12.5-mile, $378
million improvement project set to begin this month
along one of Southern
Nevada's most important corridors, enhancing safety for all
users
LAS
VEGAS, Aug. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday,
U. S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg headlined a
ceremonial groundbreaking hosted by the Regional Transportation
Commission of Southern Nevada
(RTC) for the Maryland Parkway Bus Rapid Transit project at the
Boulevard Mall, 3528 S. Maryland Parkway. Secretary Buttigieg was
joined by RTC leadership and members of Nevada's federal delegation, including U.S.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S.
Representatives Dina Titus,
Susie Lee and Steven Horsford, to mark the beginning of
construction on the $378 million
project that will improve safety and enhance functionality along a
12.5-mile stretch of one of the most important corridors in
Southern Nevada.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Pete Buttigieg joins RTC of
Southern Nevada for groundbreaking
of BRT project
"Thanks to President Biden, Vice President Harris, and this
Congressional delegation, we passed historic infrastructure funding
that includes the biggest investment in public transit in U.S.
history," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "We're using that funding
package to improve roads in Las
Vegas, we've started work on America's first high-speed rail
line between Las Vegas and
Southern California, and today we
begin construction on a new rapid bus route that will give
residents a faster, more reliable, more comfortable trip between
the airport, UNLV, downtown
Las Vegas, and the Medical
District."
Funded in part by a nearly $150
million federal grant from the Federal Transportation
Administration, the Maryland Parkway Bus Rapid Transit project
spans from the South Strip Transit Terminal, 6675 Gillespie St., to
the Las Vegas Medical District near downtown Las Vegas. The project will expand transit
service, enhance up to 50 transit shelters, develop seven miles of
dedicated shared bus-bike lanes, widen sidewalks, signalize
pedestrian crossings, install advanced traffic signal timing,
improve lighting and landscaping, and employ hydrogen fuel cell
electric buses. These efforts will ultimately enhance safety and
functionality for all users, including motorists, pedestrians,
cyclists, and transit riders.
Via significant aesthetic enhancements, the project will create
a greater sense of identity for Maryland Parkway, helping to expand
redevelopment opportunities and attract future investment in the
area. Today, Maryland Parkway is home to 63,000 residents, more
than 109,000 jobs, and carries approximately 35,000 vehicles and
9,000 transit riders daily, making it one of the most productive
routes in the system, carrying more people per bus per hour than
even the Las Vegas Strip.
"The significance of Maryland Parkway to Southern Nevada cannot be overstated," said
Clark County Commissioner and RTC
Board Chairman Justin Jones. "As a
high-volume corridor and home to landmark facilities, including
Harry Reid International Airport; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; the Boulevard
Mall; Sunrise Hospital; the Las Vegas Medical District; and
hundreds of small businesses, it connects residents to jobs,
medical services, education, shopping, neighborhood services and
more."
"The benefits of the project are vast," said RTC Chief Executive
Officer M.J. Maynard. "We are
implementing a 'complete streets' design to enable safe use and
support mobility for all users, whether they choose to walk, bike,
drive or take transit. We are enhancing Maryland Parkway for
everyone who lives, works and travels within the corridor."
Expanded transit service will reduce wait times for transit
riders; the use of 15 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses along
Maryland Parkway will provide quieter rides and reduce pollution;
42 new and enhanced transit shelters will provide more shade,
increasing comfort for waiting transit riders; wider sidewalks
separated from car lanes will improve safety for pedestrians and
access for mobility devices; shared bus-bike lanes will provide a
larger space for cyclists while simultaneously improving traffic
flow; and improved signal timing and additional turn lanes will
enhance traffic capacity and flow.
The project is expected to create 1,100 new jobs and engage 18
local and small businesses valuing $33
million in contracts. Construction will be completed in
phases and began earlier this month in three different parts of the
corridor, north of Sahara Avenue. Completion of the entire project
is anticipated by year end 2026. For more information and to sign
up for construction updates and real-time traffic alerts, visit
MarylandParkway.com.
About the RTC
The RTC is the transit authority, designated metropolitan planning
organization, regional traffic management agency and administrator
of the Southern Nevada Strong comprehensive regional plan for the
Las Vegas valley. The RTC's vision
is to advance regionally transformative mobility solutions through
equitable, innovative and sustainable infrastructure development.
The RTC's mission is to elevate quality of life for residents and
visitors through sustainable planning, collaborative
problem-solving, and safe and equitable transportation service. For
more information about the RTC and its major initiatives or to
download its transit app rideRTC, visit rtcsnv.com and stay
informed by subscribing to our blog.
MEDIA
CONTACTS:
|
Sue Christiansen, RTC,
(702) 676-1891, ChristiansenS@rtcsnv.com
|
|
Catherine Busche,
RTC, (702) 676-1788, BuscheC@rtcsnv.com
|
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SOURCE Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC)