Traffic relief is finally on the horizon for a busy stretch of Maryland Parkway from near UNLV to downtown Las Vegas, as a two-year, $378 million road project is nearing completion.
Enhanced bus rapid transit service will begin running later this month on the 12.5-mile bus route on Maryland Parkway from near Harry Reid International Airport to downtown and into the Las Vegas Medical District, according to Regional Transportation Commission deputy CEO Andrew Kjellman.
“We’re really excited that the Red Line will begin initial passenger service on Aug. 23. And we’re going to wrap up this new Red Line service with our other annual transit service changes,” Kjellman said, noting that the federally funded project will replace RTC’s existing 109 bus route.
“It’s transforming one of Southern Nevada’s most important transportation corridors,” Kjellman said. “And it’s really serving all modes. So, whether you’re driving, walking, taking transit, or riding a bike, it’s really designed to accommodate and improve the travel experience for everyone.”
Maryland Parkway is one of RTC’s five busiest bus routes in the Las Vegas Valley. The BRT project construction has caused traffic headaches along Maryland Parkway near UNLV and into downtown for the last two years.
Remaining work
Work will continue on sections of Maryland Parkway after the new bus route opens, with substantial completion by year’s end.
“There will be some construction activity continuing, specifically in the county section between Sahara Avenue and Flamingo Road,” Kjellman said. “Some of this is our work. So RTC work related to final punch list items, things like finalizing shelter installation, final landscaping, lighting and permanent striping. But then it’s also important to remember that there’s other projects going on as well in that section of the corridor.”
Kjellman said that additional construction includes work on energy, private utility and private development on Maryland Parkway from Sahara to Flamingo.
“We’re just coordinating with that as best as we can,” he said.
One aspect of the project that won’t be completed until next spring is the final repave of Maryland Parkway between Flamingo and Desert Inn Road.
“We need the temperatures to warm back up next spring to do that final layer of asphalt on that 1-mile section from DI to Flamingo.” Kjellman said. “We’ll do the final striping after that pavement is poured.”
New shelters, ‘red lane’ coming
Additionally, 44 larger bus shelters are also being added to the corridor as part of the project.
“They’re (new bus shelters) really nice, big, prominent,” Kjellman said. “They’re really well lit. They provide a lot of shade, and cameras are in there for enhanced safety, security.”
The road work includes a new “red lane,” which will serve as a shared-use lane with priority given to RTC buses. Motorists should only use red lanes if they are making a right turn along the corridor.
“The red lanes are really to improve visibility, increase driver awareness, and help transit run more efficiently,” Kjellman said. “Part of it is just redesigning the whole corridor, and it’s enhancing the prominence of transit and kind of signifying that this is an overall corridor makeover and reinvestment.”
Wrapping up
Revamping the corridor has been in the works for at least a decade. Light rail was once considered for the route, so getting the enhanced bus service and its 16-bus fleet of 60-foot-long hydrogen-fueled vehicles on the road is a big moment for the RTC.
With the project in the making for almost 10 years, nearing the finish line is a milestone that the RTC is happy to be approaching.
“While some of the project development and getting environmental reviews did take some time, we are wrapping up construction of the project within our two-year timeline,” Kjellman said. “So, we are excited about that.”
Contact Mick Akers at makers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X. Send questions and comments to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com.
