RTC RAPID Virginia Line

The RTC launched the final piece of the Virginia Street Project Bus RAPID Transit Extension Project with the extension of the all-electric RAPID Virginia Line service to the University of Nevada, Reno, on March 8, 2021. Transit riders including University students, faculty, and staff are now more connected to our region than ever before. The University and the community benefit from the extended RAPID service and new stations with their convenient locations and quick access to destinations along Virginia Street from campus to downtown Reno, Midtown Reno, and Meadowood Mall.

The RAPID Virginia Line is an enhanced transit service. The route has features that allow buses to travel more quickly on Virginia Street and with fewer stops than on regular bus routes, including transit stops approximately every half-mile, raised level-boarding platforms to allow passengers to get on and off quickly, dedicated bus lanes in some locations, and technology that allows the bus to communicate with traffic signals to help keep the route on schedule. The electric coaches are very quiet and passengers waiting at RAPID stations will be encouraged to pay extra attention when the bus is arriving. RAPID buses are scheduled to have 10-minute headways along Virginia Street.

As part of the Virginia Street project, there are five RAPID transit stations near the University, on both sides of Virginia Street. In 2020 and 2021, the RTC made sidewalk improvements and added a roundabout on Virginia Street at the entrance to the University’s West Stadium Parking Complex to improve safety and traffic flow. The project also included the restriping of Virginia Street 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. The Midtown improvements are similar, including three upgraded RAPID stations and a roundabout.

With parking being limited in and around the campus, the extended RAPID service reduces traffic congestion and eases parking hassles. Transit helps improve access and walkability, reduces pollution, and is a sustainable solution that contributes to a better quality of life for those who live nearby transit stops and choose to ride transit.

RTC RAPID Lincoln Line

RTC launched the RAPID Lincoln Line service on the 4th Street/Prater Way corridor with four all-electric buses on Friday, December 14, 2018. The service honors the corridor’s rich history with historic images on the buses exteriors and at the eight new stations along the RAPID route celebrating the historic Lincoln Highway. The route has features that allow buses to travel more quickly on 4th Street/Prater Way, and with fewer stops than on regular bus routes, including transit stops approximately every half-mile, raised level-boarding platforms to allow passengers to get on and off quickly, and technology that allows the bus to communicate with traffic signals to help keep the route on schedule.

The RTC began construction on the 4th Street/Prater Way Corridor in January 2017. The $58 million investment in our community, funded with federal and local funds, better connects Downtown Reno to Downtown Sparks and provides access to jobs and education opportunities.

The project has revitalized and transformed the corridor, adding wider sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping, and energy-efficient LED lighting. The RTC also moved utilities underground, removing poles and barriers for people with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act.