Fare change lets locals ride on Strip for regular bus price

By Kyle B. Hansen

Thursday, July 8, 2010 | 5:42 p.m.

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.