RTC SNV receives federal funding to advance sustainable mobility options

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC SNV) has announced that it will be receiving more than $7 million in federal funding to advance safety and sustainable mobility options through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Buses and Bus Facilities Program and the Consolidated Appropriates Act of 2022.

In total, FTA has awarded RTC SNV with $4.87 million through its Buses and Bus Facilities Program, which makes funding available to help transit agencies purchase and rehabilitate buses, vans and related equipment, as well as build bus facilities. The funding will be used to purchase hydrogen fuel cell buses and install solar lighting at bus stops, as well as expand RTC SNV’s bikeshare programme.

The purchase of three 60-foot hydrogen fuel-cell fixed-route buses at a cost of $3.84 million will allow RTC SNV to further implement its Zero Emissions Bus Rollout Plan, which calls for a fully electric transit fleet by 2035, with available funding.

“We thank Nevada’s federal delegation for their unwavering leadership and support of these programmes that help to enhance safety and sustainability in our region,” said Henderson Mayor and RTC SNV Chairwoman, Debra March. “With this additional funding, RTC can incorporate new and innovative technologies that will help the state to reach its sustainability goals and protect public health and the environment, while also increasing safety and mobility options.”

As transportation accounts for more than 40 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, this funding is a critical sustainability initiative for Nevada. Improved air quality through reduced emissions of harmful pollutants will provide considerable public health benefits for nearly 2.5 million residents and Southern Nevada’s tens of millions of annual visitors.

Furthermore, the grant also provides $1.03 million for the installation of solar lighting at 250 bus stops that currently do not have lighting. This will make these shelters safer and more secure for passengers, improving the travel experience for millions of passengers annually.

In addition to the Buses and Bus Facility grant funding, RTC SNV will also receive $2.14 million as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. The bill includes a $2 million earmark for electric buses, which will support the agency’s Maryland Parkway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. These zero-emission buses will have branding for the exclusive use of the BRT project, which will include dedicated transit lanes with enhanced transit stations and numerous safety features. The buses will support a vital transit connection between the Las Vegas Medical District, Bonneville Transit Center, downtown Las Vegas and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The bill also includes $142,500 for an expansion of RTC SNV’s popular bikeshare programme. The funding will support the addition of two bikeshare stations and approximately 60 bikes to the fleet, including e-bikes and classic bikes.