Brenden Morgan, Director, Treasury
Regional Transportation District
Regional Transportation District
Learn about Regional Transportation District including our Sustainability, News & Press Releases, Projects, and Team.
Have questions? Reach out to us directly.
Learn about Regional Transportation District including our Sustainability, News & Press Releases, Projects, and Team.
The Regional Transportation District provides public transportation in eight counties including all of Boulder, Broomfield, Denver and Jefferson counties, parts of Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties, and a small portion of Weld County. As a public agency, we are dedicated to serving the public and providing for the transportation needs of over 3.08 million people located within 2,342 square miles. Our services include bus, rail, shuttles, ADA paratransit services, demand responsive services like FlexRide, special event services, vanpools, and many more.
We are an organization made up of dedicated and qualified people doing extraordinary things to make the metro area the best in the West. We take great pride in the delivery of a wide array of services and we’re proud to be part of the productivity, progress, and passion of 40 municipalities. Our wheels will never stop rolling as we transform the region through transportation.
The Regional Transportation District was created in 1969 by the 47th session of the Colorado General Assembly. Efforts in these early years focused on regional transportation planning.
In 1973 voters approved a 0.5% sales tax initiative to finance a $1.56 billion multi-modal transit system. At this time, RTD acquired privately owned bus companies, improved service frequencies, and expanded routes in numerous counties throughout the metro area. By 1976, ridership grew to 35.2 million rides annually.
RTD celebrated its first light rail opening October 7, 1994. The 5.3-mile D Line attracted hundreds of thousands of riders when it began operations with just eleven light rail vehicles. April 22, 2016 marked another monumental milestone in Denver transit history with the opening of the metro area's first high-speed commuter rail line - the A Line. Twelve rail lines service 78 stations along the Denver's North, East, Southeast, Southwest, and West rail corridors.
In November 2004, region voters approved FasTracks transit tax for region-wide expansion of transit service. The .04% sales tax (four cents on a $10 purchase) provides funds to build RTD’s FasTracks program - 122 miles of new commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit, and 21,000 new parking spaces at rail and bus stations. The program consists of six new rapid transit corridors and three existing corridor extensions and to expand and enhance service for easy, convenient bus/rail connections across the eight-county district.
Learn about our environmental, social, and governance program, and how we bring those values to life with green bonds, sustainable projects, and more.

DENVER (Aug. 26, 2025) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD) announces the appointment of Patrick Preusser as RTD’s Chief Operations Officer (COO). Preusser was selected following a national search and brings more than 28 years of experience at major U.S. transit systems and in cities around the world. He will join RTD on Tuesday, Sept. 2, filling the role that was vacated after the previous COO retired in 2024.
"Over the course of his career, Patrick has been recognized for fostering strong relationships, uniting diverse teams and guiding organizations through growth, change and complex service environments. He brings great knowledge and experience, as well as a deep respect for public service, and he is dedicated to advancing safety, reliability, customer experience, and innovation in public transportation," RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said.
Preusser most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of the Utah Transit Authority and has held senior leadership roles with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services, the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro). He managed national passenger rail programs for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Preusser also contributed to international transportation projects in the cities of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Kabul, Afghanistan.
"I am proud to serve an industry that leads the way with innovative mobility solutions, making our communities better places to live, work and play" Preusser said.
Nationally, Preusser serves as a member of the American Public Transportation Association’s Rail Transit Operating Practices Working Group and Bus Operations Committee. In 2022, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appointed him to the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety, which provides strategic safety guidance to the USDOT and the Federal Transit Administration. Preusser has also participated in the Eno Center for Transportation’s Multi-Agency Exchange Program, collaborating with peers at RTD, LA Metro, Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority, and Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority.
Preusser holds master’s degrees in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and Transportation Management from the University of Denver, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. He is a certified Project Management Professional and Transit Safety and Security Professional, credentials that reflect his commitment to safe, reliable, and well-managed transit services. His contributions have been recognized with honors that include the U.S. Secretary of Transportation’s Foreign Service, Excellence, and Team Awards; the FRA’s Meritorious Achievement and Excellence Award; and recognition as one of Mass Transit magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” in 2017.

