Citizens Area Transit
Encyclopedia
RTC Transit is the name of the bus
system in the Las Vegas metropolitan area
of Clark County
, Nevada
. RTC Transit is owned by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
, and it services most of Clark County with regularly scheduled routes, however outlying areas such as Mesquite
and Laughlin
provide transit services to their residents by way of the Southern Nevada Transit Coalition, which uses several vehicles acquired from RTC Transit.
System, Inc. ("LVT") provided bus service on the streets of Las Vegas for more than 40 years. LVT service mainly consisted of loop routes that made many turns throughout the city, sometimes doubling back on its own routes and making several "subloops" within a loop. At one point, LVT was named America's worst transit system. Under pressure by the county and state, and by order of the state court, the company was ordered to cease operations and relinquish all its equipment, land, and property to the Regional Transportation Commission of Clark County.
Citizens Area Transit was formed by the RTC to provide reliable bus service to the cities of Las Vegas
, North Las Vegas
, Henderson
, Mesquite
, and Laughlin
. The system began on December 5, 1992 under the direction of Kurt Weinrich, its general manager. The fleet consisted of mostly old vehicles such as Flxible Grummans
, GMC RTSs
, TMC RTSs
and Gillig Phantoms
. They had also purchased 90 new New Flyer D40HFs
. Soon after starting operations, CAT began to catch on with the city and blossomed. In 1997, the American Public Transportation Association
awarded CAT with their highest honor, Best Transit System in America (within its category). However, things began to change in the following years. In 2002, The Amalgamated Transit Union
and the bus contractor, ATC, began contract renewal negotiations, but the two sides were unable to reach a compromise on operators' wages and in May of that year, CAT suffered its first strike
. Several drivers walked off the job and onto the picket lines, and service had to be suspended on several routes. Coach operators from sister agencies were called in to drive the buses and serve the city before a settlement was reached.
In 2004, CAT received its first shipment of 10 BRT
vehicles from Irisbus
. These buses were placed on the new MAX Line
that serves North Las Vegas Boulevard
. A year later, CAT received its first shipment of 50 double decker buses from Alexander Dennis
. As new vehicles arrived, the RTC started a vehicle replacement program and began to retire its older CAT fleet. In March 2007, CAT received its first shipment of 30 Diesel-Electric Hybrid vehicles from New Flyer
. Later that year, an additional 40 double deck vehicles from Alexander Dennis arrived, and the RTC unveiled a new rapid transit system which uses the new Diesel-Hybrid RTV Streetcar from Wright Group
. The first line was called the "Gold Line", which serviced the downtown and strip corridors.
In late 2007, the RTC began to rebrand the Citizens Area Transit system as RTC Transit. The New Flyer
900 series coaches were the last to be purchased with the CAT logo, and the first to be purchased with the RTC logo. The CAT bus stop signs around the city were replaced by "Transit Stop" signs using the RTC logo. All rider alerts, bus announcements, bus books, and new NABI
Hybrid, NABI
Diesel and New Flyer
CNG
buses no longer use the CAT logo.
The RTC received 50 NABI
vehicles and the final shipment of 40 42 ft "Deuce" double-deck buses in the summer of 2008. The RTC also began to receive 45 New Flyer
CNG
vehicles in the late fall of 2008. The rebranding was completed on January 1, 2009 when RTC vehicles started featuring "RTC TRANSIT" along with the normal route destination headers. All remaining CAT buses are in the process of retirement or being refurbished to the new RTC gold/blue livery.
In 2007, nine RTC executives received pay raises which averaged 22%. The raises were based on the findings of a consultant, Peter Ronza, who was once employed by Clark County.
The RTC faced serious legal issues in 2008 after several car accidents involving bus shelters occurred. The public demanded that the RTC improve the safety of its shelters, while the RTC stated that there was only so much they could do. The RTC created a Bus Shelter Advisory Committee, and made studies concerning bus stop safety.
In 2009, the RTC raised bus fares despite public outcry. In 2009 and 2010, proposed bus fares increased from 62% for monthly passes to 100% for full day fare passes. The RTC argued that the fare hikes were due to higher fuel costs, however the largest increase in transit expenditures came from a tripling in capital outlays, rising from $54.5 million in 2007 to $162.9 million in 2009. The price for thirty-day bus passes increased 225% from 1999 to 2010. Ridership was at an all-time high in 2008 due to the very high gas prices, with many people deciding to try transit instead. Ridership numbers declined in 2009 when fuel prices dropped back to reasonable levels, and riders either returned to their own vehicles or began carpooling with co-workers and family.
In January 2010, RTC introduced the ACE branding for its bus rapid transit offerings. The first ACE route was the ACE Gold Line, connecting downtown Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Convention Center
, the Strip, and the South Strip Transfer Terminal. In addition, ACEXpress was introduced as branding for its express bus service, with an express bus line connecting the Centennial Hills neighborhood northwest of the city with downtown Las Vegas, the Center Strip, and UNLV. In May 2010, RTC rebranded its lines away from the "ACE" name due to a lawsuit from Ace Cab, a local Las Vegas taxi operator.
, NABI
and Alexander Dennis
coaches for fixed routes, and mainly Ford Econoline vans
for paratransit. RTC also operates Irisbus
Civis diesel-electric vehicles on one route traversing North Las Vegas Boulevard, connecting Nellis Air Force Base
to the Downtown Transportation Center (DTC). This service is known as MAX
. The Civis vehicles operate in a dedicated lane and are self steering
, with the driver controlling acceleration and braking. This is the first use of this type of vehicle in the United States
.
On October 27, 2005, CAT added a fleet of double decker buses on The Strip
Route. The route is now called The Deuce
. On April 26, 2007, Coach 902 was the first 900 series coach to be placed into regular fixed-route service when it serviced Route 208 (Washington Ave.) that afternoon. In February 2008, The RTC received 50 brand new buses from NABI
, of which 30 use hybrid technology and 20 use regular diesel power.
transit operation in the United States. As of 2011, the contract is worth approximately $600 million over seven years. The fixed route system has been operated by Veolia Transport
and its predecessor, ATC-Vancom, since inception. Bus operators, mechanics, and most other contractor employees are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union
Local 1637. Paratransit and dial-a-ride services are operated by First Transit
.
