Your RTC. Our Community.

January 2020

RTC Commissioners, below you will find your January 2020 RTC Board Update eNews. This electronic newsletter is distributed monthly following your board meeting.

RTC Board Transit Workshop

The RTC Board participated in a transit workshop following the RTC Board meeting on Friday, January 17, 2020.

As part of the workshop, RTC staff discussed existing transit operations and opportunities for limited service expansion. RTC staff offered the RTC Board potential options, including continuing the Sparks FlexRIDE, initiating a North Valleys FlexRIDE, and potential new fixed-route service, new FlexRIDE service or enhancement of existing routes.

FlexRIDE service in Sparks has been successful. Before FlexRIDE was introduced in Sparks, there were about 50 passengers per day on the fixed-route service. Now, there are about 150 passengers per day on the FlexRIDE service in Sparks in the same general service area. The cost per passenger is similar to the previous fixed-route service that was replaced.

The RTC Board discussed adding two new FlexRIDE services and expanding two of the current fixed routes. These proposals will be taken out to the public to gain feedback before going back to a future board meeting for additional discussion and possible approval. These changes could include FlexRIDE service to the Spanish Springs and Somersett areas, extending Route 5 to Desert Skies Middle School, and filling in the service gap on Route 18. These options would be implemented as part of the service change in fall 2020.

Pedestrian Safety
At the workshop, the Board also discussed pedestrian safety. There were 16 pedestrian fatalities in Washoe County in 2019. Additionally, 24 students have been hit by cars this school year.

The RTC is continuing to work with our regional partners towards a goal of zero fatalities. We are a Vision Zero community and our goal as a region is to have zero pedestrian fatalities by 2030.

The RTC is also continuing the Safe Routes to School Program. Our thanks to the new Safe Routes to All Schools bill introduced by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. The legislation would expand program eligibility to include high school students. Today the program is currently available to elementary and middle school students only.

The RTC is continues to raise awareness about pedestrian safety and the dangers of distracted driving and walking through media channels. In addition, the RTC is working on a new campaign to highlight pedestrian safety. Infrastructure-safety improvements are also planned for 2020 and will be a part of the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan.

Proposed Transit Service Changes for May 2020

The RTC is proposing a transit service change that could be implemented in May 2020, including route and timing changes, introducing more FlexRIDE microtransit services to improve transit access, and improving passenger travel times to allow for more community-wide connectivity.

The RTC is considering the following service changes:

FlexRIDE: Implement a second microtransit pilot project, known as FlexRIDE, in the North Valleys area currently served by Routes 7 and 17. FlexRIDE allows passengers to request rides at their closest curbside location and get dropped off at another curbside location within the microtransit service area. Rides can be requested on a smartphone using an app, or by calling RTC directly.
Route 7: Reconfigure Route 7 to better serve the North Valleys and connections to the proposed FlexRIDE pilot project.
Route 17: Shorten and reconfigure, or discontinue, Route 17. This area would be served by the new FlexRIDE service and the reconfigured Route 7.
Route 9: Reconfigure Route 9 to restore partial service to Mill Street.
RAPID Virginia Line: Restore 10-minute frequency.
Route 25L: Discontinue Route 25L – Reed High School a.m./p.m. bell-time service, Reed High School will continue to be served by FlexRIDE. (Sparks-area FlexRIDE is expected to continue past the six-month pilot time-period, as it has experienced great success and ridership.)
All routes: Continuation of timetable adjustments to continue improving travel times and on-time performance.

The RTC continually analyzes its transit operations to maximize resources and improve efficiency to enhance quality customer service to riders. This analysis tracks ridership data and allocates buses and other resources to more-productive routes, improving efficiency and transit-system operations within financial constraints.

The RTC presented the proposed transit service changes and the public input received to the RTC Board at their Transit Workshop on January 17, 2020. The RTC Board will give additional direction and potential approval at a future board meeting.

Crews continue work on the roundabout at Center St./Mary St and Virginia St.

Virginia Street Project Update

This month, construction moved northward on Virginia Street to Stewart Street as crews continue to work on sidewalk demolition and reconstruction. Roadway paving will take place in the spring when temperatures are warmer.

Support Local Businesses
It’s business as usual in Midtown. Businesses are open and accessible during construction. Please continue to support Midtown businesses during construction.

Roundabout Construction Update
Construction continues on the new roundabout on Virginia Street at Center Street/Mary Street. Center Street will be closed at Virginia Street intermittently. Please continue to use marked detours. Construction on the roundabout will continue through March of 2020.

