WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led members of the Southern Nevada Congressional Delegation, including Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV-3), Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV-4), and Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV-1), in a letter calling on the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) to remove or increase its cap on the number of spare buses that localities can maintain to ensure reliable service in Las Vegas. Currently, the FTA caps the amount of spare buses that localities can maintain at 20% of their overall bus fleet, which is insufficient given the unique challenges in Nevada that cause buses to wear down quicker and experience more service outages, impacting the ability of Nevadans and visitors to travel.
“Las Vegas, like many western cities, experiences extreme heat that accelerates bus wear and increases breakdown frequency, requiring more frequent maintenance to keep vehicles operational. This puts significant strain on RTC’s fleet, as insufficient spares can lead to service disruptions for the approximately 80 percent of Las Vegas riders who rely on transit for commuting to work,” wrote the members. “Furthermore, Las Vegas operates buses continuously throughout the day and night to accommodate a workforce with non-traditional, around-the-clock schedules, including many night-shift employees, which intensifies vehicle usage and accelerates fleet depreciation.”
“Lastly, Las Vegas’s vibrant tourism economy depends on reliable transit service to transport millions of visitors, not just year-round residents, especially during major events such as the Super Bowl, Formula 1 Grand Prix, FIFA tournaments, and large concerts. Ensuring adequate spare bus capacity is critical not only to meet routine demands, but also to accommodate surges in ridership associated with these events, thereby supporting the regional economy,” the members’ letter continued. “Given these compelling operational realities, we urge you to reconsider the current spare bus ratio policy in order to better meet the needs of our nation’s transit systems. Increasing the allowable spare ratio or providing greater flexibility would enable transit agencies like RTC of Southern Nevada to better maintain reliable, safe, and equitable service for their communities.”
The full letter can be found HERE.
Senator Rosen has delivered millions of dollars in public transit funding to Nevada. She helped write and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which brought over $30 million in public transit funding to the state. She also helped create the Airport Terminal Program to expand and rebuild airport terminals, which has already delivered $31 million for Harry Reid International Airport and $7 million for Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Additionally, Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto secured almost $8 million in funding for clean school buses in Nevada last year.
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