The fixed route contract is scheduled to expire September 25, 2011, and was proposed to be awarded to First Transit
, the apparent low bidder and highest scorer on the comprehensive review, however, Veolia has complained to the RTC board of bidding irregularities in the First Transit bid as well as an unfair emphasis on price in comparison to other technical factors. The RTC board approved the First Transit bid on a 4-3 vote, but after the Nevada Attorney General
reprimanded the RTC for approving the contract without a majority of the eight members on the RTC board (as opposed to merely those present), the RTC board has deadlocked on the contract, and has given Veolia a six month extension while the board finds a means to obtain a majority to make a decision. First Transit has subsequently sued the RTC to force them to make a decision.
The first livery used was a white base with a teal and magenta mix, black lining around the windows, and the CAT logo in the midsection body, front, and rear. This livery was used from 1992 to 2001.
In 2001, the second livery came in three variants, with the second one being the primary livery. The RTC decided to abandon their teal and magenta, and adopted blue stripes with a cat running on a white base, white around the windows, and moved the CAT logo to just above the first window on either side, under the windshield, and on the engine door (with the exception of the Neoplans
which had the logo placed above the rear header). Prior to the arrival of the 2001 New Flyer CNGs
and Neoplans
, the RTC began repainting the fleet with the blue stripe livery. Once they arrived, the RTC approved a variant to the livery and instead of having just blue stripes, it became blue and gold alternating stripes with the logos in the same positions. The RTC then started repainting coaches with this new variant, leaving the already painted coaches with the 1st variant. This livery was used from 2001 to 2005 on the fixed-route fleet. It is the current livery for the RTC paratransit fleet, using the 2nd variant. Since 2008, a 3rd variant has been used by removing the running cat, having the stripes extend around the vehicle, and replacing the CAT logo with the RTC logo.
In 2004, 10 Irisbus
Civis coaches arrived for service on the new BRT
line, complete with a new MAX Line
livery. It consisted of a blue base, with a white line that stretched the length of the coach, and with gold stars on the rear quarterpanels of each side. This is the current BRT
system livery.
In 2005, the RTC again changed the livery and revived the first livery design using the new color scheme and extended the shapes to the bottom of the vehicle. This livery was only used on the 800 series coaches and on coach 654, and it was only used in 2005. A variant of this livery has the CAT logos replaced with RTC fleet logos on the sides of the coach.
Later in 2005, the RTC received its shipment of 50 double deck vehicles, with yet another new livery. This one consisted of an all gold base, with a blue trim around the bottom, and the transit logo between both decks, under the windshield, and under the engine door. Originally to only be used as the livery for the double deckers, the RTC decided it was time to change the livery again, and adopted the livery in 2006. For non-double deck vehicles, the CAT logo remained above the windows, but the RTC logo was added to the position where the CAT logo was in 1992. To date, only 2 vehicles that were already part of the fleet have been repainted in this livery variant (buses 571 and 725). The New Flyer 900 series vehicles were the last vehicles with this livery. In 2008, the RTC made a variant of the livery which had the CAT logo removed and replaced by a special RTC logo only used on these buses. Coach 702 has been repainted with this livery variant. In 2009, RTC commissioned another variant of the livery by replacing the special RTC logo with an "RTC Transit" logo on the sides and front of the coach. "Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada" was placed near the bottom of the coach. New "No Right Turn On Red" and "This Bus Stops At All Railroad Crossings" stickers were placed on the rear. The numbers were moved to the right of the front and rear of each coach, and "www.rtcsnv.com" is placed on the rear either on the destination sign just under the screen or on one of the engine doors.
In 2010, a new livery was commissioned for the BRT
system which consists of a gold base with a blue stripe and a white stripe.
Fares effective as of September 18, 2011:
NOTES
A The Strip & Downtown Express (SDX) & The Deuce on The Strip are known as "Premium Service Routes" & premium fares only apply to these routes. All other routes are known as "General Market Routes" & utilize the general market prices.
B All Paratransit card holders and children under 6 ride for no charge on all routes.
C To be able to purchase reduced rides and passes, the RTC requires passengers to show an RTC Reduced ID card, any reduced fare ID card from any US transit agency, a Medicare card, or a current Clark County School District issued school ID. The RTC does not have a program for college students or low-income workers.
D Locals can use a local ID to ride the Strip & Downtown Express (SDX) & The Deuce on The Strip using any general market pass. Reduced fare prices eliminated for premium routes on September 11, 2011.
Notes:
1 Originally Southwest Coaches 148 (later 101); acquired by LVTS in 1991.
2 Originally Southwest Coaches 102-103; acquired by LVTS in 1991.
3 Originally SCCTD
1715, 1768, 1646, 1809, 1695, 1679, 1800, 1804; acquired in 1992.
4 Units 301, 305, 309, 310, 311, 312 were given to the Southern Nevada Transit Coalition to operate under the "Silver Rider" transit system, which is based in Laughlin and Mesquite, Nevada. Silver Rider has retired and removed these coaches from their property as of April 2009.
5 Unit 302 was sold to a private citizen and now sits in a small car shop in west Las Vegas awaiting sale to a new owner.
6 Although these coaches were fairly new, they were retired due to their small capacity. At least one has been sold to Tijuana, Mexico.
7 These coaches were rejected by RTC and acquired by LACMTA. LACMTA commissioned these coaches as units 3000-3019.
8 Units 501, 502, and 503 were sold to ABC bus company in Florida. 501 is the last one awaiting sale from there for $85,000.
9 Unit 612 remains on property as an official training coach.
10 Units 520 & 521 were retired before 522-525.
Following the accident, the coach was retained at the RTC Tompkins yard, covered by a giant tarp
to preserve it for inspection during the ongoing investigation and litigation. Upon closure of the RTC Tompkins facility, the bus was taken from the facility and moved to an off-site storage location. In 2011, with the investigation over, the bus was moved to the RTC Simmons facility where the bus was finally dismantled for any usable parts & eventually scrapped.
Initial investigation revealed concerns about problems with the tire were reported a few times by drivers prior to the accident. Maintenance records show that each time a problem was reported it was inspected and evaluated by the mechanics. Additionally, the companies involved in the removal of the barrier were also investigated for contributing to the accident.
On the night of January 3, 2008, a CAT bus collided through two brick walls before finally hitting a house. Around 9:30 pm, CAT bus 915 on route 207 was heading south on Christy Lane and turning left onto Mabel Road, when a Ford Mustang
car collided with it. This sent the bus out of control and into the brick walls and the house. There were three minor injuries on the bus, and unconfirmed injuries in the Mustang. The bus was not taken off the property until the next morning, because officials were concerned that the bus might have made the house structurally unsafe. Support columns were placed in the house and the bus was removed.
