Ratings highlight RTD’s strong financial management amid potential future refunding of FasTracks’ Build America Bonds
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) received a AA+ rating reaffirmation from Fitch Ratings underscoring the agency’s financial strength with a stable outlook. The most recent rating, announced Sept. 23, applies to the $265.8 million in sales tax revenue refunding bonds for the FasTracks project, series 2026B. The bonds are scheduled for negotiated pricing on Oct. 15. Fitch also reaffirmed RTD’s Issuer Default Rating and outstanding FasTracks sales tax revenue bonds at AA+. The rating is based on a dedicated tax and revenue bond analysis and is capped at the same level as the Issuer Default Rating.
Fitch cited RTD’s financial resilience, and demographic and economic strength as key factors supporting the AA+ assessment. On Aug. 25, RTD closed the refunding of Sales Tax Revenue Refunding Bonds (FasTracks Project) Series 2026A to achieve $20 million in net present value (NPV) savings in spite of challenging market conditions during a global bond selloff.
The previous Fitch credit rating of AA+ announced in July reflects RTD’s proactive financial management and policies and RTD’s support from voter-approved sales and use taxes. This revenue enables the agency to provide transit services for 3.1 million customers across its 2,349-square-mile service area, and the ratings reflect confidence in RTD’s essential role as a transit provider across the Denver metro area.
Earlier this year, S&P Global Ratings also affirmed RTD’s stable outlook with a AAA long-term rating recognizing the agency’s series 2026 Sales Tax Revenue Refunding Bonds for FasTracks. This outlook reflects the agency’s strong economic fundamentals including healthy liquidity and manageable debt profile. S&P Global Ratings highlighted the importance of continued progress in addressing the structural deficit as the agency prepares for the 2027 budget cycle.
For more information, visit rtd-denver.com/about-rtd or call 303-299-6000.
