As the pandemic raged across Denver and its suburbs, leaders at RTD were concerned that cuts the agency needed to make across its bus and rail routes would fall hardest on the most vulnerable. The front-line workers, the hourly employees — those without the luxury of being able to work from home — would be impacted the most, said Angie Rivera-Malpiede, chair of the Regional Transportation District’s board of directors. “These are the folks who depend on us,” she said.