, respectively. Approximately 40% of Clark County residents do not live within close proximity of a bus stop.
RTC Transit also operates special routes for occasions such as sporting events at Sam Boyd Stadium
, Art In The Park events in Boulder City, and air shows
at Nellis Air Force Base
.
networks in the United States, owing to the 24 hour nature of the casinos and hospitality industry.
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
system in the Las Vegas metropolitan area
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
of Clark County
Clark County, Nevada
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. RTC Transit is owned by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is both the transit authority and the transportation-planning agency for Southern Nevada...
, and it services most of Clark County with regularly scheduled routes, however outlying areas such as Mesquite
Mesquite, Nevada
Mesquite is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the Arizona state line and northeast of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,277. The city is located in the Virgin River Valley...
and Laughlin
Laughlin, Nevada
Laughlin is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States, and a port located on the Colorado River. Laughlin is south of Las Vegas, located in the far southern tip of Nevada. It is best known for its gaming, entertainment, and water recreation. As of the 2010 census, the...
provide transit services to their residents by way of the Southern Nevada Transit Coalition, which uses several vehicles acquired from RTC Transit.
Las Vegas Transit
The privately owned Las Vegas TransitLas Vegas Transit
Las Vegas Transit, also known as Las Vegas Transit System , was a former operator of a small private bus system in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.-Overview:...
System, Inc. ("LVT") provided bus service on the streets of Las Vegas for more than 40 years. LVT service mainly consisted of loop routes that made many turns throughout the city, sometimes doubling back on its own routes and making several "subloops" within a loop. At one point, LVT was named America's worst transit system. Under pressure by the county and state, and by order of the state court, the company was ordered to cease operations and relinquish all its equipment, land, and property to the Regional Transportation Commission of Clark County.
Citizens Area Transit era (1992-2008)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, North Las Vegas
North Las Vegas, Nevada
North Las Vegas is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, located in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The city was incorporated on May 16, 1946.-Geography:...
, Henderson
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
, Mesquite
Mesquite, Nevada
Mesquite is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the Arizona state line and northeast of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,277. The city is located in the Virgin River Valley...
, and Laughlin
Laughlin, Nevada
Laughlin is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States, and a port located on the Colorado River. Laughlin is south of Las Vegas, located in the far southern tip of Nevada. It is best known for its gaming, entertainment, and water recreation. As of the 2010 census, the...
. The system began on December 5, 1992 under the direction of Kurt Weinrich, its general manager. The fleet consisted of mostly old vehicles such as Flxible Grummans
Flxible
The Flxible Co. was a motorcycle sidecar, funeral car, ambulance, intercity coach and transit bus manufacturing company based in the United States that was founded in 1913, and which closed in 1996.-History:In 1913, Hugo H. Young and Carl F...
, GMC RTSs
Rapid Transit Series
The Rapid Transit Series bus is a long-running series of transit buses originally manufactured by General Motors and is currently produced by Millennium Transit Services as the RTS Legend. Millennium had produced the buses from 2006 until it shut down production in 2009, only to be bought back...
, TMC RTSs
Rapid Transit Series
The Rapid Transit Series bus is a long-running series of transit buses originally manufactured by General Motors and is currently produced by Millennium Transit Services as the RTS Legend. Millennium had produced the buses from 2006 until it shut down production in 2009, only to be bought back...
and Gillig Phantoms
Gillig
Gillig Corporation, formerly Gillig Bros., is a manufacturer of heavy-duty low-floor transit buses located in Hayward, California. Prior to 1993, Gillig had also been a manufacturer of school buses.-History:...
. They had also purchased 90 new New Flyer D40HFs
New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
. Soon after starting operations, CAT began to catch on with the city and blossomed. In 1997, the American Public Transportation Association
American Public Transportation Association
The American Public Transportation Association is a non-profit organization which serves as an advocate for the advancement of public transportation programs and initiatives in the United States. Since its founding in 1882, APTA has educated the public about the benefits of public transportation...
awarded CAT with their highest honor, Best Transit System in America (within its category). However, things began to change in the following years. In 2002, The Amalgamated Transit Union
Amalgamated Transit Union
The Amalgamated Transit Union is a labor union in the United States and The Amalgamated Transit Union Canadian Council in Canada, representing workers in the transit system and other industries...
and the bus contractor, ATC, began contract renewal negotiations, but the two sides were unable to reach a compromise on operators' wages and in May of that year, CAT suffered its first strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
. Several drivers walked off the job and onto the picket lines, and service had to be suspended on several routes. Coach operators from sister agencies were called in to drive the buses and serve the city before a settlement was reached.
In 2004, CAT received its first shipment of 10 BRT
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
vehicles from Irisbus
Irisbus
Irisbus is a bus manufacturer which was formed through the merger of the bus and coach divisions of Fiat Industrial, Iveco and Renault in January 1999 and Ikarus Bus in late 1999...
. These buses were placed on the new MAX Line
Metropolitan Area Express BRT Line
The Metropolitan Area Express, or MAX, is a bus rapid transit line owned by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and operated by Veolia Transportation. MAX began operations on June 30, 2004...
that serves North Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas Boulevard
State Route 604 is the route number designation for parts of Las Vegas Boulevard, a major north–south road in the Las Vegas metropolitan area of Nevada in the United States best known for the Las Vegas Strip and its casinos. Formerly carrying U.S...
. A year later, CAT received its first shipment of 50 double decker buses from Alexander Dennis
Alexander Dennis
Alexander Dennis Limited is the largest bus builder in the United Kingdom. It incorporated the three last surviving bus manufacturers which started bus production before World War II: Dennis, Alexander and Plaxton.- History :Alexander Dennis was formed as TransBus on 1 January 2001, after the...
. As new vehicles arrived, the RTC started a vehicle replacement program and began to retire its older CAT fleet. In March 2007, CAT received its first shipment of 30 Diesel-Electric Hybrid vehicles from New Flyer
New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
. Later that year, an additional 40 double deck vehicles from Alexander Dennis arrived, and the RTC unveiled a new rapid transit system which uses the new Diesel-Hybrid RTV Streetcar from Wright Group
Wrightbus
Wrightbus is an independent coachbuilder and pioneer of the low-floor bus. Based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, it was established in 1946 by Robert Wright and currently run by his son William Wright.-History:...
