Clark County residents lacking bus service may get on-demand microtransit

Some 185,000 residents of Henderson and southwest Las Vegas who currently lack nearby transit service would have access to new options, including on-demand microtransit — a ride in a multi-passenger van — if lawmakers approve Senate Bill 362.

Thanks to federal stimulus funds, the Regional Transportation Commission, which cut $9 million in transit service in response to COVID-19 and already-declining Strip route revenue, intends to restore 96 percent of its previous routes and extend transit to unserved areas.

But the RTC isn’t relying on standard, 40 foot buses.  It’s opting for a government-run on-demand service for both paratransit and fixed route passengers for the same cost as a bus ride — $2 each way.  RTC Chief Executive Officer M.J. Maynard says microtransit is “a smaller, on-demand service people can book on their mobile devices rather than having to book with the RTC.”