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RTC previews projects: ridership growth, BRT, flex service and hydrogen buses
Summary
RTC officials told the CAB about rising transit ridership, ongoing bus rapid transit service, microtransit pilots, planned roadway projects and a strategy to expand alternative routes to the Tahoe‑Reno Industrial Center; officials said hydrogen fuel‑cell buses have been added and more are on order.
Paul Nelson, government affairs officer for the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), briefed the South Valleys CAB on transit and roadway plans, reporting ridership growth and outlining capital work through the mid‑2020s.
Why it matters: RTC projects and service changes affect commute reliability, transit access for seniors and people with disabilities, and local traffic patterns during construction.
Nelson said RTC provided about 5.5 million rides in the prior 12 months, with 60 percent of trips for work. He highlighted the bus rapid transit (BRT) Virginia Line, which carried close to a million riders last year, and the Lincoln Line, which carried roughly 450,000.
RTC officials described microtransit FlexRide pilots in four service bubbles — curb‑to‑curb, on‑demand service intended for lower‑density areas — and senior taxi credits ($60 per month) and a large vanpool program (about 340 vans) that RTC says saved roughly 20 million vehicle miles in 2024.
Nelson reviewed capital work: RTC invested more than $81 million in construction in 2024 and plans several projects in the South and central Truckee Meadows in coming years, including Meadowood Mall Circle rehabilitation, Veterans Parkway modifications and a Pembroke Drive capacity project targeted for 2026. He said the Tahoe‑Reno Industrial Center access study and potential alternate commuter routes remain under study.
On vehicles and fuels, Nelson said RTC has a mix of diesel‑electric hybrids, battery electric buses and two hydrogen fuel‑cell buses in service with six more hydrogen vehicles expected; he and staff estimated a heavy‑duty transit bus costs roughly $1 million, subject to supply and tariff pressures. Nelson said RTC is pursuing a permanent hydrogen fueling facility and moving to cashless fare payment and software upgrades for FlexRide and paratransit compatibility.
Nelson said the region’s 2050 Regional Transportation Plan is scheduled for RTC board adoption on Feb. 21 and emphasized coordination with local jurisdictions and the Washoe County School District on safe routes for pedestrians and bicyclists. He described RTC’s funding mix (local fuel tax, sales tax, federal grants and passenger fares) and said many projects rely on competitive and discretionary federal grants.
CAB members asked about Hidden Valley transit access, hydrogen fueling costs, and how RTC coordinates with schools; RTC staff said microtransit and access programs are evolving and offered to provide follow‑up information about eligibility and timelines.