. The first line was called the "Gold Line", which serviced the downtown and strip corridors.
RTC Transit era (2009-)
New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
900 series coaches were the last to be purchased with the CAT logo, and the first to be purchased with the RTC logo. The CAT bus stop signs around the city were replaced by "Transit Stop" signs using the RTC logo. All rider alerts, bus announcements, bus books, and new NABI
North American Bus Industries
North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to...
Hybrid, NABI
North American Bus Industries
North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to...
Diesel and New Flyer
New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
CNG
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
buses no longer use the CAT logo.
The RTC received 50 NABI
North American Bus Industries
North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to...
vehicles and the final shipment of 40 42 ft "Deuce" double-deck buses in the summer of 2008. The RTC also began to receive 45 New Flyer
New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
CNG
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
vehicles in the late fall of 2008. The rebranding was completed on January 1, 2009 when RTC vehicles started featuring "RTC TRANSIT" along with the normal route destination headers. All remaining CAT buses are in the process of retirement or being refurbished to the new RTC gold/blue livery.
In 2007, nine RTC executives received pay raises which averaged 22%. The raises were based on the findings of a consultant, Peter Ronza, who was once employed by Clark County.
The RTC faced serious legal issues in 2008 after several car accidents involving bus shelters occurred. The public demanded that the RTC improve the safety of its shelters, while the RTC stated that there was only so much they could do. The RTC created a Bus Shelter Advisory Committee, and made studies concerning bus stop safety.
In 2009, the RTC raised bus fares despite public outcry. In 2009 and 2010, proposed bus fares increased from 62% for monthly passes to 100% for full day fare passes. The RTC argued that the fare hikes were due to higher fuel costs, however the largest increase in transit expenditures came from a tripling in capital outlays, rising from $54.5 million in 2007 to $162.9 million in 2009. The price for thirty-day bus passes increased 225% from 1999 to 2010. Ridership was at an all-time high in 2008 due to the very high gas prices, with many people deciding to try transit instead. Ridership numbers declined in 2009 when fuel prices dropped back to reasonable levels, and riders either returned to their own vehicles or began carpooling with co-workers and family.
In January 2010, RTC introduced the ACE branding for its bus rapid transit offerings. The first ACE route was the ACE Gold Line, connecting downtown Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas Convention Center
The Las Vegas Convention Center is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in Las Vegas, Nevada....
, the Strip, and the South Strip Transfer Terminal. In addition, ACEXpress was introduced as branding for its express bus service, with an express bus line connecting the Centennial Hills neighborhood northwest of the city with downtown Las Vegas, the Center Strip, and UNLV. In May 2010, RTC rebranded its lines away from the "ACE" name due to a lawsuit from Ace Cab, a local Las Vegas taxi operator.
Equipment
RTC currently operates mainly New FlyerNew Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
, NABI
North American Bus Industries
North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to...
and Alexander Dennis
Alexander Dennis
Alexander Dennis Limited is the largest bus builder in the United Kingdom. It incorporated the three last surviving bus manufacturers which started bus production before World War II: Dennis, Alexander and Plaxton.- History :Alexander Dennis was formed as TransBus on 1 January 2001, after the...
coaches for fixed routes, and mainly Ford Econoline vans
Ford E-Series
The Ford E-Series, formerly known as the Econoline or Club Wagon, is a line of full-size vans and truck chassis from the Ford Motor Company. The E-Series is related to the Ford F-Series line of pickup trucks. The line was introduced in 1961 as a compact van and its descendants are still produced...
for paratransit. RTC also operates Irisbus
Irisbus
Irisbus is a bus manufacturer which was formed through the merger of the bus and coach divisions of Fiat Industrial, Iveco and Renault in January 1999 and Ikarus Bus in late 1999...
Civis diesel-electric vehicles on one route traversing North Las Vegas Boulevard, connecting Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Combat Command .-Overview:...
to the Downtown Transportation Center (DTC). This service is known as MAX
Metropolitan Area Express BRT Line
The Metropolitan Area Express, or MAX, is a bus rapid transit line owned by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and operated by Veolia Transportation. MAX began operations on June 30, 2004...
. The Civis vehicles operate in a dedicated lane and are self steering
Guided bus
Guided buses are buses steered for part or all of their route by external means, usually on a dedicated track. This track, which often parallels existing roads, excludes other traffic, permitting the maintenance of reliable schedules on heavily used corridors even during rush hours.Guidance systems...
, with the driver controlling acceleration and braking. This is the first use of this type of vehicle in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
On October 27, 2005, CAT added a fleet of double decker buses on The Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
Route. The route is now called The Deuce
The Deuce
The Deuce is the name of the double-decker bus line serving Las Vegas operated by RTC Transit. These buses went into service on October 27, 2005...
. On April 26, 2007, Coach 902 was the first 900 series coach to be placed into regular fixed-route service when it serviced Route 208 (Washington Ave.) that afternoon. In February 2008, The RTC received 50 brand new buses from NABI
North American Bus Industries
North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to...
, of which 30 use hybrid technology and 20 use regular diesel power.
Operations
RTC Transit is the largest outsourcedOutsourcing
Outsourcing is the process of contracting a business function to someone else.-Overview:The term outsourcing is used inconsistently but usually involves the contracting out of a business function - commonly one previously performed in-house - to an external provider...
transit operation in the United States. As of 2011, the contract is worth approximately $600 million over seven years. The fixed route system has been operated by Veolia Transport
Veolia Transport
Veolia Transport is the international transport services division of the French-based multinational company Veolia Environnement...
and its predecessor, ATC-Vancom, since inception. Bus operators, mechanics, and most other contractor employees are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union
Amalgamated Transit Union
The Amalgamated Transit Union is a labor union in the United States and The Amalgamated Transit Union Canadian Council in Canada, representing workers in the transit system and other industries...
Local 1637. Paratransit and dial-a-ride services are operated by First Transit
First Transit
First Transit, a division of FirstGroup America, is a United States-based subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based FirstGroup. It provides contract public transit and paratransit services, transit management services and transit consulting throughout North America...
.
The fixed route contract is scheduled to expire September 25, 2011, and was proposed to be awarded to First Transit
First Transit
First Transit, a division of FirstGroup America, is a United States-based subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based FirstGroup. It provides contract public transit and paratransit services, transit management services and transit consulting throughout North America...
