Bike lanes planned around new transit center

The Regional Transportation Commission is building on its effort to encourage residents and visitors downtown to use alternate forms of transit by installing bike lanes on several roads surrounding its new Bonneville Transit Center.

Thanks to a $68,000 grant from the Southern Nevada Health District, the commission is contributing to a city of Las Vegas project that will widen sidewalks, plant trees to create a more friendly environment for pedestrians, enhance intersections and add decorative lighting.

Jacob Snow, general manager of the transportation agency, envisions residents walking or bicycling downtown to the Bonneville Transit Center to hop a bus. The new facility has storage spaces for bikes.

The bike lanes will run along the city’s project area, which includes Third, Sixth, Garces, Main and Commerce streets. They should be built by next year.

At the request of Commissioner Chris Guinchigliani, Snow also said his agency will work on installing signs along bike lanes to show the distance to the next destination of interest.

Also on Thursday, the commission agreed to pitch in half of the $700,000 needed to divert the upcoming Boulder Highway Express bus line onto Water Street in downtown Henderson, provided the Henderson City Council approves the interlocal agreement.

If approved, the eastbound express buses would depart Boulder Highway at Lake Mead Parkway, make stops along Water Street, and return to the highway via Pacific Avenue. Snow said the bus line would compliment the city’s redevelopment efforts downtown.

Public transit systems, such as bus rapid transit or light rail, tend to be more popular in cities that attract pedestrian traffic, Snow said.

The Boulder Highway Express line is expected to open in August.

Veolia Transportation, which for nearly a decade has held the $100 million contract to operate and manage public transportation, is at risk of losing the lucrative deal.

The transportation commission told Snow to begin negotiating a contract with First Transit, which scored better in its bid that included qualifications in addition to price. First Transit runs the commission’s Paratransit line.

The deal is a three-year contract with the option for two, two-year extensions. The commission is scheduled to make its final decision in April.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.