PUC waives notice and approves RTD roadway worker protection plan

The Public Utilities Commission on Nov. 26 approved the Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) roadway worker protection (RWP) plan and related track access guide after staff recommended waiving the remainder of the 30‑day notice period and moving to approve the filing.

Jessica Saba of the commission’s Rail Transit Safety Section told commissioners that RTD filed the application on Nov. 5 and that the filing aims to align transit worker protections with federal and state safety requirements. “This is a new regulation that will require commissioners’ approval annually,” Saba said, noting the federal RWP regulation’s publication date as 10/31/2024 and that the commission is required to review the initial RWP under the cited 4 CCR rule read into the record.

Staff recommended waiving the remainder of the notice period in this proceeding and moving to approve RTD’s 2026 RWP; commissioners agreed and authorized an ABC order implementing the recommendation. The staff memo noted the 30‑day notice window ran through Dec. 5, 2025, but that the commission’s rules require the initial RWP review on or before Dec. 2, 2025.

The commission’s action implements staff’s recommendation; staff indicated they are available to answer follow‑up questions and provide further recommendations if commissioners request them. The commission did not record a detailed roll‑call vote in the transcript excerpt.