, the apparent low bidder and highest scorer on the comprehensive review, however, Veolia has complained to the RTC board of bidding irregularities in the First Transit bid as well as an unfair emphasis on price in comparison to other technical factors. The RTC board approved the First Transit bid on a 4-3 vote, but after the Nevada Attorney General
Nevada Attorney General
The Nevada Attorney General is the top legal officer for the state of Nevada. The functions of the office are set forth in Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 228. The Attorney General represents the people of Nevada in civil and criminal matters before trial, appellate and the supreme courts of...
reprimanded the RTC for approving the contract without a majority of the eight members on the RTC board (as opposed to merely those present), the RTC board has deadlocked on the contract, and has given Veolia a six month extension while the board finds a means to obtain a majority to make a decision. First Transit has subsequently sued the RTC to force them to make a decision.
Color schemes
Neoplan USA
Neoplan USA was a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Denver, Colorado, which was entirely separate from the German corporation, Neoplan, licensing its designs from the German company of the same name. The company was founded in 1981 and folded in 2006. It was originally a subsidiary...
which had the logo placed above the rear header). Prior to the arrival of the 2001 New Flyer CNGs
New Flyer Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
and Neoplans
Neoplan USA
Neoplan USA was a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Denver, Colorado, which was entirely separate from the German corporation, Neoplan, licensing its designs from the German company of the same name. The company was founded in 1981 and folded in 2006. It was originally a subsidiary...
, the RTC began repainting the fleet with the blue stripe livery. Once they arrived, the RTC approved a variant to the livery and instead of having just blue stripes, it became blue and gold alternating stripes with the logos in the same positions. The RTC then started repainting coaches with this new variant, leaving the already painted coaches with the 1st variant. This livery was used from 2001 to 2005 on the fixed-route fleet. It is the current livery for the RTC paratransit fleet, using the 2nd variant. Since 2008, a 3rd variant has been used by removing the running cat, having the stripes extend around the vehicle, and replacing the CAT logo with the RTC logo.
Irisbus
Irisbus is a bus manufacturer which was formed through the merger of the bus and coach divisions of Fiat Industrial, Iveco and Renault in January 1999 and Ikarus Bus in late 1999...
Civis coaches arrived for service on the new BRT
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
line, complete with a new MAX Line
Metropolitan Area Express BRT Line
The Metropolitan Area Express, or MAX, is a bus rapid transit line owned by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and operated by Veolia Transportation. MAX began operations on June 30, 2004...
livery. It consisted of a blue base, with a white line that stretched the length of the coach, and with gold stars on the rear quarterpanels of each side. This is the current BRT
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
system livery.
In 2010, a new livery was commissioned for the BRT
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
system which consists of a gold base with a blue stripe and a white stripe.
Fares
The RTC raised its fares in 2009, blaming higher fuel costs experienced in 2008 and the bad economy of 2009. With ridership falling some in 2009, together with the loss in revenue from both the fare box recovery and the state sales tax, the RTC raised fares for a second time. In 2010, the RTC approved another rate hike for the premium service routes only which became effective on August 2, 2010. In 2011, the RTC eliminated purchasing reduced fare passes on The Deuce on The Strip & Strip & Downtown Express (SDX) due to fares being already discounted for locals which became effective on September 11, 2011. Residental 3 day passes were eliminated on September 18, 2011 due to low volume of sales.Fares effective as of September 18, 2011:
General Market Routes
| Fare Type | Regular | Reduced C |
| One-Way Fare/One-Trip Ride Card: | $2.00 | $1.00 |
| 2 Hour All Access Pass: | $3.00 | $1.50 |
| 24 Hour General Market Pass: | $5.00 | $2.00 |
| 5 Day All Access Pass: | $20.00 | $10.00 |
| 30-Day All Access Pass and EZ-Rider 30 Day: | $65.00 | $30.00 |
| Silver Star One-Way Fare: | $.50 | $.50 |
| Transit Guide: | $1.00 | $1.00 |
| Paratransit Card Holder: B | FREE | FREE |
Premium Service Routes
| Fare Type | Regular D |
| 2 Hour All Access Pass: | $5.00 |
| 24 Hour All Access Pass: | $7.00 |
| 3 Day All Access Pass: | $20.00 |
NOTES
A The Strip & Downtown Express (SDX) & The Deuce on The Strip are known as "Premium Service Routes" & premium fares only apply to these routes. All other routes are known as "General Market Routes" & utilize the general market prices.
B All Paratransit card holders and children under 6 ride for no charge on all routes.
C To be able to purchase reduced rides and passes, the RTC requires passengers to show an RTC Reduced ID card, any reduced fare ID card from any US transit agency, a Medicare card, or a current Clark County School District issued school ID. The RTC does not have a program for college students or low-income workers.
D Locals can use a local ID to ride the Strip & Downtown Express (SDX) & The Deuce on The Strip using any general market pass. Reduced fare prices eliminated for premium routes on September 11, 2011.
Current routes
- 100s: Local north-south service within the Las Vegas Valley.
- 200s: Local east-west service within the Las Vegas Valley.
- 300s: "The Deuce" strip service routes.
- 400s: Connector and circulator routes.
- 500s: Bus Rapid TransitBus rapid transitBus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
(BRT) routes. - 600s: Special Shuttle routes.
- 700s: Silver Star routes.
- 900s: Commuter Express routes.
- FDRs: Flexible Demand Response routes.
