How do you propose that RTD get their cost structure lower so that they can lower their prices?

They can't simply lower their prices without lowering their costs by the same percentage.  That would mean they'd be sticking taxpayers with even MORE than 70% of the cost like they already are now, which would (thankfully) be illegal.  (The charter creating RTD caps their taxpayer funding at 70%.)

Hell, I'd argue that riders only having to pay 30% of the actual cost of their commutes is too GENEROUS, not too much.  Customers don't realize how much of a bargain they're getting with RTD fares relative to the total cost of driving.