RTC, City of Las Vegas receive $300,000 federal grant for transit-oriented development on Maryland Parkway

Click to Tweet: #FTA invests $300K on Maryland Parkway TOD plan with @RTCSNV and @CityofLasVegas

LAS VEGAS – The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) and the City of Las Vegas are the recipients of a $300,000 grant from the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) to develop a transit-oriented development (TOD) plan for Maryland Parkway.

TOD is a type of development that incorporates a mix of residential and commercial buildings with walkable neighborhoods near public transit. TOD can stimulate economic investment in a neighborhood while offering residents easy access to many types of activities, like employment, housing, restaurants and shops.

This grant will evaluate the potential for TOD opportunities along transit stops on Maryland Parkway from Sahara Avenue through downtown Las Vegas to the Medical District.

“We know that where communities implement high capacity transit, economic development follows,” said Tina Quigley, RTC General Manager. “This grant will help ensure that we have a strategic and collaborative plan in place so development occurs in a thoughtful manner that benefits everyone. It will allow us to maximize the opportunities that high capacity transit can potentially bring to Maryland Parkway, a vital corridor in our valley that is ripe for redevelopment and additional investment.”

“We continue to look for new and innovative ways to efficiently and conveniently move our residents and visitors around Las Vegas,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman. “We look forward to using these funds for new projects in the city of Las Vegas.”

As part of On Board, a comprehensive plan for the future of mobility in Southern Nevada, the RTC is currently undergoing an environmental assessment of Maryland Parkway to determine what transportation option would best fit the needs of the corridor. The proposed project would include an 8.7-mile high capacity transit system to seamlessly link activity centers along Maryland Parkway with an extension to the Las Vegas Medical District and UNLV medical campuses.

The three options under consideration include enhancing the current Route 109 that serves Maryland Parkway, bus-rapid transit or light rail.

The $300,000 TOD grant is one of 20 of FTA’s awards this year to support comprehensive planning projects that improve access to public transportation. The funds are made available through FTA’s Pilot Program for TOD Planning, which assists communities that are developing new or expanded mass transit systems.

For more information on the RTC’s Maryland Parkway project, visit: onboardsnv.com/maryland-parkway.

Photo Caption: Before and after conceptual designs of potential transit oriented development on Maryland Parkway in downtown Las Vegas (credit: Windom Kimsey/TSK Architects)