Future routes
- Sahara Express: Bus Rapid TransitBus rapid transitBus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
(BRT) route to serve the Sahara Avenue corridor. This route will be fast tracked by funding through a competitive FTA TIGER grant funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
Construction broke ground January 2011, service expected to begin in early 2012
Active
| Number | Year | Model | Image | Length | Quantity | Engine type | Farebox | Headsign | Garage | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M01-M10 | 2003 | Irisbus Irisbus Irisbus is a bus manufacturer which was formed through the merger of the bus and coach divisions of Fiat Industrial, Iveco and Renault in January 1999 and Ikarus Bus in late 1999... Civis |
|
60 ft | 10 | Diesel-electric | None (Off-Board Payment) |
Luminator Horizon | Simmons |  |
These are the only Irisbus Civis coaches in the United States. |
| 011-061 | 2008-9 | Wright StreetCar RTV Wright StreetCar The Wright StreetCar is an articulated bus developed by Wrightbus and Volvo Buses for FirstGroup. It consists of an adapted Volvo B7LA chassis, featuring a separate driver compartment at the front, resembling to some extent similar designs in continental Europe.They feature air-conditioning and a... |
 |
62 ft | 51 | Diesel-Hybrid | None (Off-Board Payment) |
Luminator Horizon | Sunset | |
These are the only Streetcar coaches in the United States. Average price per vehicle is $1,300,000. Coaches were originally numbered A011-A061. |
| 101-141 | 2007 | Alexander Dennis Enviro500 |  |
40 ft | 41 | Diesel Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber... |
GFI Genfare Odyssey | Luminator Horizon | Sunset | |
|
| 151-190 | 2007-8 | Alexander Dennis Enviro500 |  |
42 ft | 40 | Diesel | GFI Genfare Odyssey | Luminator Horizon | Simmons, Sunset | |
|
| 200-249 | 2005 | Alexander Dennis Enviro500 | |
40 ft | 50(49 remains) | Diesel | GFI Genfare Odyssey | Luminator Horizon | Simmons, Sunset | |
These are the first double-deckers to be used for fixed route service in Las Vegas. |
| 300-344 | 2008 | New Flyer C40LFR |  |
40 ft | 45 | CNG Compressed natural gas Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill... |
GFI Genfare Odyssey | Luminator Horizon | Simmons, Sunset | |
|
| 504-509 | 2001 | Neoplan Neoplan NEOPLAN Bus GmbH is a German automotive company that manufactures buses, trolleybuses and coaches. NEOPLAN is now a subsidiary of NEOMAN Bus GmbH, which itself is a part of MAN SE.-Foundations:... AN460LF |
 |
60 ft | 6 | Diesel | GFI Genfare CENTSaBILL |
Luminator MAX 3000 | Sunset | |
|
| 530-564 | 1997 | NABI North American Bus Industries North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to... 436 |
 |
60 ft | 35(25 remain) | Diesel | GFI Genfare CENTSaBILL |
Luminator Horizon | Sunset | |
Some retired, others refurbished. |
| 565-575 | 1998 | NABI North American Bus Industries North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to... 436 |
 |
60 ft | 11(10 remain) | Diesel | GFI Genfare CENTSaBILL |
Luminator Horizon | Sunset | |
Some retired, others refurbished. |
| 670-676 | 2001 | New Flyer C40LF |  |
40 ft | 7 | CNG Compressed natural gas Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill... |
GFI Genfare CENTSaBILL |
Luminator Horizon | Simmons | |
Coaches were originally numbered 660-666. |
| 701-760 | 1999 | NABI North American Bus Industries North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to... 40-LFW |
 |
40 ft | 60(33 remain) | Diesel | GFI Genfare CENTSaBILL |
Luminator MAX 3000, Luminator Horizon | Sunset | |
Coaches 712, 729, 748, 754 and 756 were given to the Southern Nevada Transit Coalition ("SNTC") to operate under "Silver Rider", which is based in Laughlin, Nevada. Some of the Las Vegas coaches were retired and some repainted. |
| 800-829 | 2004 | New Flyer D60LF | |
60 ft | 30 | Diesel | GFI Genfare Odyssey |
Luminator Horizon | Simmons, Sunset | |
Coaches have been refitted with a grill on the engine door to allow cool air to enter, thus avoiding engine fires. |
| 900-929 | 2007 | New Flyer DE41LFR |  |
41 ft | 30 | Diesel-electric Hybrid | GFI Genfare Odyssey |
Luminator Horizon | Simmons | |
|
| 949-978 | 2008 | NABI 40-LFW Hybrid North American Bus Industries North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to... |
 |
40 ft | 30 | Diesel-electric Hybrid | GFI Genfare Odyssey |
Luminator Horizon | Simmons | |
Units 973-975 are with SNTC to operate RTC route 402. Units 976-978 are with SNTC to operate under "Silver Rider", which is based in Laughlin. |
| 979-998 | 2008 | NABI 40-LFW North American Bus Industries North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to... |
 |
40 ft | 20 | Diesel | GFI Genfare Odyssey |
Luminator Horizon | Simmons | |
Training buses
| Model | Picture | Length | Year | Fleet Numbers | Quantity | Fuel Type | Assigned to Division(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Flyer D40LF | .jpg) |
40 ft | 1995 | T612 | 1 | Diesel Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber... |
Simmons | |
| NABI North American Bus Industries North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to... 40-LFW |
|
40 ft | 1999 | 703, 707, T711, T713, 714, 737, 739, 747, 750, 759 | 10 | Diesel | Simmons |
On order
- No vehicles presently on order
| Model | Picture | Length | Year | Fleet Numbers | Quantity | Fuel Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Retired
| Model | Picture | Length | Year | Fleet Numbers | Quantity | Fuel Type | Formerly Assigned to Division(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC RTS T8J204 Rapid Transit Series The Rapid Transit Series bus is a long-running series of transit buses originally manufactured by General Motors and is currently produced by Millennium Transit Services as the RTS Legend. Millennium had produced the buses from 2006 until it shut down production in 2009, only to be bought back... (Former LVTS 4521-4525) |
40' | 1981 | 101-105 | 5 | Diesel | Tompkins | ||
| GMC RTS T8J204 Rapid Transit Series The Rapid Transit Series bus is a long-running series of transit buses originally manufactured by General Motors and is currently produced by Millennium Transit Services as the RTS Legend. Millennium had produced the buses from 2006 until it shut down production in 2009, only to be bought back... (Former LVTS 4401) |
40' | 1983 | 150 | 1 | Diesel | 1 | ||
| GMC RTS T8J204 Rapid Transit Series The Rapid Transit Series bus is a long-running series of transit buses originally manufactured by General Motors and is currently produced by Millennium Transit Services as the RTS Legend. Millennium had produced the buses from 2006 until it shut down production in 2009, only to be bought back... (Former LVTS 4402-4403) |
40' | 1984 | 151-152 | 2 | Diesel | 2 | ||
| TMC RTS Rapid Transit Series The Rapid Transit Series bus is a long-running series of transit buses originally manufactured by General Motors and is currently produced by Millennium Transit Services as the RTS Legend. Millennium had produced the buses from 2006 until it shut down production in 2009, only to be bought back... (Former LVTS 4301-4302) |
