RTC constantly re-evaluates routes, fares, schedules

Janice Walker got her first car at age 21, a fast, red Ford that she adored.

"Having the independence of a car, there's nothing like it," the 61-year-old hotel employee said. "But having a cheaper way to get around, and using it, well, that's just smart."

Two years ago, Walker left the keys to her 1996 silver Ford on the peg board at home and walked the three blocks to a bus stop near her northwest valley home to get to her job downtown. It was her first time ever riding a local bus.

It's been an adventure, the 24-year local said. She's in better shape from her early morning and late afternoon walks to the bus stop and has expanded her support network.

"I was nervous about riding the bus alone," Walker said. "But I've met so many people that work downtown and we look out for each other. I've made some good friends. It's very safe and clean."

Allied Barton Security personnel ensure the safety of the bus routes. The national company is currently hiring for management and officer positions. Go to www.alliedbarton.com/employment opportunities for a full list of open positions in the security field.

Walker's husband of 40 years, Jim, lost his job in the spring of 2008 and the couple have cut back on many extras, including gas for their car (they sold their second vehicle) and wear and tear on their older model automobile.

"We use the bus to go to the grocery store, Friday night dinner (at a local casino) and it's really surprisingly easy," she said. "We should have used the bus years ago, but we didn't even think about it as a (means) for us with two cars."

Taking the bus has become more of an option for many locals, and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is doing all it can to keep pace with the needs of its many riders with some major new implementations and rerouting of current routes. The RTC bus routes service 50 million riders a year in the Las Vegas Valley and surrounding areas, and the RTC hopes to increase that with its recent changes.

As of Nov. 7, it included new schedules and rates as well as added new routes and improved existing routes.

"We (at RTC) implement transit service changes periodically in order to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of our transit system," said Tracy Bower, director of government affairs for RTC. "These rapid transit lines are in direct response to what our customers tell us they want."

The new schedules will include changes to all but four of the RTC Transit routes, from minor departure time adjustments to some big routing improvements that will better assist riders.

Some of the major changes include the new Bonneville Transit Center, located at 101 E. Bonneville Ave., on the corner of Bonneville Avenue and Casino Center Boulevard, which opened Nov. 7. The RTC's former downtown copper-roofed transit center, which opened in 1986, will be used by the Lady Luck for future improvements to that property.

The Westcliff Transit Center and Park & Ride is scheduled to open Dec. 12. It will provide routes from the Westcliff Transit Center to Boca Park, and the Suncoast to downtown Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Strip and McCarran International Airport.

Earlier this year the RTC launched Centennial Express Rapid Transit Service and Park & Ride at Durango Drive and U.S. 95 in March.

"The Centennial line we've been most impressed with, in general because our transit service is very robust," Bower said. "It is very busy. The rapid transit service that connects to downtown Las Vegas and continues on to the Strip and UNLV is really popular."

Also launched this spring was another line that connects downtown Las Vegas with the Strip to help make rapid transit even faster, she said.

A new service on Boulder Highway is under construction, as well as a Sahara Avenue Rapid Transit project, which would consist of a 12-mile corridor that would extend from Hualapai Way to Boulder Highway. Sahara Avenue serves the heaviest employment centers in the Las Vegas Valley, according to the RTC. Another project will connect Durango and Westcliff drives for routes that will deliver riders downtown and then over to the Strip and McCarran International Airport.

"That will be another great addition," Bower said. "All of these are designed specifically for commuters to provide faster service and overall speeding up their commute."

The RTC received three different types of stimulus funding for roadway projects and other transit projects. It received $39 million in roadway funding, $33.6 million in transit funding and $34.4 million in grants for the planned Sahara Express project.

"The stimulus funding we received allowed us to move forward with those projects," she said. "And without those fundings we would not have been able to go forward with those projects."

All of the projects are contracted out to the private sector by the RTC.

"Our goal was to put that money out to put people to work," she said.

The RTC's Bonneville Transit Center was built by Jacobs Engineering, Sletten Construction, Southern Nevada Paving, S-H Architecture and Converse Consultants, among other local contractors.

The Boulder Highway Express used local contractors and subcontractors, including Las Vegas Paving, Las Vegas Electric, Jacobs Engineering, GeoTek for materials testing, VTN Nevada for surveying and GC Wallace.

The new Centennial Hills Transit Center and Park & Ride also employed Jacobs Engineering, Whiting-Turner and other local contractors.

