Riding the A-Line train to Denver International Airport could soon cost a lot more. RTD is weighing a fare hike that would push its airport day pass from $10 up to $14, a move the transit agency says could help close a budget gap but that some riders fear will chip away at one of the cheapest ways to reach DIA.
The proposal hasn't been approved. According to Denver7, an RTD committee voted 4 to 2 this week to advance a study of the increase, and the full RTD board is scheduled to vote on that study December 1. If the board signs off, the agency says it will review how the change would affect riders before deciding whether to actually raise fares.
Even if the board moves ahead, nothing changes right away. Any fare increase would not take effect until May or June of next year, the station's report notes, giving RTD months to gauge rider reaction before locking in new prices.
Why RTD Says It Needs the Money
RTD is seeking additional revenue amid budget concerns, and airport fares are a significant piece of that puzzle. Per the same account, airport fares account for about 25% of the agency's total fare revenue, or roughly $15 million, and RTD staff estimate that raising the fare could add another $2 million to $6 million a year to that total.
The scale of ridership underscores why even a modest per-ticket increase adds up. RTD sold around 1.48 million airport passes in 2025, the report states, meaning a few extra dollars per pass could translate into millions in new revenue annually.
The agency's broader finances help explain the push. RTD's own third-quarter fiscal year 2025 update shows fare revenue totaled $16 million, down 6% from the prior year even as ridership climbed 4% to 17.0 million. Total revenue for the quarter reached $321 million, but that still fell $21 million, or 6%, short of budget projections, according to the same RTD report.
Riders Weigh the Math Against Uber and Parking
Not everyone is sold on the idea. Some board members and riders said the increase could make public transportation less affordable, Denver7 reports, and rider Margarita Lopez said the fare hike could make her family's connected trip less worthwhile.
The comparison to driving or ride-hailing is central to the debate. As of Tuesday morning, an Uber to the airport cost $45, while parking in DIA's economy lot runs $20 per day, per Denver7's reporting — figures that still leave the train cheaper even at a $14 day pass, but by a narrower margin than today.
RTD executive manager Jack Kroll said during the committee meeting that demand for airport travel is expected to stay constant despite shifts in price. RTD director Chris Nicholson, meanwhile, voiced support for considering a group discount that could make RTD's fare more competitive with rideshare apps.
Monthly Passes and Employee Programs Also in Play
The fare study wouldn't stop at the day pass. RTD staff said monthly pass prices may also be affected by the proposal, including EcoPass programs used by more than 8,000 airport employees who rely on those passes to commute to DIA.
RTD's current published fare structure requires standard fare-paying customers to use an airport fare product for trips originating or ending at the airport, while discount fare products include airport travel, according to the agency's fares and passes page, which lists the Airport Day Pass at $10 — though Denver7's reporting on the current price cites $10. Separately, RTD says an EcoPass or CollegePass already covers a rider's trip to the airport, as described in its commuter rail guidance. Children and youth ages 19 and under ride free on all RTD services, including the A-Line.
For now, the question comes down to December 1, when the full board decides whether to even study raising the fare. Riders who depend on the A-Line to reach DIA will be watching closely to see whether a ten-dollar ride to the airport becomes a thing of the past.
