The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) partnered with Transit to provide customers with real-time crowding information directly via the Transit app. The new feature is designed to help riders make informed decisions about trip planning and social distancing.

“As we continue to navigate through this pandemic, we are operating our transit vehicles at a 50-percent capacity to allow riders to practice safe social distancing,” said RTC CEO MJ Maynard. “We’ve made this safety commitment to our passengers, and we are taking that commitment a step further by providing our riders with valuable real-time information so they can make educated decisions about how and when to travel.”

When users tap their route line in the Transit app, they see a map showing the live locations of transit vehicles along their route. The vehicle icon displays the last update of the vehicle’s location but also its current crowding level listed as the following:

• Many seats: when a vehicle is below 50% of the COVID-19 capacity

• Some seats: when a vehicle is between 50% and 90% of the COVID-19 capacity

• Very limited seats: when a vehicle is above 90% of the COVID-19 capacity

Crowding levels are calculated using the RTC’s current onboard capacity restrictions for COVID-19, providing riders with access to an accurate indication of crowding on a given bus. These levels reflect the latest guidance to ensure that riders can maintain physical distancing onboard.

“This kind of information is a huge step in helping riders feel confident getting on the bus. And not just during the pandemic: it also makes a big difference if you use a wheelchair, you’re carrying big luggage or you just want to feel more comfortable,” says David Block-Schachter, chief business officer at Transit.

Riders can also share how crowded they perceive the bus to be by using Transit’s “GO” step-by-step navigator. These crowdsourced reports, when compared against passenger count data from the RTC, provide important insights into how customers are feeling about crowding levels onboard.

Transit is available to download for iPhone and Android at www.transitapp.com. Customers can purchase their pass within the Transit app, or via the rideRTC.