NV-2024-008

Application Purpose: The purpose of the project is to improve corridor mobility and transit. The intent is to better address the current travel demand traffic congestion and travel delay in the corridor as well as the additional population/employment and travel demand growth that will be added to the area by the year 2040. Improved rapid transit service along the project corridor will help RTC achieve its long-range goals to cost-effectively enhance mobility and accessibility improve transit operations support economic growth and redevelopment conserve non-renewable resources and improve corridor safety.

Activities Performed: The project is a 12.5-mile fixed guideway BRT project running primarily north-south along Maryland Parkway from the Downtown Las Vegas Medical District in the City of Las Vegas to the South Strip Transit Terminal (SSTT) in Clark County. Key destinations to be served include the Bonneville Transit Center the University of Nevada Las Vegas and the Harry Reid International Airport. The project includes construction of 25 BRT stations along with inclusion of four existing stations at Las Vegas Medical Center Harry Reid International Airport George Crockett Road and SSTT. The project includes 7.2 miles of dedicated curbside bus-only transit lanes and 15 60-foot articulated hydrogen fuel cell buses. The RTC intends to provide each BRT station with branded shelters shade canopies benches lighting real-time message boards and a closed-circuit television security system. Ticket vending machines are not included in the project because the RideRTC app provides in-app transit pass purchases. Corridor infrastructure improvements include traffic signal priority intelligent transportation systems (ITS) conduit and fiber optic cable installation sidewalk widening and improvements within one-quarter mile of stations pedestrian crossing flasher modifications and improvements at various locations and roadway modifications.

Expected Outcomes: The project will provide a critical part of the transportation system in the Las Vegas Valley within the existing RTC service area. The project will expand travel options increase efficiency meet mobility needs and complement the Southern Nevada region's growth and will replace the RTC's existing Route 109. The existing round-trip distance and bus travel-time is approximately 20 miles and 110 minutes respectively and the route is currently served by 8 buses operating with 15-minute headways during peak periods which extend from approximately 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays. The project is expected to have the following outcomes:
- The BRT project will extend what is currently Route 109 westward from the Bonneville Transit Center in Downtown Las Vegas to serve the Las Vegas Medical District and Symphony Park.
- The proposed route will follow Carson Avenue and Casino Center Drive to serve Downtown Las Vegas entertainment venues instead of following Bonneville Avenue and Clark Street.
- Dedicated bus lanes will be provided along 58% of the route.
- The number of stops along Maryland Parkway will be reduced to increase travel speed.
- Right-turn lanes will be added at high volume locations to speed buses through congested intersections.
- The route will have defined stations that feature shelters are accessible for persons with disabilities offer shelter from the weather and provide information on schedules and routes.
- The route will provide faster passenger travel times through congested intersections by using active signal priority in separated guideway and either queue-jump lanes or active signal priority in non-separated guideway.
- Headways will decrease to 12 minutes during peak period weekday service (6:00 AM to 7:00 PM) increasing during off-peak periods. Buses will operate over a 24-hour span of service.

Intended Beneficiaries: The project will benefit both current and new public transportation passengers in the RTC service area. Maryland Parkway is a vital corridor for the Las Vegas Valley that extends between Downtown Las Vegas and SSTT and connects many activity centers such as UNLV Sunrise Hospital the Boulevard Mall and numerous commercial and residential areas. Carrying over 9000 transit riders and 33000 cars per day investments in transportation infrastructure along this major corridor will improve the community's mobility by enhancing vehicle transit pedestrian and bicycle access. Also identified as an opportunity site for reinvestment in the Southern Nevada Strong Regional Plan Maryland Parkway is a key regional corridor for employment transit connectivity and potential revitalization. The proposed BRT route primarily runs north-south where it will also serve residential communities and commercial areas and provide connections to the major east-west transit corridors.

Subrecipient Activities: None

Regional Transportation Commission Of Southern Nevada

FUND PROJECTS WHEN THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS LESS THAN $400MILLION AND TOTAL SMALL STARTS FUNDING SOUGHT IS LESS THAN $150MILLION TO CONSTRUCT NEW FIXED GUIDEWAY SYSTEMS (LIGHT RAIL COMMUTER RAIL ETC.); AN EXTENSION TO AN EXISTING SYSTEM; THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FIXED GUIDEWAY BRT SYSTEM; OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CORRIDOR-BASED BRT SYSTEM.

20.500 - Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants

FTA Region 9 [DOT - FTA]

FTA Office of Budget and Policy [DOT - FTA]

Nevada United States

State-Wide

NOT APPLICABLE