Friday, July 30, 2021 | 2 a.m.
View more of the Sun's opinion section
Las Vegas’ public transportation system is unreliable.
I am no stranger to the city bus. As a young person and a former student at the College of Southern Nevada, I cannot afford a car, so I have used the Regional Transportation Commission’s system to get to school and work, and to get groceries.
I’ve spent long hours waiting on buses. I’ve even missed job opportunities and classes while waiting for buses that did not show up. And I am not alone. Nevadans who take public transportation spend an extra 133.9% of their time commuting. On top of that, buses are powered by gasoline and increase exposure to tailpipe emissions that get in your lungs and are contributors to the climate crisis.
Public transportation is a key aspect in many people’s lives, and we need to improve it.
Nevadans need efficient, safe, clean and reliable public transportation as we get back to work. While Congress considers broad proposals to repair infrastructure and create jobs, it must help modernize transportation for the communities that depend on it, and for the tourists looking for a better way to explore our city.
We need to better meet rider demand, repair the backlog of unfixed systems, bring public transportation services to more neighborhoods, and ensure they are powered by clean energy.
I am calling on Congress to invest in infrastructure to rebuild reliable transportation systems that keep up with modern times, and to rebuild communities, support Nevada’s returning workforce, and fight the climate crisis.
The writer is a local organizer and advocate and volunteer for the Nevada Conservation League.