The busiest routes are the Deuce line on the Strip with more than 11 million riders in 2009. The two residential routes that are the most used are Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway.

"In general those are just very busy transit routes," she said. "It's the center of town and connects the northern and southern parts of town, and the university adds to that as well, definitely."

Ridership actually fell since the economic downturn, although when gas prices topped $4 a gallon, ridership did increase.

"It's declined since we have so much unemployment, so many people who were riding the bus to get to work aren't, but we still know for a lot of people looking to save money, the (transit services) are important," she said. "People have sold their car or leave their car at home because it is more economical (to ride the bus) than driving, so we have some increase in passengers there."

Local Vita Bello has used the Route 101 bus from the Rancho Drive/Gowan Road area for more than four years. She takes the 101 to the Downtown Transit Center and then transfers to bus 402 that drops her off at the Sunset Station, a bus stop near her job at Home Depot. She allows herself three hours for the ride and subsequent route changes, although a straight drive to her work from her home by car would take approximately 25 minutes.

She hasn't driven in 11 years and is currently saving up to buy a car. Bello pays $65 for the monthly pass which would otherwise be $125 each month if she bought the $5 daily bus pass. Her boyfriend works for Veolia, which is a longtime subcontractor to the RTC.

Veolia Transportation is open to applications for drivers and other positions with its company in the Las Vegas area. Go to www.veoliatransportation.com for details on open job opportunities and other information.

The RTC's transit system regularly updates its vehicles and is 100 percent compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"All of our vehicles accommodate those in wheelchairs and other mobility devices," said Allison Blankenship, public information officer for RTC. "Also, all of our transit vehicles carry at least two bicycles, and some carry three. There is no additional charge for bringing your bike along on transit."

Discounts are available for seniors (age 60 and older) and for youths (ages 6 through 17). Children age 5 and under can ride for free. For complete details on the RTC's fare structure and on reduced fares, go to www.rtcsnv.com.

Senior citizen Virginia dela Pena rides the bus to get to the Housing Authority Independent Living and get in her weekly shopping. The 79-year-old retiree spends $2 a day with her senior pass that she presents to the driver when boarding. She's found the bus lines to be an easy and inexpensive way to get around town from her central-area residence.

The transit system has been vital to Pamela Maestas' search for employment at openings around the valley. The unemployed Maestas saves up for the monthly pass, or spends $2 for a one-way ticket to where she's going and finds other transportation to return to her home by the Boulevard Mall on Maryland Parkway. She's hoping the new bus schedules and routes will make her job search easier and more efficient, something the RTC has been diligently working to complete.

"Our new routes and schedules go in effect Nov. 7 and we've made adjustments to make them more efficient for all of our valley transit riders," Bower said.

For regular transit riders, Bower suggests checking the RTC site for updated routes and pricing. New residential transit riders should also check to see if there is a better route than previously available to get them to key points around Las Vegas, including McCarran International Airport and area malls.

"We have a transit trip planner on our site where riders can go to choose routes and schedules that can help you get where you need to go quickly," Bower said.

The RTC considered riders' needs for ease of using the bus when building its routes. Most of the RTC's routes are close to convenience stores or other consumer-friendly establishments, and spacious bathroom facilities were installed at its transit centers.

"There are no bathrooms on our vehicles, however, there are restrooms at all of our transit facilities," Blankenship said. "There are places to purchase food and water near many of our transit stops and stations. However, food and drinks are not permitted onboard our vehicles. The exception to that rule is water bottles that have caps and can be closed."

The RTC's new Transit Guide includes key information for transit riders, including details on how to ride transit, where to buy transit passes, the price of transit fares, transit schedules and maps and other frequently asked questions and their answers. Go to www.rtcsnv.com/transit/transitguide/index.cfm for more information.

The RTC's Transit Guide can be purchased for $1 at the RTC's offices, any of its transit facilities or at a variety of local businesses (for a complete listing of locations, visit www.rtcsnv.com). All of the information in the guide is also available at that site.

Riders can look at the RTC's entire route system at www.rtcsnv.com/transit/sysmap/system_map.cfm. The RTC has consistently updated its routes to make them more convenient for riders to get to the center of town and McCarran International Airport.

The All Access Pass to all buses (including Deuce), which is valid for 24 hours, costs $7 per person while the All Access Pass for residential route buses for 24 hours costs $5 per person. Riders may also purchase a monthly pass for $65.

Tickets can be purchased online, through the mail, from a vending machine located inside the RTC station and at various locations throughout the valley.