RTD announced the promotion of Brett Feddersen today as the agency’s inaugural Chief Information and Technology Officer (CITO). Feddersen brings more than 20 years of experience in IT strategy and operational management.
Feddersen earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, Computer Information Systems, from Colorado Mesa University. He received a graduate degree in Leadership and Organizations from the University of Denver, with an emphasis in Strategic Innovation. He has completed the Leading, Educating and Developing (LEAD) leadership development program at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Additionally, Feddersen is a published author of project management books producing review guides and practice exams for both the Project Management Professional (PMP) and CompTIA Project+ certification exams.
Feddersen first joined RTD in 2015 as Manager of Shared Technical Services, implementing device standards that reduced user wait times. In October 2023, he assumed the role of Acting Senior Manager of IT, where he led the TransIT ARCHITECTED initiative, a project that improved operational effectiveness and resulted in an increase in customer satisfaction of the technology division.
Prior to RTD, Feddersen worked at the City of Boulder, for which he served as Assistant Director of Application Services. His work in the IT department earned the city recognition from the Center for Digital Government for best practices in citizen engagement and digital solutions.
Feddersen is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a LEAN IT Professional (LITP), with additional certifications including Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) V3 Foundations. He graduated from the Eno Center for Transportation's MAX (Eno/MAX) Program in 2022 and RTD’s Leadership Academy in 2019.
As the CITO, Feddersen will help steward RTD’s long-term IT vision and lead important initiatives in support of the agency’s mission.

DENVER (May 6, 2025) –– The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has selected Kelly Mackey as the agency’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Mackey brings 22 years of experience to the role and is a strategic and results-driven finance executive, specializing in complex financial operations and organizational transformation. As CFO, she will oversee the agency’s $1.4 billion budget, steward resources with fiscal integrity on behalf of more than 3,000 employees, and drive financial strategies that support RTD’s mission tomake lives better through connections. Mackey will officially join RTD on Monday, May 12. She assumes a role that was vacated earlier this year when the agency's prior CFO, Doug MacLeod, retired after nearly 15 years of service to RTD.
“I am honored to join RTD at such a pivotal moment in its transformation journey,” Mackey said. “Transit is a vital connector for our communities, and sound financial leadership is essential to achieving the agency’s ambitious vision. I look forward to partnering with our Board, leadership team, and employees to enhance fiscal transparency, strengthen operations, and build a resilient financial foundation—rooted in public trust and aligned with the values of the communities we serve.”
Mackey will be charged with leading RTD’s finance, accounting, treasury, investment, and asset management teams. She will focus on enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening capital planning, and positioning the agency for long-term financial resilience. Mackey believes that finance plays a crucial role in building public trust and will ensure that RTD’s investments align with community needs and strategic priorities. Throughout her career, Mackey has been known for her ability to bridge technical finance with broader mission outcomes, such as translating data into insightful and actionable information, improving decision-makers’ access to financial information, and aligning budgetary processes with long-term strategic plans. She is also deeply committed to supporting RTD’s workforce and fostering a culture of empowerment, accountability, and continuous improvement.
"I am excited to have Kelly’s dedication and commitment to RTD’s employees and customers at a time when the agency is focused on the Strategic Priority of Financial Success and the Strategic Initiative of Back to Basics,” General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said. “Her more than two decades of experience and leadership will ensure the agency can continue to successfully manage its financial resources."
Mackey offers a diverse and robust background to the CFO role, most notably through her 15-year career at Staples. There she held multiple leadership roles supporting the company’s B2B e-commerce distribution and delivery business. Mackey’s leadership enabled measurable improvements in financial discipline and operational efficiency across supply chain, customer experience, and field operations. She led an 88-person team for the organization, driving operational execution, data-driven decisions, and planning for one of North America's largest private delivery networks.
She also was instrumental in leading customer innovation at Staples, supporting the firm’s transition under new ownership, and collaborating with management consulting partners to drive transformative go-to-market and organizational redesign strategies. This stewardship impacted approximately 3,000 associates and 150,000 business customers. She integrated advanced planning methods, Lean Six Sigma process design, and system enhancements across business channels—skills Mackey plans to utilize in leading RTD's complex operational and service delivery environment.
Most recently, Mackey brought her financial and operational expertise into the technology and cybersecurity sectors, as Vice President of Finance at Trellix, a global enterprise cybersecurity company. In that role, she served as a key leader for financial planning and analysis, product line restructuring, and merger-and-acquisition readiness. Prior to Trellix, Mackey served as Vice President of Revenue Operations at GHX, a Colorado-based healthcare supply chain software firm, where she led digital transformation initiatives, streamlined financial operations, and successfully integrated multiple acquisitions.
Mackey’s intends to bring a private-sector discipline and transparency to RTD’s public finance, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and in service of positive outcomes for all communities. Mackey will focus on driving value, trust, and financial stewardship to support safe, reliable, and inclusive transit across the Denver metro region.
Throughout her career, Mackey has served as a catalyst for change by building high-performing teams, modernizing financial systems, and aligning leaders with clear financial and operational goals. Her unique experience in high-volume logistics, public and private-sector finance, and mission-driven leadership lends an insightful perspective and capability to RTD during a time of transformation.
A Certified Public Accountant and an alumna of Harvard Business School through the Advanced Management Program, Mackey holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance, summa cum laude, with a minor in Spanish from Oral Roberts University.


Have questions? Reach out to us directly.