DENVER — RTD is starting a series of 18 public meetings to address how the agency will eliminate and cut back service to handle staffing shortages.

"We're doing proposed service changes so we can match our level of service to the level of workforce that we have," said Paulette Tonilas, the assistant general manager for communications at RTD.

RTD is thinking of eliminating the BroncosRide, RockiesRide, bus service to and from the BOLDERBoulder, and routes 16L, 55, 66, 99L, 157, 236 and 403.

RTD is also looking at cutbacks and other changes to several bus and light rail lines.

The 16th Street Mall shuttle would run every three minutes instead of every 90 seconds during peak times under the proposal.

Read the entire list of changes, by route number, on RTD's website here.

"This is our opportunity to tweak our service to be efficient and effective based on changes in people's riding habits," Tonilas said. "This will align our service with available workforce until we can beef up our workforce and add more operators to the system."

The public meetings to talk about the changes are scheduled through the region from Feb. 19 to March 5. See the full list here.

"The public is a key piece in this," Tonilas said. "We want them to weigh in — tell us how they feel. We do listen to feedback from the public. That helps us tweak the service reductions that go to the board."

The final plan will go to RTD's Board in March and, if approved, the changes will start in May.