The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) announced its plans to install 150 new solar-powered bus shelters throughout the Las Vegas Valley as part of its federally funded transit amenities program.

RTC GM Jacob Snow stated that not only will the new shelters provide an attractive, comfortable and shaded place for riders to wait for transit, but they will also save thousands of dollars in energy costs.

“These new transit shelters feature energy-saving LED lighting and solar panels that enable the shelters to power their own illumination without being connected to the local power grid,” said Snow. “As a result, these 150 new bus shelters are estimated to save taxpayers about $54,000 a year in energy costs.”

The shelters, built with recyclable materials, have room to accommodate a passenger in a wheelchair or other mobility device and will feature a bench, a receptacle bin, a display case for transit information and two advertising panels that will overall improve the experience of transit riders.

The purchase and installation of the 150 new energy-saving shelters is funded by a $1.8 million formula grant from the Federal Transit  Administration (FTA) that must be allocated for transit enhancement
projects such as transit shelters.

All 150 transit shelters are scheduled to be installed by the end of the year in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County.

The new shelters were designed by Luchessi Galati Architects,  manufactured by Tolar Manufacturing Inc. and installed by Outdoor Promotions, with Mailey Concrete pouring the concrete slab.

In 2005, the Nevada Legislature authorized the RTC to oversee bus shelters in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County. The RTC is responsible for the installation and maintenance of bus shelters in these jurisdictions. In total, the RTC has approximately 3,500 transit stops valley-wide and 1,500 stops have shelters.

The RTC is the transit authority, transportation planning agency and  regional traffic management agency for Southern Nevada.