$11 million transit center opens in northwest valley

By Tiffany Gibson

Monday, March 29, 2010 | 7:15 p.m.

Transportation officials unveiled the new Centennial Hills Transit Center on Monday and recognized members of the congressional delegation who supported the federal Recovery Act, which helped to fund the facility.

The center, at 7313 Grand Montecito Parkway near U.S. 95 and Durango Drive, includes about 900 parking spaces, passenger drop-off areas, bike storage and an air-conditioned building for passengers to wait for buses.

It was funded with $8.8 million in federal money with a total price tag of $11 million.

“This project is more than moving people,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said. “This event today is about moving the economy.”

Reid was joined by Reps. Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus, as well as Mayor Oscar Goodman, Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown, Regional Transportation Commission General Manager Jacob Snow and Las Vegas City Councilman Steven Ross.

Reid said the project created constructions jobs and was a small step in stabilizing the economy.

Berkley said the new center is proof that the Recovery Act is helping to fund projects that benefit citizens. She said she was involved in the project through its completion.

“There have been times when Jacob (Snow) and I have looked at the buses and felt like proud parents,” Berkley said. “I feel like the mother of the ACE bus. I am delighted and honored to be a part of this.”

The center is also one end of a new bus line called the ACExpress C line, which will use HOV lanes on U.S. 95 to travel to downtown Las Vegas, then continue to the Strip and UNLV.

Future lines are also planned for Las Vegas Boulevard, Boulder Highway, Sahara Avenue and Flamingo Road.

Snow said the diesel hybrid electric buses can get residents from the Centennial Hills Transit Center to the Strip in about 20 minutes.

Many parts of the route have dedicated bus-only lanes. Buses will stop at raised platform stations, where passengers will buy tickets before boarding.

Brown said the new transit system will encourage citizens to carpool, while also saving them time and money.

“The ACEpress is going to be phenomenal,” he said. “Today is a milestone, so we can take a breath and enjoy the moment. But the RTC will not slow down.”

Bus fare is $3 for a two-hour pass or $7 for a 24-hour pass. Students and senior citizens will get a discount.

Anyone with a valid Nevada driver’s license will be able to ride the system for free until April 3.

CORRECTION: The story was changed to correct the bus fare. | (March 30, 2010)