The Regional Transportation District Board of Directors in Denver has entered into an innovative form of dialogue with the community: 15 “telephone town hall meetings” that use updated telephone technology to allow the board members to speak directly with members of the community.

RTD board members will reach out to more than 400,000 residents of the agency’s service area, entering into discussion on such topics as public transit programs, services, and projects. The automated system places random calls to residents of each of the agency’s 15 Director Districts; those who choose to participate can hear about local bus and rail service, RTD’s FasTracks transit expansion program, and other projects underway.

Participants also will be able to ask questions of and make suggestions to their local elected representative, who will be on the call. To participate, residents simply stay on the line after answering their phones and they will be automatically connected to the meeting. RTD also has call-in information for residents who do not receive a call but wish to participate.

The 15-meeting series began Nov. 28 and will conclude Dec. 15.

“This is a great new way to better communicate with the public,” said RTD Board Chairman Lee Kemp. “Not everyone can come to a public meeting. This technology allows us to connect with our constituents by phone in the comfort of their home. We encourage everyone who is called to participate in shaping our transportation future.”