North Las Vegas chosen to test new electric bus

Diana Sahagun

Friday, Aug. 4, 2000 | 11:25 a.m.

A new type of electric bus will soon be in use in North Las Vegas as part of a pilot program to test emerging public transportation technologies.

The city was chosen for the program by the Regional Transportation Commission, which received $4.5 million in federal funds to try it out.

The RTC intends to use the Civis bus, which runs electronically, much like a monorail. The buses, being developed by the French company Iris Bus, can carry between 120 and 140 passengers, almost double what local Citizens Area Transit buses hold.

This is the future of mass transportation, officials with the RTC say -- bus transportation that is faster, more reliable and more accessible to the elderly and handicapped.

"We're trying to deliver a higher quality, more convenient bus service to our customers, bringing the latest technology to Las Vegas," said Lee Gibson, assistant general manager for the RTC.

RTC spokeswoman Heather Curry said if the pilot program is successful it will be expanded using local, state and federal dollars.

The beginning route will be 2 miles along Las Vegas Boulevard North between Bruce Street and Pecos Road. Later the route will be expanded to Nellis Boulevard. The buses will come into service over the next few months.

The RTC anticipates having the Civis buses fully in use by 2002. Until then a CAT bus will be used along the exclusive lane.

North Las Vegas was the ideal candidate because it has the third-busiest bus route in the Las Vegas Valley and because Las Vegas Boulevard has an extra lane to test out an exclusive bus lane, Curry said.

An exclusive bus lane will be created along Las Vegas Boulevard this summer to see how much more efficient travel will be when cars aren't tied up with the buses.

Ray Burke, North Las Vegas transportation planner, said the Civis buses will be equipped with a traffic signal preference system, much like those fire departments use. The buses would be able to electronically extend the green signal if it is behind schedule.

A special system will also be installed, which will provide electronic data on the bus's location and how many passengers get on and off.

The project will also include improved bus stations, which can be equipped to furnish information such as printed routes and schedules, electronically transmit 'real time' arrivals, and have vending and change machines.

RTC officials hope the information gathered from the project will be applied to the entire valley.