The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County will have a new operator this summer. Boston-based Keolis Transit Services LLC was recently awarded a 4-year contract, plus two 3-year options for operations and maintenance of fixed route service. The 4-year cost and options cost almost $242 million.
Seven operators submitted qualified proposals to the RTC board in October 2018, including current operator, Dallas-based MV Transportation. MV’s contract expires June 30.
“Keolis was the highest technically-ranked proposer, and also submitted the lowest priced proposal,” Mark Maloney, RTC transit operations manager, wrote in a memo to board members. “The RTC’s director of finance performed a price analysis and determined that Keolis’ price proposal was fair and reasonable and affordable to the RTC.”
RTC’s fixed-route bus system serves more than 20,000 weekday riders on 56 peak-operated vehicles on 27 routes. It also has a regional connector with transit service between Reno and Carson City.
According to its contract with RTC, Keolis will provide priority employment to current workers who successfully complete drug and alcohol testing, a physical examination pertinent to their positions, a background check and necessary training.
Keolis also operates fixed-route local and express routes in the Las Vegas area for the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.
