The RTC is committed to working with our federal partners to improve and enhance safety, mobility, and transportation options in our community. The RTC has created federal policy priorities, transit priorities, and highway priorities, listed below, to help guide us into the future. Top priorities are noted with *** asterisks.

RTC 2025 FEDERAL PRIORITIES

TRANSIT PRIORITIES

• Bus Maintenance Facility Replacement
  This project is a priority as the relocation of our current bus maintenance facility is required due to Phase 4 of the Spaghetti Bowl project. As RTC expands service to keep pace with a growing community and an impending NDOT project necessitates the relocation of the facility, a new site will need to be acquired, and a replacement facility developed prior to NDOT’s start of construction. This project will allow for on-site investment in hydrogen-fueling infrastructure. Additionally, the new facility is planned to provide space for long-term expansion of the fleet, notably alternative-fuel vehicles.

• 4th Street Station Expansion
  RTC’s 4th Street Station is the primary transit hub for the region and currently has almost 5,000 daily boardings at the facility. This facility is landlocked on three sides but RTC is examining opportunities to expand the area southward to accommodate additional electric bus charging stations and improve the overall passenger experience by modifying pedestrian circulation, adding additional bus bays, and other enhancements to the facility. In addition, RTC staff is developing a partnership with the Downtown Reno Partnership (DRP) to establish new DRP offices at 4th Street Station. By establishing DRP offices at 4th Street Station, the RTC aims to strengthen security measures, improve the overall transit experience, and foster a more inclusive environment for all residents and visitors. This strategic investment in community safety and security will not only provide additional resources at the station but also reinforce RTC’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations while enhancing the safety of our transit system..
  

HIGHWAY PRIORITIES (FREEWAY IMPROVEMENTS)

• I-80 Improvements (Spaghetti Bowl Phase 2)
  I-80 is a nationally significant freight corridor and critical for regional mobility within the Truckee Meadows. NDOT studies identified short- and long-term investments to improve safety, and travel time reliability between the Spaghetti Bowl and Sparks Boulevard to the Tahoe-Reno Industrial (TRI) Center in Storey County.

HIGHWAY PRIORITIES (REGIONAL ROAD IMPROVEMENTS)

• Sun Valley Boulevard Corridor Improvements
  The segment of Sun Valley Boulevard from Scottsdale Road to 7th Avenue experiences a significant amount of pedestrian traffic and is one of the highest transit ridership areas not located on a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route. A portion of this roadway has been identified on the region’s High Injury Network (HIN), where the top 25% of the most severe crashes have occurred. The project will address active transportation and safety needs in this Historically Disadvantaged Community. Significant design work has already been accomplished and the project is in a “shovel ready” state.
  
• Keystone Avenue Bridge Replacement
  The Keystone Avenue Bridge over the Truckee River is structurally deficient and does not accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. This project will allow the replacement of a piece of failing infrastructure with a safer alternative, which will include bike and pedestrian facilities where there currently are none.

• Highlands Ranch Parkway/Pyramid Highway Intersection
  This intersection is a major connector between two areas that experience large amounts of growth. Traffic is currently experiencing longer delays and widening has been identified as an important solution here. This project addresses both congestion and safety. Construction of a grade separated interchange will allow better mobility at this busy intersection.

• Geiger Grade Road Realignment
  The roundabout at the intersection of SR 341 Geiger Grade and Veterans Parkway in South Reno near U.S. 395 has seen a significant increase in area traffic since the completion of Veterans Parkway (the Southeast Connector Project) and various residential developments in the last decade. While interim improvements to the roundabout are being made in the near-term, long-term alternatives need to be evaluated to improve operations and relieve congestion at the existing intersection. The prospect of realigning Geiger Grade to connect directly with U.S. 395, south of the existing intersection was preliminarily studied prior to the completion of the Southeast Connector. Further evaluation of realignment alternatives is now needed to address diminishing operations and circulation in the area as noted in both the Mount Rose Corridor Plan and the South Meadows Multimodal Transportation Study.

• Biggest Little Bike Network
  This collection of four routes in downtown Reno will reconfigure the roads to make it easier, safer, and more comfortable for people who want to walk, bike, or use scooters to move around. The $29.6 million project will be designed to create more space between traffic and people who use micromodal transportation. The network will connect places like the University of Nevada, Reno with Midtown and Downtown for commuting, create safer transportation to sports and entertainment venues, public transit, and improve access to jobs and grocery stores.

• Vision Zero Truckee Meadows Improvements
  This is a collection of multimodal transportation improvements located on the region’s High Injury Network (HIN) and identified for priority implementation in the Vision Zero Truckee Meadows Action Plan. The desired outcome of these projects would be to improve transportation safety for all road users, regardless of travel mode. Each of these individual projects is located in a Historically Disadvantaged Community and incorporates multiple Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Proven Safety Countermeasures to achieve the goal of a reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes.

POLICY PRIORITIES

• Environmental Streamlining
  Reduce project development costs and duration by reducing the duplication of efforts in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. This includes reducing duplication in the Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 processes and requirements. In addition, limiting the requirements for re-analyzing traffic data for a NEPA document would save time and resources.

