RTC Pairs Tech, Forethought to Keep Riders Safe and Informed

Transit agencies around the world are in the middle of an uncertain time, when we are all being challenged with finding answers even if we do not know the questions yet. Without a roadmap, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is adapting to the new landscape created by the coronavirus pandemic with one goal to guide us: to keep our riders safe.

Through the disruption, we are making strides to provide a safer, more enhanced experience for our customers, many of whom are the essential workers at grocery stores, food establishments, medical buildings, and more. We are implementing extensive precautions and exploring new high-tech options that will change transit as we know it, all while updating our customers in real time so we remain transparent and accountable.

Extensive safety protocols

Prior to the pandemic, we enjoyed year-over-year growth of increasing ridership, bucking the national trend of decreasing transit ridership. In just a few months’ time, however, the pandemic brought plummeting ridership, forcing us to adjust our transit schedule accordingly and explore new avenues to ensuring safety.

Like many of our peers, we ramped up cleaning protocols, instituted social distancing measures on buses by reducing close-proximity seating, deployed higher-capacity vehicles on routes, and regulated Nevada’s face covering mandate, all of which are outlined in our 14-Point Safety Plan.

However, we are one of few transit agencies that had previously installed driver enclosures on all of our buses. During the pandemic, we extended the existing enclosures to provide even more protection for our drivers.

Shortly after implementing these precautions, we surveyed our riders to get their feedback. The majority of those surveyed (74%) reported that they felt the RTC’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 made them feel safe while riding transit. While we were pleased with the results, we knew we could do more for our riders.

New high-tech options

As an agency, we have always taken pride in pivoting effortlessly to respond to change and in seeking new, innovative methods to reach our goals. The pandemic has certainly tested our abilities in both areas, leading us to cutting-edge options that will enhance safety for our riders.

In addition to the safety measures already in place, the RTC is pursuing several features moving forward:

• Air ion cleaners that will kill germs and viruses circulating in the air while our vehicles are on the road.
• Micro-bacterial shields, a clear, odorless protective coating, will be applied to seats and high-touch surfaces on buses to kill viruses upon contact.
• Real-time passenger counts for buses that will be available online and via our smartphone app, rideRTC.
• Sanitation information that will be displayed on each vehicle to notify passengers about the last time it was disinfected.

While we do not know when the pandemic will stabilize, we know that our riders deserve to feel as safe as possible while riding transit.

Information in real time

But instituting these safety measures is only half the battle. Our customers need to be informed about the protocols we have put in place and the strides we are taking on behalf of their safety. We are committed not only to improving the safety of our passengers but also to being transparent with our data so they can make the best, most informed decisions for themselves.

We have been able to communicate swiftly and transparently with our customers through a variety of methods:

• Real-time detour alerts, which quickly allows us to notify customers via email and text message to more than 10,000 transit riders about potential issues. This feature has proven to be especially useful during the pandemic to communicate to our riders beyond detours.
• An online data dashboard that displays how the pandemic is affecting our agency’s ridership, revenue, vehicle capacity, and more.
• Wi-Fi messages on board. We know that 80% of our customers have a smartphone, some with limited data options, which has allowed us to communicate to riders who may not have internet access at home.

It is equally important to inform our riders about the safety measures we implement to bridge the gap between action and awareness.

Moving forward

Safety has and continues to be the highest priority for the RTC, and the pandemic has only magnified it for us, as well as transit agencies across the world. We will continue with our existing safety protocols; exploring options as new technology emerges; and communicating effectively to our riders, operators, security officers, and staff. Ridership will return as communities reopen, and it is our duty to ensure passengers have a safe transit system waiting for them.