RTC offers free transit rides for everyone on New Year’s Eve
Riders should plan for holiday transit schedules and traffic detours during the next two weeks; media can perform NYE live shots at Southern Nevada Traffic Management Center 

Click to Tweet: .@RTCSNV offers #FREE rides for #NYE2019. Ride #transit for free on all fixed routes starting 6pm New Year’s Eve until 9am New Year’s Day #LasVegas #RTCSNV

LAS VEGAS – The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is again offering free rides on all its transit routes on New Year’s Eve, enabling anyone attending holiday festivities to do so without having to drive. From 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve until 9 a.m. on New Year’s Day, transit riders can board any vehicle on the RTC’s 39 fixed routes without purchasing a pass or presenting fare.

The free rides include express transit services between RTC operated park-and-ride facilities and partner lots located across the valley. Those celebrating New Year’s Eve can take advantage of the facilities, where it is free to park, to avoid the holiday traffic. Transit service to both the Las Vegas Strip and downtown Las Vegas is offered at the following RTC operated park & ride facilities:

• SOUTH: South Strip Transit Terminal (6675 S. Gilespie St.) via the Strip and Downtown Express (SDX) and Maryland Parkway Route 109.
• NORTHWEST: Centennial Hills Transit Center and Park & Ride (7313 Grand Montecito Pkwy.) via the Centennial Express (CX)
• WEST: Westcliff Transit Center and Park & Ride (25 S. Durango Dr.) via the Westcliff Airport Express (WAX)

In addition to free transit service, the RTC is making transit even more convenient for the holiday by adding service. In addition to the thirteen RTC routes that regularly run 24/7, several other routes will run on a 24-hour schedule or with extended hours, including the Strip and Downtown Express (SDX) service, which will run from midnight to 3:30 a.m.

Riders are advised to plan for extensive transit detours on New Year’s Eve due to celebrations on the Las Vegas Strip. The RTC encourages customers to plan their trip via the rideRTC transit app, which provides real-time information about bus locations. For complete detour and route details, visit www.rtcsnv.com.

Additionally, the RTC transit system will operate on alternate schedules during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. On Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, and on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, routes will operate on a Saturday schedule. Routes will operate on a Sunday schedule on both Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019, and New Year’s Day, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reminds everyone celebrating New Year’s Eve that strollers, backpacks and glass bottles are not allowed on the Las Vegas Strip and that all bags must be 12” x 6” x 12” or smaller. Read more online about the prohibited items on New Year’s Eve.

While the holidays fall in the middle of the week this year, travelers can expect a variety of delays along I-15 southbound as they travel to the Nevada-California border. According to the Southern Nevada Traffic Management Center, delays ranging from 30 to 60 minutes or more may occur on Thursday, Dec. 26 through Sunday, Dec. 29. Delays of up to 60 minutes may occur on Wednesday, Jan. 1 and Thursday, Jan. 2, as well as on Sunday, Jan. 5, as revelers who have celebrated all week long travel back home.

For media interested in late afternoon/early evening live shots at the Southern Nevada Traffic Management Center, please contact Catherine Lu at LuC@rtcsnv.com to coordinate by Monday, Dec. 30.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), with the Nevada Department of Transportation and Nevada Highway Patrol, manages the Southern Nevada Traffic Management Center. The RTC coordinates the valley’s 1,480 traffic signals, 650 cameras, 548 freeway flow detectors, 70 ramp meters, 120 dynamic message signs and 16 travel time signs.

About the RTC
The RTC is the regional authority overseeing public transit, metropolitan planning, roadway funding, traffic management, and the public bike share system. The RTC’s vision is to advance regionally transformative mobility solutions through equitable, innovative and sustainable infrastructure development. The RTC’s mission is to elevate quality of life for residents and visitors through sustainable planning, collaborative problem-solving, and safety and equitable transportation service. For more information about the RTC and our major initiatives or to download the rideRTC app, visit rtcsnv.com. Stay informed by subscribing to our blog or following us on social media.

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