The Regional Transportation Commission is asking local residents for their input in developing a long-term plan to improve mass transit in Southern Nevada.
Kicking off what it informally describes as a listening tour, the RTC has scheduled two community conversations today on its On Board plan for transportation improvements in the Las Vegas Valley through 2040. The sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., both at the Nevada State Museum meeting room, 208 S. Valley View.
The plan is in the early stages of an 18-month development process, with RTC officials hoping to complete it in late summer or fall 2018.
Light rail in Las Vegas
Raymond Hess, RTC director of planning, said planners were hoping to get insights from the residents about how to enhance the current bus system and possibly develop other mass transit systems such as light rail, bus rapid transit or modern streetcars. The RTC also is interested in the community’s thoughts on development of emerging technology such as driverless cars.
Transportation officials say growth of Las Vegas’ population and tourism industry is driving the need for improvements. The RTC is basing the study on projections that the number of residents is projected to grow to 2.7 million in 2025 compared to 2.1 million today, while tourism will grow to 53 million in 2025 compared to 43 million today.
During the 2017 session of the Nevada Legislature, lawmakers approved two pieces of enabling legislation for the RTC to begin development enhancement projects in earnest. One bill allowed for private-public partnerships, while the other created the structure of a state infrastructure bank that would be used to finance transportation projects.
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