Maryland Parkway is a vital corridor for the Las Vegas Valley, extending from McCarran International Airport to downtown Las Vegas, and connecting many high-activity centers, such as University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), The Boulevard Mall, Sunrise Hospital, as well as commercial and residential areas. Investments in transportation infrastructure could improve mobility along the corridor for motorists, transit riders, bicyclists and pedestrians and enhance access to the surrounding areas.

The Maryland Parkway environmental assessment was completed in 2019. The RTC Board of Directors voted to move forward with the less expensive bus rapid transit option in April. The Federal Transit Administration issued the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in December 2019. The project will move forward with submitting an application for federal funding in 2020.

Transit Technology Options Previously Considered

Enhanced Route 109

Bus Rapid Transit

Light Rail

Recap from Public Meetings

As part of a public comment period, the RTC reached out to the community to hear firsthand from the people who live and work in and around Maryland Parkway about how they want to travel – specifically discussing three options: enhancing the current bus service (Route 109), implementing bus rapid transit service or building light rail.

Questions from attendees ran the gamut. From project costs and projected economic development to maintaining travel lanes and improving pedestrian safety, the meetings enabled attendees to better understand the benefits and impacts of the three options.

“We’ve had extensive support and excitement around the light rail concept but any improvement would be awesome,” said Timo Kuusela, general manager of The Boulevard Mall, located in the heart of Maryland Parkway and where the RTC held one of its meetings.

At the public meeting held at the Fifth Street School, one resident expressed significant concerns regarding pedestrian safety, especially for students at UNLV, and proposed overhead pedestrian bridges be considered as part of the plan.

At the end of the public comment period, the local preferred alternative was the light rail option. However, after thorough consideration, the RTC Board of Commissioners voted to move forward with the less expensive, bus rapid transit option in April 2019.  

Environment Assessment Documents

Draft Environmental Assessment

• Maryland Parkway Draft Environmental Assessment (PDF)
• Appendix A – Maryland Parkway Public Outreach Program (PDF)
• Appendix B – Summary of Initial AA Process (PDF)
• Appendix C – Summary of LPA Refinement Process (PDF)
• Appendix D Maryland Parkway BRT Alternative Plans (PDF)
• Appendix D Maryland Parkway LRT Alternative Plans (PDF)
• Appendix E – Complete Streets Analysis & Considerations (PDF)
• Appendix F – Maryland Parkway Bike Facility Options Evaluation (PDF)
• Appendix G – Land use and Economic Report (PDF)
• Appendix H – Cultural Resources Coordination (PDF)
• Appendix I – Maryland Parkway Initial Site Assessment (PDF)
• Appendix J – Maryland Parkway Noise and Vibration Tech Memo (PDF)
• Maryland Parkway 2014 Alternatives Analysis (PDF)

Additional Documents

• Maryland Parkway Air Quality Tech Memo April 2018 (PDF)
• Maryland Parkway Biological Resources Tech Memo April 2018 (PDF)
• Maryland Parkway Cultural Resource Survey (PDF)
• Maryland Parkway Cumulative Effects Tech Memo (PDF)
• Maryland Parkway Section 4(f) Tech Memo April 2018 (PDF)
• Maryland Parkway Visual Impact Assessment July 2018 (PDF)
• RTC RTP TIP 1997 Ozone Conformity Determination
• Maryland Parkway – Technical Memorandum
• Maryland Parkway – Summary of Public Comments
• Maryland Parkway – All Public Comments