 |
40' | 1992 | 153-154 | 2 | Diesel | Tompkins, Simmons | |
| Flxible Flxible The Flxible Co. was a motorcycle sidecar, funeral car, ambulance, intercity coach and transit bus manufacturing company based in the United States that was founded in 1913, and which closed in 1996.-History:In 1913, Hugo H. Young and Carl F... Grumman 870 |
40' | 1981 | 201-208 | 8 | Diesel | Tompkins | 3 | |
| Flxible Flxible The Flxible Co. was a motorcycle sidecar, funeral car, ambulance, intercity coach and transit bus manufacturing company based in the United States that was founded in 1913, and which closed in 1996.-History:In 1913, Hugo H. Young and Carl F... Grumman 870 (Former LVTS 4609-4612, 4601-4608) |
40' | 1982 | 250-261 | 12 | Diesel | Tompkins | ||
| Gillig Phantom Gillig Phantom The Gillig Phantom was a transit bus produced by the Gillig Corporation in Hayward, California. The Phantom was first introduced in late 1980 and, with the exception of a small number of buses built in a three-year-long joint venture with Neoplan from 1977 to 1979, was Gillig's first transit bus... (Former LVTS 4701-4713) |
|
40' | 1990 | 301-313 | 13 | Diesel | Simmons | 4, 5 |
| ElDorado Transmark ElDorado National ElDorado National is a bus manufacturer owned by Thor Industries. Heavy-duty buses are built in Riverside, California, and cutaway buses and mobility vans are built in Salina, Kansas.-Products:* Aerotech and similar lines of cutaway buses... |
 |
33' | 1997 | 351-370 | 20 | Diesel | Simmons | 6 |
| New Flyer D40LF | 40' | 1998 | 380-399 | 20 | Diesel | 7 | ||
| New Flyer D40HF |  |
40 ft | 1992 | 401-490 | 90 | Diesel | Tompkins, Simmons | |
| New Flyer D60HF (Former LVTS 6101-6104) |  |
60' | 1991 | 500-503 | 4 | Diesel | Tompkins, Simmons | 8 |
| New Flyer D60HF |  |
60 ft | 1995 | 510-517 | 8 | Diesel | Simmons | |
| New Flyer D60HF | |
60 ft | 1996 | 520-525 | 6 | Diesel | Simmons | 10 |
| New Flyer D40LF |  |
40 ft | 1994 | 601-604 | 4 | Diesel | Simmons | |
| New Flyer D40LF |  |
40 ft | 1995 | 610-631 | 22 | Diesel | Simmons | 9 |
| New Flyer D40LF |  |
40 ft | 1995 | 640-657 | 18 | Diesel | Simmons |
Notes:
1 Originally Southwest Coaches 148 (later 101); acquired by LVTS in 1991.
2 Originally Southwest Coaches 102-103; acquired by LVTS in 1991.
3 Originally SCCTD
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is a special-purpose district responsible for public transit services, congestion management, specific highway improvement projects, and countywide transportation planning for Santa Clara County, California, United States...
1715, 1768, 1646, 1809, 1695, 1679, 1800, 1804; acquired in 1992.
4 Units 301, 305, 309, 310, 311, 312 were given to the Southern Nevada Transit Coalition to operate under the "Silver Rider" transit system, which is based in Laughlin and Mesquite, Nevada. Silver Rider has retired and removed these coaches from their property as of April 2009.
5 Unit 302 was sold to a private citizen and now sits in a small car shop in west Las Vegas awaiting sale to a new owner.
6 Although these coaches were fairly new, they were retired due to their small capacity. At least one has been sold to Tijuana, Mexico.
7 These coaches were rejected by RTC and acquired by LACMTA. LACMTA commissioned these coaches as units 3000-3019.
8 Units 501, 502, and 503 were sold to ABC bus company in Florida. 501 is the last one awaiting sale from there for $85,000.
9 Unit 612 remains on property as an official training coach.
10 Units 520 & 521 were retired before 522-525.
Downtown Transportation Center
The Downtown Transportation Center (or "DTC") was the main transit center for the RTC systems in downtown Las Vegas. The DTC had 30 numbered bays, and 4 unnumbered bays that serviced 14 RTC routes, and a private Primm employee shuttle route. The DTC was opened in the late 1980s to serve as the main terminal for the Las Vegas City Trolley, and for the private Las Vegas Transit System, Inc. In 1992, it became the terminal for Citizens Area Transit, once Las Vegas Transit ceased operations. Originally, the DTC only had 23 bays, with two of them unnumbered. In 1999, the city expanded the terminal by building a northern plaza which required closing down Mesquite Ave. in the area. The DTC remained under ownership of the City of Las Vegas until July 31, 2009 when the city discontinued their CityRide transit system and transferred control of the terminal to the RTC. The RTC closed the aging terminal on November 7, 2010, with the grand opening of the Bonneville Transit Center.South Strip Transfer Terminal
The South Strip Transfer Terminal (or "SSTT"), owned by the RTC, is located just south of McCarran Airport on Sunset Rd. and Gilespie St. The SSTT was opened in 2003 after the Vacation Village Casino was closed, which was the southern terminus for many CAT routes. The SSTT has 18 transit bays, servicing 7 RTC routes. In 2008 the Park & Ride lot was expanded, doubling the amount of spaces available in response to the overwhelming use of the lot by commuters heading to the airport.Bonneville Transit Center
The Bonneville Transit Center is a transit terminal that was built to replace the aging Downtown Transportation Center as the main downtown terminal for local fixed route service. It opened on November 7, 2010 and is located on the corner of Bonneville Ave. and Casino Center Blvd. It has 16 internal bays, 4 external bays, and an air-conditioned lobby for transit riders. The MAX, Deuce On The Strip, Strip & Downtown Express (SDX), Centennial Express (CX), Westcliff Airport Express (WAX), Boulder Highway Express (BHX), and Henderson & Downtown Express (HDX) are featured here.Centennial Hills Transit Center Park & Ride
The Centennial Hills Transit Center is a transit terminal operated by the RTC to serve the northwest valley and its residents. It includes 900 parking spaces, park & ride, indoor waiting facility, next arrival information and restrooms. Construction began in July 2009, and it opened March 28, 2010 in conjunction with the launch of the ACExpress C-Line (renamed to C-Line Express in May 2010 & Centennial Express in November 2010). The facility is located at Grand Montecito Parkway and Elkhorn Road. Routes that currently serve the Centennial Hills Transit Center are: 106A, 106B, and the Centennial Express (CX).Westcliff Transit Center
The Westcliff Transit Center is a transit terminal built in the valley's west side community of Summerlin. This terminal is the park & ride for the residents of Summerlin and officially opened on December 12, 2010 in conjunction with the launch of the Westcliff Airport Express (WAX) connecting passengers to McCarran Airport & downtown Las Vegas from the valley's west side. Routes 207, 208 & 209 began using the Center on November 7, 2010.March 9, 2004 (continued to 2010)
