RTD system and enjoy the discount.
LiVE Program eligibility cards are valid for a year from the date of approval, and approved riders can reapply each year by entering the PEAK system.
Public feedback about the LiVE Program will be helpful to RTD after it launches, as this is a new program for the transit agency. RTD soon will announce a mechanism by which it will accept feedback.
In creating the LiVE Program, RTD is leading the way in offering more equitable fares. The desire for such a program in the Denver metro region extends back at least five years, and it emerged as a key priority of a 25-member working group RTD convened in 2017 to evaluate the transit agency’s fare structure and pass programs.
RTD’s board of directors approved the creation of an income-based fare discount program last fall, and the agency’s staff since then has been working to complete all of the technical and logistical details necessary to launch it. RTD has worked in partnership with the state Office of Information Technology, Denver Human Services and Deloitte to accomplish this project.
RTD offers additional discount programs to individuals who are younger than 20, older than 64, disabled or Medicare recipients. More details are at rtd-denver.com.
The Regional Transportation District celebrates 50 years of service this year. The transit agency develops, operates and maintains a public transportation system that meets the needs of close to 3 million people within an eight-county service area in the Denver Metro region. The agency’s buses, rail lines, shuttles and additional services provide approximately 100 million annual passenger trips. For more information, visit rtd-denver.com, call 303-299-6000 and follow along on social media: www.facebook.com/RideRTD, on Twitter @RideRTD, @ridertd
on Instagram and rideRTDco on YouTube.
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