By Steve Kanigher

Wed, Feb 13, 2008 (2 a.m.)

One way to ease the Las Vegas Valley’s congested thoroughfares is to prod employers to encourage their workers to take buses to and from their jobs.

And one method for doing that is to offer employers a financial incentive.

At least that’s the strategy behind a staff recommendation to have the Regional Transportation Commission at its monthly meeting Thursday approve offering employers bulk discounts for the purchase of full-fare bus passes good for from one month up to a year.

The discounts, which would take effect March 1, would be 5 percent for up to 200 passes, 10 percent for 201 to 500 passes, and 15 percent for more than 500 passes. Monthly passes normally cost $40, with a reduced rate of $20 for people 62 and older and for disabled passengers. The discounts would apply to the standard and reduced rates.

The EZrider discounts would be an addition to Club Ride, an RTC initiative to help local businesses set up carpools and van pools for employees.

This is not the first time the commission has been asked to adopt a bulk purchase bus pass program. In 2003 it rolled out FlexiFare, but that program doesn’t offer employers discounts and has a cumbersome billing process that charges employers based on the number of rides their employees take. Of 130 employers in the Las Vegas Valley participating in Club Ride, only five purchase FlexiFare passes.

EZrider, which would replace FlexiFare, would simplify billing by having employers pay for the passes in advance. The passes, roughly the size of credit cards, would be good for an unlimited number of rides during a specific period, commission spokeswoman Tracy Bower said.

The commission’s staff is banking on greater success with EZrider, especially when combined with federal tax provisions allowing employers to offer workers tax-free transit. Many employers throughout the country have taken advantage of the tax break by offering free or subsidized mass transit passes to employees.

Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Cara Roberts said the popularity of EZrider among employers would depend partly on how close they are to public transit.

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The Las Vegas Monorail is offering free rides all day Saturday to residents with valid Nevada identification as part of a Presidents Day weekend celebration that will include speed dating.

Out-of-towners also will be able to purchase two three-day Monorail passes for the price of one, a savings of $40, between Thursday and Monday. Those passes can be used for any consecutive three-day period within a year of purchase.

The speed dating activities will happen at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Sprint Central at the Las Vegas Convention Center Station. Live entertainment, free activities and giveaways also will be offered from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at all monorail stations.

People with valid Nevada identification normally can purchase up to two single-ride tickets per day for $1 each at the monorail’s customer service booths.