On the afternoon of March 9, 2004 Lorraine Macdonald was cycling towards the Fashion Show Mall along side a CAT Bus. The bus driver failed to look in her rear view mirror and side-swiped Lorraine Macdonald twice, which did not kill her but left her wheelchair-bound with on-going injuries. March 2007, Miss Macdonald took the bus company to court and won the case, however the bus company appealed and the verdict was reversed in the Nevada Supreme Court and another trial ordered. In March 2010, Miss Macdonald went back to court and won the case again which the bus company has again appealed.July 19, 2006
On the night of July 19, 2006, an Alexander Dennis coach on the "Deuce" service was traveling north on Interstate 15. A tire failed and the bus went through an opening in the median barrier rail that had been removed for construction access. The coach continued through the median and over a barrier on the southbound side of the Interstate. The coach was spinning clockwise when it was hit by a tractor trailer, which caused the bus to spin the other way and collide again with the trailer before coming to a rest. Due to the size of the cleanup, and the need to investigate the accident, the road was not reopened until approximately 10:00 am the following morning. The driver of tractor trailer was killed in the accident. The passenger in the tractor trailer was unrestrained at the time of the accident, and was severely injured. The driver of the coach was severely injured, and partially disabled.Following the accident, the coach was retained at the RTC Tompkins yard, covered by a giant tarp
Tarpaulin
A tarpaulin, colloquially tarp, is a large sheet of strong, flexible, water-resistant or waterproof material, often cloth such as canvas or polyester coated with urethane, or made of plastics such as polyethylene. In some places such as Australia, and in military slang, a tarp may be known as a...
to preserve it for inspection during the ongoing investigation and litigation. Upon closure of the RTC Tompkins facility, the bus was taken from the facility and moved to an off-site storage location. In 2011, with the investigation over, the bus was moved to the RTC Simmons facility where the bus was finally dismantled for any usable parts & eventually scrapped.
Initial investigation revealed concerns about problems with the tire were reported a few times by drivers prior to the accident. Maintenance records show that each time a problem was reported it was inspected and evaluated by the mechanics. Additionally, the companies involved in the removal of the barrier were also investigated for contributing to the accident.
January 3, 2008
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
car collided with it. This sent the bus out of control and into the brick walls and the house. There were three minor injuries on the bus, and unconfirmed injuries in the Mustang. The bus was not taken off the property until the next morning, because officials were concerned that the bus might have made the house structurally unsafe. Support columns were placed in the house and the bus was removed.
March 17, 2008
On the night of March 17, 2008, CAT bus number 653 struck and killed a pedestrian at the intersection of Washington and Rancho.July 7, 2008
On the morning of July 7, 2008, A red truck hit the CAT bus stop on Boulder Highway and Flamingo Road, killing 1 woman and seriously injuring another woman. The driver was arrested and officers said he was under the influence of prescription painkillers.July 8, 2008
The day following a deadly crash at a CAT bus stop, another incident occurred with a naked man stealing a bus. At around 7:30 a.m., Charles Sell was near Washington Ave. and Lamb Blvd, when police reported that, while naked, he stole beer from a 7-11, and then proceeded to steal CAT paratransit vehicle 1792. He punched the door glass, boarded, and took control while the bus driver jumped off for safety. A few hundred yards away, he jumped off while the bus continued in motion. A Metro officer boarded and stopped the vehicle. Police arrested Sell and booked him into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of Grand Larceny Auto and Robbery.Service area
RTC Transit operates a grid-type system within the Las Vegas Valley, which includes the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Boulder City. The system's three busiest routes, The Deuce on The Strip, Strip & Downtown Express, and Route 109 Maryland Parkway, provide service to the Las Vegas Strip and McCarran International AirportMcCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
, respectively. Approximately 40% of Clark County residents do not live within close proximity of a bus stop.
RTC Transit also operates special routes for occasions such as sporting events at Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists...
, Art In The Park events in Boulder City, and air shows
Airshow
An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....
at Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Combat Command .-Overview:...
.
Routes, times, frequencies and stops
Most routes run from early morning (04:00) until late night (01:00). Some routes operate less frequently on weekends and holidays. 13 routes operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including The Deuce On The Strip & 109: Maryland Parkway, 202: Flamingo Rd and 115/201: Nellis Blvd & Tropicana Ave. overnight routes. Las Vegas has one of the most comprehensive night busNight bus
A night bus service or owl service is a public transport bus service which operates through the night time hours. Many cities operate such services, either in addition to or in substitution for ordinary daytime bus services or rapid transit rail services which may shut for maintenance or due to...
networks in the United States, owing to the 24 hour nature of the casinos and hospitality industry.
RTC Paratransit
Even though all buses in the system have wheelchair lifts, RTC operates RTC Paratransit for people who have difficulty in accessing the regular transit system. By-appointment-only paratransit is a door-to-door service. RTC also maintains an open charge account with a local taxicab company to service paratransit ridership when unforeseen delays occur, frequently caused by traffic congestion.Fares
Fares as of January 10, 2010:| Fare Type | Regular |
| One-Way Base Fare | $2.75 |
| Peak Period Base Fare | $3.00 |
| Strip Zone Fare | $6.00 |
| Supplemental Zone Fare | $4.00 (Plus Base Fare) |
| Monthly Pass: | $80.00 |
| Supplemental Zone Monthly Pass: | $150.00 |
| $15 Pre-Paid Punch Card: | $15.00 |
| $5 Pre-Paid Punch Card: | $5.00 |
| Shopping Cart: | $.50 |
| Personal Care Attendant | FREE |
Official sites
- Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, owns RTC Transit.
- Veolia Transportation, operates RTC Transit Fixed Route Operations.
- First Transit, operates RTC Transit Paratransit Operations.
- Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation (FAST). Department of RTC responsible for traffic camera system.
Bus fan sites
- The Vegas Bus Yard features pictures of Southern Nevada buses.