Commission delays launch of super bus

Thursday, April 29, 2004 | 9:36 a.m.

The Regional Transportation Commission's new state-of-the-art super bus, to run between downtown Las Vegas and Nellis Air Force Base, has a new tentative start date: June 30.

The RTC originally scheduled the Metropolitan Area Express system to begin service in March. Computer control issues for the buses, which are designed to run much like a subway system with computer-guided entry and exit from regular stops, initially delayed the opening.

Jacob Snow, RTC general manager, said a more pressing recent issue is that a supplier of the high-tech buses' air conditioners has changed ownership, making it difficult, at least temporarily, to get spare parts.

Sue Christiansen, RTC spokeswoman, said the agency plans on having a "ceremonial startup" on June 30. The ceremony will likely include local and federal officials for the federally funded project, she said.

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