• Fully Fund Highway and Mass Transit Programs
  Fully fund federal transit and highway programs at levels authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). RTC encourages Congress to appropriate IIJA authorized levels for the Federal Highway and Transit Administration’s formula and discretionary programs.

• Support Efficiency of Federal Regulations
  Would recommend allowing for early acquisition of property before environmental review is complete for Federal Transit Administration projects to match Federal Highway Administration practice for roadway projects. Currently, the FHWA allows the acquisition of property before the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process can begin. The FTA does not allow the purchase until the NEPA process is complete.

• Support Development of Public Lands Management Approach
  The RTC is committed to partnering with diverse stakeholders to develop a well-balanced approach to public land management legislation addressing the needs of all regional partners in Washoe County. This effort is anticipated to allow federal lands to be recommended for development, creating permanent land conservation and helping to fund additional land preservation and conservation projects statewide.
  
  
• Support Joint Development and Public-Private Partnership
  The RTC supports the continuation of FTA’s joint development program and the encouragement of economic development in transit corridors. RTC also supports the creation of incentives for grantees to include private sector participation in transit infrastructure projects, transit service delivery and related economic development projects. RTC supports the use of innovative financing tools, including but not limited to asset-recycling, Build America Bonds, private activity bonds, state infrastructure banks, increased authorization for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, and equity investment tax credits.

• Support Regional Pavement Preservation
  Assist local government in identifying Federal funding opportunities for pavement preservation. The preservation of existing roads and highways in a state of good repair is an important tool to ensure the effective use of Federal funding while also improving transportation safety, reducing surface transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, delivering equitable transportation options and access, and accommodating new and emerging technologies by upgrading the region’s existing infrastructure. Support of this policy is consistent with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Presidential Executive Orders (Eos), including EO 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.

• Spare Ratio Flexibility
  With the transition to new technology, the spare ratio should be increased to acknowledge that zero-emission vehicles have longer lead times for replacement parts and support, so they could require more than a 1:1 ratio for operations. FTA should provide maximum flexibility on this policy to grantees and clearly communicate this message consistently from both HQ and regional FTA offices.

• Waive “Under the Hood” Requirement
  The public transit industry continues to experience a severe shortage of drivers and is struggling to maintain its workforce. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s “under the hood” testing requirement for Commercial Driver’s License applicants make this even more challenging. Since transit agencies have a staff of mechanics, it is an unnecessary step for potential bus operators to pass this portion of the test. School Districts already have this waiver for their bus drivers for the same reason. A five-year exemption from this requirement will alleviate the critical shortage of bus operators, advance equity, and achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety.

RECENT FEDERAL FUNDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Lemmon Drive Improvements and Resiliency Project Federal Funding Source: $25 Million – Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant
  The Lemmon Drive Segment 2 Project will reconstruct 3.7 miles of Lemmon Drive between Fleetwood Drive to Ramsey way above the 100-year flood plain of Swan Lake. The Project will also widen Lemmon Drive from Fleetwood Drive to Palace Drive, provide safe connections to the area’s Historically Disadvantaged Communities, and improve the multimodal connectivity.
  
• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus and Fueling Facility Federal Funding Source: $8.78 Million – Low or No Emission (Low-No) Vehicle Program
  The RTC has taken a leading role to successfully convert the bus fleet to 100 percent alternative fuels. The purchase of six hydrogen fuel cell buses and the expansion of hydrogen fueling infrastructure, as well as an innovative virtual reality program to train bus mechanics to use this cutting-edge technology will allow RTC to take the next step in this evolution.
  
• 6th Street For All Federal Funding Source: $8.96 Million – Safe Streets and Roads for All
  This project has been identified as a priority action item in the Vision Zero Truckee Meadows Action Plan. The need for improvements along this corridor is identified in numerous local and regional plans. The project is also part of a network of approved micromobility improvements in Downtown Reno. This corridor has been identified as having the highest safety needs, according to the region’s High Injury Network. Project implementation would demonstrate not only a commitment to enhancing safety but to improving equitable access and supporting climate and sustainability goals.
  
• Truckee Meadows Safety Action Plan Federal Funding Source: $1.2 Million – Safe Streets and Roads for All
  This comprehensive safety action plan aims to reduce and eliminate serious injury and fatal crashes affecting all roadway users. Advanced data collection and analysis will be used to update the regional high-injury network (HIN), identifying the top 25% of roadways most in need of safety improvements. Once identified, the HIN will inform targeted safety improvements and strategies to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries on the regional road network.
  
• Arlington Avenue Bridges Replacement Project Federal Funding Source: $7 Million – RAISE Grant, $5.9 Million – STBG, $2 Million – Community Project Funding
  This project consists of the replacement of the two Arlington Avenue Bridges at the Truckee River in downtown Reno. Additionally, the project will look to perpetuate and where possible enhance community access to the Truckee River and Wingfield Park as well as improve the hydraulic capacity of the Truckee River during flood events. There will be some aesthetic enhancements incorporated into the bridge design. The bridges, roadway, and Wingfield Park are owned by the City of Reno.