RTC NEWS RELEASE – The RTC invites the public to celebrate the addition of four brand new battery-electric buses to its fleet with a community celebration on Monday, April 14 at 10:00 a.m. at RTC 4th Street Station on Evans Avenue.
US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will attend the RTC event to celebrate the launch of the new buses made possible with a federal grant from the US Dept. of Transportation/Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Local and state dignitaries and representatives from Proterra, Inc. will join Senator Reid to mark the occasion.
The new acquisition adds four new Proterra battery-electric buses to the RTC’s regional service. These buses will be recharged at the downtown Reno transit center’s FastFill™ charging station while on route using advanced wireless controls that facilitate the docking process and eliminate any intervention from the driver. Buses are charged in five to ten minutes while passengers load and unload. The RTC is the first public transportation agency in the state of Nevada to use all-electric buses in its fleet adding to its hybrid-diesel electric buses already in service.
Some of the benefits of these new buses include reduced fuel use, lower maintenance costs, lower emissions and quieter vehicles.RTC Executive Director Lee Gibson said, “The RTC continues to invest in the community’s transit system to provide residents and visitors transportation choices and access to sustainable healthy transportation.”
Everyone is welcome to attend the event which will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. Free event parking is available from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the National Bowling Stadium parking garage or board a new bus using the RTC “Sierra Spirit” route to reach RTC 4th Street Station. Evans Avenue will be closed to thru-traffic between Streets from 8:00 a.m. to noon.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County, Nevada serves the citizens of Reno, Sparks and unincorporated areas of Washoe County. As the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the region, the RTC provides leadership in planning, public policy development and implementation of quality transportation systems through a commitment to excellence and stewardship to meet the community’s present and future transportation needs. For more information about RTC projects visit rtcwashoe.com and sign up for free email updates using MyRTC or call 775-348-0400.
