Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumbleFare change lets locals ride on Strip for regular bus price
Thursday, July 8, 2010 | 5:42 p.m.
New RTC Fare Structure:
General Market Routes- One way full fare: $2
- 2-hour all access pass: $3
- 24-hour general market pass: $5
- 3-day all access pass: $15
- 5-day all access pass: $20
- 30-day all access pass: $65
- 2-hour all access pass: $5
- 24-hour all access pass: $7
- 3-day all access pass: $20
- 30-day all access pass: $65
Sun Coverage
Bus fares are changing again, but this time an increase in prices is actually good for locals.
The change is an increase in fares for “premium services” – the ACE Gold Line and Deuce line on the Strip. But for the first time, local residents will be able to ride those two bus lines for the cost of a regular bus trip.
The Regional Transportation Commission, which operates public transit in the valley, raised fares in January, then in February added new two-hour and five-day passes.
RTC General Manager Jacob Snow said the two new fare options were intended to apply only to the regular bus lines, but were accidently applied to the premium services as well.
So the RTC decided to adjust fares again, raising the two-hour, all-access pass to $5 from $3 and the three-day pass to $20 from $15 for the premium services. The 24-hour pass remains at $7 and the five-day pass was eliminated.
Reduced fares are available for seniors and the disabled at half price.
Residents will be able to ride the premium lines for regular fares as long as they have a local ID.
Previously, everyone had to pay a $2 charge to use a regular pass on a premium service.
Snow said the three-day pass has proved popular with tourists, but the five-day pass is rarely used in the resort corridor, which is why it is being eliminated for premium services.
The RTC held a public meeting on the fare changes last month, but Snow said no one attended, and no one spoke at the public hearing held at the RTC board meeting Thursday.
The commission’s board, which is made up of local elected officials, unanimously approved the change.
The new fares go into effect Aug. 2.
Snow said the bus service in the resort corridor costs more because the buses run more frequently.
“Since the inception of transit services in 1992, the board’s policy has always been to charge more for the premium services in the resort corridor because of the higher frequency of service,” he said.
Between the Gold Line and the Deuce, buses pass each stop on the Strip every three to four minutes, Snow said.
Also Tuesday, the RTC board eliminated its Responsible Rider Program for paratransit passengers.
The program was designed to reward passengers who kept their appointments for rides on the service by giving free rides.
But RTC officials said they felt the program has been successful in educating riders and could be eliminated to save money.
When the program began, paratransit service had an 11 percent no-show rate. It is now down to 5 percent, officials said.
The commission also announced it has purchased 81 new paratransit vehicles, which should be in service by the end of the year.
Discussion: comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
No trusted comments have been posted.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
- UNLV can move forward without the burden of losing streak to San Diego State
- A wife’s wisdom shows birth control issue needn’t be divisive
- Surprise links, negotiated deals addressed by commissioners
- Motorcycle accident claims life of man in northeast valley
- Hope and change and … what’s missing?
- New York mayor has the right idea
- We don’t need a CEO in charge
- Paying our own way
- Country has ‘given’ citizens a lot
- Jerry Tarkanian: Mike Moser impresses yet again on a day to remember former Rebel greats
Blogs
The Kats Report
Color from scene at Thomas & Mack: We have a wire job! Rebels win, and Louie Armstrong sings!
South Point owner Michael Gaughan's take on 'Vegas Stripped': 'I'll give it an 8' (4 Comments)
Author relishes writing the life story of ‘larger-than-life’ Oscar Goodman (3 Comments)
Elsewhere
Landowner: All roads could lead to Uxbridge casino
Revel reveals smoke-free casino opening
Cirque du Soleil show in Sands China casino to close this month
Meet the woman behind Sheldon Adelson
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Yeah, stick it to the tourists some more, why don't ya?
Higher hotel taxes. Resort Fees. Tunneling cabbies. Worse gambling conditions.
What's some higher bus fares, too, but only for the tourists?
Locals often get discounts on tons of stuff like the monorail, show tickets, etc. But you treat the tourists as nothing more than an endless supply of cash.
Much of your economy depends on tourists. How's that working out for ya' lately?
Just keep telling yourselves that a recovery's right around the corner and everything will be the same as it was. And in the meantime, just go ahead and keep sticking it to the tourists. Let's see what happens.
What is the motivation here? I can't see bus riding locals spending a whole lot of money gambling on the strip. Bad idea when we need tourists. Who is the marketing expert who thought this one up?
Tourist always complain about how much they have to pay for every thing any way,they get just about every thing comped if they really are gambling to begin with. As for the bus fares for locals, its time locals get a break on the amount they pay to go to work on the strip to book these tourist that every one is catering to. Go RTC, about time you took care of us, we been taking care of everyone.
I see alot of locals ride free.
They tell the driver that they have no money
and the drivers lets them ride.
Casinos take there money
Homeless
I feel sorry for those fokes too 105 degrees.
Maybe if they would reroute the tram everyone would ride free(Call it the city that cares).
Just out of curiosity, how does this affect the newer ACExpress C line? It runs from Centennial to downtown, Fashion Show Mall, and UNLV. It's been considered a "premium" route, but these new rates are theoretically only for the Resort Corridor.
I agree about the tourist getting a break. Do not kill the golden goose! Locals deserve a break so there must be a happy medium. The buses are still much more less costly than a cab or limo. The most successful tourist areas have low cost efficent public transportation use Boston for example. I do not find the 24 hr pass price too much. I use it when in Vegas. Lets hope fuel cost stay stable. The bus lines could market them selvs better and run specials especially when tourist are at peak times or large conventions are in town. Run it like a real business!!!
I think fare stuctures should be added. Keep the 5 day and add a 15 day. We own a loft in town and use the bus for a week or two at a time. I'll pull out the car and drive more often if necessary. It's odd to see two Ace buses, one right after another. We wait we wait, then there are 2. It's expensive and unnecessary. It happens more than I can believe.
The most provocating matter I see that's the super long waiting lines in Downtown. These tourists heading back to T.I. , Harrah's and Bally's and such are really charged heavily for their return trip.
Just as if everybody is so stupid, one might think.
I will only visit Vegas having a rental car or live nearby the STrip in a close local casino. I don't support highway robbery charges. As a response, I keep my eyes on how the city is trying to take me out and I will react accordingly. So will others. Vegas, be aware, you are not the only gaming city in this world anymore...
From Switzerland