Bus Transit Used to Be Profitable on the Las Vegas Strip

The Regional Transportation Commission is looking for ways to reverse ridership figures that have plummeted since the advent of transportation network companies.

2 minute read

March 18, 2019, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Hybrid Bus

Mariordo (Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz) / Wikimedia Commons

"As the use of ride-hailing increases around the Las Vegas Valley, especially along the Strip, bus use in the area continues to fall," reports Mick Akers.

The Regional Transportation Commission used to generate its most revenue in fares from bus routes running along the Las Vegas Strip—not so much anymore. "Bus revenue on the Strip fell 18 percent between October 2015 and December 2018," according to RTC data shared by Akers. According to a source quoted in the article, the RTC used to make $6 million in profit operating buses on what it calls the resort corridor.

Faced with the economic realities of a post ride-hailing world, the RTC is looking to reinvent itself. Included among the plans are a new on-demand micromobility shuttle pilot project.

For more context on transportation planning in Las Vegas, here is a list of previous coverage on the subject from the Planetizen archives.

Friday, March 15, 2019 in Las Vegas Review-Journal

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