DENVER — Regional Transportation District (RTD) officials are bracing for large crowds as several events take over downtown Denver this Saturday.
Ahead of the busy Saturday, the Bills vs. Broncos playoff rematch at Empower Field is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators are expected downtown for a “One Year is Enough!” demonstration, organized by the Denver Coalition Against Trump (DENCAT), at the Colorado State Capitol from noon to at least 3 p.m.
RTD officials said the agency is already “taking steps to prepare for an expected presence of demonstrators Saturday in downtown Denver” and has several contingency plans that can be readily implemented “if an external event disrupts fixed-route bus and rail services.”
Saturday’s protest, scheduled at the same time as the Bills vs. Broncos AFC divisional-round game, overlaps with the game’s 2:30 p.m. kickoff.
Later that evening, the Denver Nuggets will play the Washington Wizards at 7 p.m. inside Ball Arena, keeping downtown busy into the night.
RTD officials said in a news release Friday that staff have been in contact with the Denver Police Department (DPD) to “receive updates and risk assessments. RTD’s own police department will also increase patrols and officer presence to support the personal safety and security of customers and employees,” a spokesperson said.
“While RTD is focused on being prepared for the demonstrators with the potential to disrupt services, it can be difficult to predict crowd actions in the moment,” the spokesperson said in the news release. Staff will “actively monitor events in real time to support public safety and, to the greatest extent possible, minimize service disruptions.”
Saturday’s demonstrations could impact 23 RTD bus routes, including 0, 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 15L, 16, 19, 20, 28, 32, 38, 43, 44, 48, 52, 83L, 120X, ART, FF, and FREE, RTD officials said. Rail lines with possible detours or disruptions include D, E, H, L, and W.
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