Waiting for the bus in a Las Vegas summer is about to get a little cooler. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) on Thursday, Oct. 29, unveiled the valley’s first enhanced “dual-direction” bus shelter outside the Robert E. Price Recreation Center in northeast Las Vegas, the start of a rollout of 105 upgraded shelters across Southern Nevada, FOX5 reported.
Key Takeaways
- The first new-style shelter is open outside the Robert E. Price Recreation Center in northeast Las Vegas.
- 105 upgraded shelters are planned, paid for with $1.35 million in federal Community Project Funding.
- Benches face both ways so riders can follow the shade, with about 40% more shade than older shelters.
- Solar-powered overhead lights are built in for early-morning and late-night riders.
What’s different about these shelters
The “dual-direction” name comes from the seating: there are benches on both sides of the shelter, so riders can slide over to whichever side is shaded as the sun moves across the sky. The RTC says the new design gives roughly 40% more shade coverage than older models. Each shelter also has solar-powered lighting overhead, aimed at making stops safer and easier to see before sunrise and after dark.
Why the RTC is doing it
Heat at the stop is the top complaint. In the RTC’s Extreme Heat and Public Transit Survey, 57% of the more than 1,300 riders who responded said they feel extreme heat most at bus stops. According to the RTC, more than 200,000 Southern Nevada residents rely on its services, ridership tops 58 million passenger trips a year, and nearly nine out of 10 riders are working or looking for work.
The $1.35 million comes from federal Community Project Funding requested by members of Nevada’s congressional delegation, several of whom attended the unveiling. Rep. Dina Titus said 42 of the 105 shelters will be in Nevada’s 1st Congressional District. The RTC said it will prioritize high-ridership corridors and historically underserved neighborhoods for the remaining shelters over the coming months. The event also honored RTC CEO M.J. Maynard-Carey, who is retiring soon.
What it means for locals and visitors
If you ride the bus, expect to see the new shelters pop up first along the busiest routes and in neighborhoods that have had the least shade. Visitors using the Deuce or other Strip-area routes may not see changes right away, since the RTC has not released a full list of locations. Drivers, keep an eye out for crews and short lane shifts near stops as installations roll out. We’ll update when the RTC publishes the shelter map.