Construction moves northward near UNR this spring
Starting this spring, the Virginia Street Project will move northward near the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). As the construction draws closer, the RTC will begin providing regular construction updates that will include more detailed information about construction activities, traffic control and detours. Project highlights include:

RAPID Bus Stations on both sides of Virginia Street
Sidewalk improvements (along Virginia Street between Maple Street and the West Stadium Parking Complex entrance)
A roundabout on Virginia Street at the entrance to the West Stadium Parking Complex to improve safety and traffic flow
Restriping of the roadway from two lanes of traffic in each direction to one traffic lane and one shared bus/bicycle lane for both northbound and southbound traffic flow

More information
For more information about the Virginia Street Project, visit VirginiaStreetProject.com, text VIRGINIA to 797979, sign up for weekly stakeholder updates, and follow RTC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Learn More at VirginiaStreetProject.com

Oddie Wells Project Community Meeting Held

The RTC held a community meeting on Thursday, January 23, at the Washoe County Senior Center. If you missed the meeting, you can watch the presentation on our Facebook page.

The multimodal-improvement project will revitalize the 3.2-mile corridor by creating a more-livable, safer and vibrant community on Wells Avenue, beginning at the I-80 westbound ramps in Reno and continuing on Oddie Boulevard to Pyramid Way in Sparks.

The RTC is more than halfway done with the design process and presented the community with the most-current plans for lighting, landscaping, aesthetic features, ADA improvements, pedestrian ramps, bicycle facilities, and safer traffic operations to increase mobility and connectivity along this corridor. The RTC is planning to construct a raised cycle track on both sides of the roadway from Sutro Street in Reno to Pyramid Way in Sparks. On Wells Avenue from Sutro Street to I-80, plans include a multiuse pathway on one side of the road and sidewalks on the other side. The new multiuse pathway will connect to the existing multiuse pathway along I-80 by UNR Farms.

Corridor improvements will support economic investment and redevelopment while enhancing the quality of life for area residents by improving accessibility and safety.

Final project design is anticipated in summer 2020. After the design is complete, the project will progress to the construction phase. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2020 or summer 2021.

The total project investment, including construction, design, permitting and construction management, is approximately $40 million. The project is funded with local fuel tax revenue.

For more information, please visit OddieWellsProject.com.

Learn more at OddieWellsProject.com

NDOT: Safety First

Nothing is more important than safety. Across Nevada, pedestrian deaths decreased in 2019 compared to the prior year. But tragically, pedestrian deaths rose by nearly 25 percent here in Washoe County.

Collaboratively, Vision Zero Truckee Meadows is making important steps to improve pedestrian safety across our community. Learn more about Vision Zero's goals and see a community action plan at VisionZeroTruckeeMeadows.com.

NDOT’s bicycle and pedestrian education program is another important community safety resource. Through community outreach (as many as 15 events a year), hands-on training, safety curriculum development and funding availability, the program educates Nevadans to safely bicycle and walk our communities. It also offers a framework and support for communities to establish their own safety education programs. With a dedication to the safety of Nevada’s school children, the program founded Nevada Moves Day as an opportunity for children and parents to learn about pedestrian and bicycling safety as they make their way to school.

Whether on wheels or two feet, traffic safety is a shared responsibility. Community leaders and organizers are encouraged to reach out to NDOT bicycle and pedestrian education staff for school and community event and outreach opportunities. Visit bicyclenevada.com for safety and contact information.

Over and above time-honored safety tips to be attentive and share the road, the program also emphasizes the following school zone traffic safety laws:

Per state law, vehicles may not make u-turns or pass other vehicles, even on multi-lane roadways, when in an active school zone or school crossing zone.
Per state law, drivers may not stop, stand or park a vehicle on or within 20 feet of a crosswalk to enable better visibility of persons crossing.

Learn more at NevadaDOT.com

Upcoming Events and Meetings

February 5
RTC Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
RTC Citizens Multimodal Advisory Committee (CMAC)

February 13
RTC Special Board Meeting - Executive Director Candidate Interviews
Washoe County Commission Chambers, 1001 E. Ninth St., Bldg. A, at 9 a.m.

February 21
RTC Board Meeting
Washoe County Commission Chambers, 1001 E. Ninth St. Bldg. A, at 9 a.m.

Please contact Michael Moreno or me with any questions you may have.
Michael can be reached at (775) 335-1869 or email at mmoreno@rtcwashoe.com.
Archived editions are available at: rtcwashoe.com.

Amy Cummings, RTC Interim Executive Director
Phone: (775) 348-0400
Email: acummings@rtcwashoe.com