Government and sports leaders from southern Nevada gathered at the Las Vegas Ballpark Saturday morning to discuss plans for improved transit services throughout the valley.
Representatives Dina Titus and Susie Lee, Governor Steve Sisolak, Las Vegas Mayor, Carolyn Goodman, Henderson Mayor, Debra March, Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones, Raiders Interim President Dan Ventrelle, Golden Knights Senior Vice President Jim Frevola and Aviators President Don Logan spoke all at the event.
March, who also serves as chair of the Regional Transportation Commission, said that despite the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the commission made more than 56 million transit trips in the Las Vegas Valley last year.
“For so many in our community, transit is the lifeline to work, food, medical care, and family,” March said. “But the challenges of the past year and a half and the continuing need for transport have made the nature of public transport even more clear. So today we’re excited to celebrate the services we’re bringing back and adding to our community thanks to federal funding.
The list of transit improvements announced on Saturday includes the introduction of RTC-OnDemand, described as “a pilot micro-transit service in the southwest and west of Henderson”; a “Transit Lab” for faster and more regular service to busy stops along Charleston Boulevard; and weekend services in underserved areas. The changes will take effect on Sunday.
Titus and Lee said they knew southern Nevada would be largely affected by the pandemic, so they spent the last year and a half asking for funding to restore essential community services such as public transportation.
“Local public transport has been expanded to 185,000 additional residents here in southern Nevada,” said Titus. “These include 21,000 people currently living in poverty, 18,000 senior citizens and 13,000 people with disabilities. … These are the people who really need these services. “
In addition to daily transit services, the RTC announced new partnerships with the Las Vegas sports teams to provide transportation to and from venues around the city. For example, the Raiders and RTC are offering $ 4 roundtrip tickets to games from five locations in the valley this season.
Goodman said she sees the improved transit initiative as a great opportunity to keep the Las Vegas community safe and connected while they recover from the pandemic.
“No matter what, life in Las Vegas is good,” said Goodman. “And life in Las Vegas will continue to be good.”
For a list of service changes and more information, see rtcsnv.com/servicechange2021.
Contact Alexis Ford at aford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0335. Follow @alexisdford on Twitter.
