Congresswoman Lee Helps Secure Nearly $9 Million in Federal Funding to Upgrade Buses in Southern Nevada
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced an $8,843,449 federal investment from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Low or No Emission Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Program for the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) to replace and upgrade buses as well as modernize security at their operational facilities. Congresswoman Lee previously wrote a letter to the Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in support of this funding.
“Southern Nevada is a leader in tourism, and public transit is a vital connector for both residents and visitors. For that reason, RTC needs to upgrade its fleet and facilities, strengthen safety for riders and operators, and improve the overall reliability of service,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “This nearly $9 million investment will do just that by modernizing our community’s public transit, enhancing safety, and driving economic growth through responsible investment.”
RTC will replace eight of its 40-foot compressed natural gas fixed-route buses that have reached the end of their useful life. Replacing these vehicles is critical to maintaining safe, reliable, and efficient transit service across the region. RTC is the twelfth busiest transit system in the nation—last year alone they provided more than 52 million passenger trips across nearly 40 routes. To continue meeting this demand and keep the community moving, RTC must ensure its fleet remains modern and dependable.
This funding will also allow RTC to complete safety and security enhancements at two of its key facilities, the Integrated Bus Maintenance Facility and the Mobility Training Center. These improvements, which include modernizing camera and access control systems, will strengthen the security of RTC operations and create a safer environment for both staff and transit users. As southern Nevada continues to experience major ridership growth, additional security investments are essential to ensure rider and operator safety.
Finally, RTC will work to expand the installation of video mirrors on its fixed-route fleet. This technology significantly improves operator visibility by eliminating lateral blind spots and reducing glare and distortion. Congresswoman Lee previously helped secure $1.35 million in FY24 community project funding for RTC to outfit approximately 140 buses with this technology. This additional federal funding will enable full deployment across up to 300 vehicles, enhancing roadway safety for operators, passengers, and the broader community. Las Vegas is ranked among the most dangerous cities for pedestrian safety. Enhancing tools that give transit operators maximum visibility is critical to helping prevent future roadway accidents.
Congresswoman Lee has continuously fought to ensure RTC has the resources they need to safely transport Nevadans across the region. She helped secure $1.3 million in federal investments to allow RTC to install new dual-direction bus shelters within existing public transit service areas. The shelters will offer increased shade and cooling to combat the extreme heat facing southern Nevada’s bus passengers, improving safety and comfort for bus passengers along high-ridership routes.
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