OTOL Denver RailFest 2019:
Denver transit costs

RTD fares are based on the number of zones a trip passes through. The rail system (which includes both light rail and commuter rail) passes through Zones A, B, & C, and there is a separate zone for Denver International Airport. Rather than charging a one-way fare, RTD's smallest fare instrument is a 3-hour pass that allows unlimited travel within certain zones during that time frame. Types of fares include Local (travel within one or two zones for $3.00), Regional (travel within three zones for $5.25), or Airport (any travel involving the Airport zone for $10.50).

If ten people travelling together are taking the same one way trips, a ten-ride ticket book may save these people a little money overall. A 10-ride Local ticket book costs $28, and a 10-ride Regional ticket book would cost $50.50. There is no 10-trip ticket book for Airport travel, so a step-up charge would be levied if a Regional ticket is tendered on a trip to or from the airport.

A discounted fare is available for senior citizens age 65 and over, individuals with disabilities, and Medicare recipients. The fare is approximately half of the above one way fares. Thus the Local discount fare is $1.50, the Regional discount fare is $2.60, and Airport dicount fare is $5.25. Similar 50% discounts of Are also offered on the above 10-ride ticket books.

Next, there are various Day Pass instruments available for each of the above fare levels. The Local Day Pass, good for one service day of Local travel is $6.00. The Regional/Airport Day Pass (3 zones) is $10.50.

There are validators at every light rail station. However, only 10-Ride tickets need to be validated. All one-way, discounted, and Day Pass tickets will have the current date printed on the ticket. For this reason, tickets should be purchased on the day of travel. Thus you should not buy a Day Pass for Wednesday on Tuesday evening, as it will expire before our Wednesday travels.

RTD now has a smart card called MyRide. Like other cities, MyRide offers 20 cents off the base fare without the need to have bills and change on hand. The needed amount can be loaded onto the MyRide card. MyRide Local fare (three hours of travel within one or two zones) is $2.80. MyRide Regional fare (three hours of travel within three zones) is $5.05. MyRide Airport fare (three hours of travel involving Denver International Airport) is $10.30. The card itself is free, but a first-time purchase has a minimum of $5.00.

RTD's light rail and commuter rail run on a proof of purchase system. Fare inspectors will randomly check passengers for possession of a valid ticket aboard the train, and in "fare paid" sections on station platforms.

For the purpose of our official Fest riding, since we plan to ride as far as the C and Airport Zones on Tuesday, the Regional/Airport Day Pass would be the best value for us, as a Day Pass costs $10.50. On Wednesday, our official travels will be within Zones A & B, and they should wrap up within three hours, so the Local 3-hour pass for $3.00 should cover it. If you plan other travels by commuter or light rail on your own, then you may opt for the $6.00 Local Day Pass or the $10.50 Regional/Airport Day Pass if riding further.

Finally, the above information also applies to purchasing tickets via the RTD phone app. Via the app you can purchase 3 hour passes of the Local, Regional, and Airport variety, and Local and Regional/Airport Day Passes. Links on the page last cited can be used to download the app.