Fare Adjustment - Effective January 10, 2010

On November 13, 2008, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) Board of Commissioners approved a fare adjustment in a two stage process for the general market (non-strip routes), Deuce on the Strip, and paratransit services .


Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the RTC adjusting fares?

When was the last fare adjustment?

Why don’t you promote and advertise transit more to increase ridership and revenue?

How do you expect me to afford the higher price when I can barely afford it now?

How will I benefit from the fare increase?

How will Paratransit Service be affected?

If I have a 30-day All Access pass at the current fare and it does not expire until after the fare adjustment goes into effect, will it still be honored?

Why are we not using Question 10 funds instead of adjusting prices?

Will the flexible demand Response (FDR) and Silver Star fares be changing along with other fares?

How will service be impacted in 2010?

The RTC is constantly reassessing its transit service operations and conducts a “Service Evaluation Process” twice a year to ensure customers’ needs are being met.  This process requires staff to investigate and evaluate all routes to ensure they meet industry standards.

For more information call RTC Customer Service at (702) 228-RIDE (7433)

Frequently Asked Questions

WHY DID THE RTC RAISE TRANSIT FARES?
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada’s (RTC) transit is funded primarily through sales taxes, transit fare revenues, and federal grants.  Passenger fares pay only a portion of the public transit operating costs (driver wages, fuel, insurance, etc.).  The balance of those costs are paid for by sales tax revenue.  Sales tax revenues and transit ridership have dropped dramatically due to the economic downturn.  At the same time, operating costs continue to rise.  The RTC is faced with the choice of raising fares or cutting service.  It is necessary to raise fares at this time to prevent a significant cut in transit service.

As a result, the RTC received approval from the RTC Board of Commissioners in 2008 to adjust it passenger fares in a two-stage process on Jan. 11, 2009, and Jan. 10, 2010, for all General Market routes, MAX, Deuce on the Strip, and paratransit services. 

WHEN WAS THE LAST FARE ADJUSTMENT?

• The RTC implemented the first phase of the recent RTC Board of Commissioners approved fare adjustment on January 11, 2009 and the second phase will be implemented on January 10, 2010.  Prior to January 2009, the RTC had not had a cash-fare adjustment since 1999.  Over the past 10 years, the cost for contracted transit services has increased significantly.  Equipment and other costs have also risen while fares have remained essentially unchanged. 

• In 2005, the RTC did slightly adjust only the monthly pass price.

• Other transit agencies usually conduct fare adjustments every two to three years.  A general fare adjustment will make RTC transit fares consistent with the fares of other transit agencies.   As a comparison, the RTC in Reno increased its base fare to $2.00 and a full fare monthly pass is $70.00.  In Portland, Oregon, an All-Zone passenger fare is $2.30 while the monthly pass is $86.00.

Why don’t you promote and advertise transit more to increase ridership and revenue?

• The RTC has taken several steps to attract new transit riders to the system including investing in new vehicles, such as the popular Deuce double-decks and rapid transit vehicles.  In addition, the RTC has also promoted its expanded South Strip Transfer Terminal Park and Ride facility and its Transit Trip Planner system.  These projects help to make transit more accessible and attractive to riders. 

• The RTC’s transit is funded primarily through sales taxes, transit fare revenues, and federal grants.

• While increasing ridership is always a goal of the RTC, operating expenses are increasing more rapidly than revenue generated from transit operations.

How do you expect me to afford the higher price when I can barely afford it now?

• The RTC is like every business – costs are continually increasing
• The cost for contracted transit services has increased significantly.  Equipment and other costs have also risen while fares have remained essentially unchanged for the past 10 years prior to January 11, 2009.

How will I benefit from the fare increase?

• The RTC will be able to continue providing transit service throughout Southern Nevada.

This fare increase is necessary to pay for existing transit services.

• Additionally, as part of its routine service efficiency reviews, the RTC is proposing to reduce service in areas with low ridership and maintain service in densely populated sectors with high ridership.

How will Paratransit Service be affected?

• With the adoption of the fare adjustment the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Paratransit Services Area was redrawn to strictly meet the ¾ mile boundary, as required by the ADA. Those currently certified for service now living inside the service area but by virtue of this change will be living beyond the redefined area, will continue to be serviced until they move or are otherwise no longer certified.

if I have a 30-day All Access pass at the current fare and it does not expire until after the fare adjustment goes into effect, will it still be honored?

• Yes. The passes will be valid after the fare adjustment until the expiration date on the pass. For instance, if you purchased a 30-day pass in mid-November and decided to use it for the first time on December 15, it will expire 30 days after the first swipe activation.  The original swipe date and the expiration date are printed on the back of the pass so the user will know when it expires.

Why are we not using Question 10 funds instead of adjusting prices?

• Ballot Question 10, approved by voters on Nov. 5, 2002, was considered by many to be a way to resolve the region’s transportation infrastructure needs. In the past six years, Question 10 funds have been used to build new roadways, add mass transit vehicles and routes, integrate 70 miles of Intelligent Transportation Systems programs, and coordinate traffic signals. Utilizing Question 10 funds, instead of fare adjustments, has been the preferred way to pay for transportation improvements. The use of Question 10 funds enabled the RTC to hold off on a fare increase until the adjustment was approved in 2008.

WILL THE FLEXIBLE DEMAND RESPONSE (FDR) AND SILVER STAR FARES BE CHANGING ALONG WITH THE OTHER FARES?

• The RTC’s two specialized senior transportation services, Silver STAR and Flexible Demand Response (FDR), fares will not change according to the fare adjustment. 

• The RTC’s Silver STAR, a community based loop system for seniors serving 10 communities around the Las Vegas Valley, and FDR, with three routes that handle the Anthem area of Henderson, Boulder City, and Summerlin communities, connect with fixed routes to provide a broader range of passenger destinations.

HOW WILL SERVICE BE IMPACTED IN 2010?

• Ticket Now, pay before boarding, lets passengers board ACE Gold Line, ACExpress C-Line, Deuce on the Strip, and MAX transit vehicles without having to pass by a farebox.  However, like a conductor on a train, a fare inspector will ask passengers to show proof of purchase, such as a day pass, monthly pass or receipt from a ticket vending machine. The Ticket Now boarding method is expected to reduce transit stop dwell time significantly and will provide a more efficient and more attractive ride to transit patrons.