Resources

Southern Nevada has grown significantly, but transit operating funding has not changed in more than 20 years. At the same time, costs such as labor, fuel, and maintenance have increased, making it harder to sustain the service our community relies on.

RTC has worked with community leaders, businesses, local governments, and state officials for years to identify long-term funding solutions. While several options have been explored, no sustainable solution has been approved.

No. Under Nevada law, fuel tax revenue can only be used for roadway and transportation infrastructure projects, not transit operations.

RTC needs approximately $118.5 million annually to maintain today’s transit system. This funding supports nearly 58 million passenger trips each year and helps keep residents connected to jobs, healthcare, education, and other essential destinations.

Transit riders are a vital part of Southern Nevada’s workforce. According to RTC’s most recent customer survey, 88% of riders use transit to get to work or seek employment.

Southern Nevada needs a stable, long-term funding source that can grow with the community and keep pace with rising costs and demand for service.

Without additional funding, RTC could be forced to reduce transit service by up to 42% by 2028. This could mean fewer routes, longer wait times, and reduced access to jobs, healthcare, education, and other essential services.

Transit service is primarily funded through a small portion of local sales tax, passenger fares, and federal funding for major projects and equipment.

Additional funding would be used to maintain the transit service Southern Nevada relies on today and preserve access to jobs, schools, healthcare, and other daily destinations.

No. The estimated funding need is intended solely to maintain existing transit service. Major transit expansions would require separate funding sources.

Potential options could include legislative solutions, ballot measures, or other funding approaches used successfully in communities across the country. Any long-term solution would require public input and community support.

You likely rely on someone who relies on transit. Transit supports employers, connects workers to jobs, and helps keep Southern Nevada’s economy moving. When transit works, the entire region benefits.

RTC will continue engaging residents, businesses, and community organizations to share information and gather feedback on potential funding solutions.

Transit connects people to opportunity and helps keep Southern Nevada moving. Without a long-term funding solution, significant service reductions could affect residents, businesses, and the region’s economy.

If you’ve ever seen a bus near the end of a neighborhood route in Henderson or Summerlin and thought it looked empty, you’re only seeing part of the picture. Like many transit systems, bus ridership is concentrated where demand is highest.

Routes often begin in residential areas and gradually pick up passengers as they travel toward major employment centers, including the Las Vegas Strip, downtown Las Vegas, medical districts, and other job hubs. By the time they reach these destinations, buses are carrying significantly more riders. Evaluating a bus based on a single snapshot in a low-density area doesn’t tell the whole story.

Bottom line, RTC provided more than 58 million rides last year.  That means thousands of Southern Nevadans rely on transit to get to work and school, seek employment, access services, and reach other destinations across the valley.

No. Fare changes alone will not close the funding shortfall. They are one part of a broader strategy to help sustain transit service, particularly since RTC fares have remained unchanged for more than 15 years.