Transportation in Reno is Improving

The transporation in Reno is improving.  Plans for the improvement of the Reno Transit Corridor began back in summer 2007.  The City Council made specific recommendations to the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) at that time for ways to improve travel through the South Virginia corridor.  Recently, the RTC accepted the City's recommendations and have begun the process of moving forward on them.  The seven particular areas of improvement include:

1. Creating a bus rapid transit (BRT) through the RTC with RTC RAPID and RAPID CONNECT services from downtown Reno's CitiCenter to Meadowood Mall.  The first public meeting on this will be held in February 2010, with a second public meeting to follow in May 2010.  Construction is slated for November 2010.
2. Station requirements and design standards were modified to the Reno Municipal Code to improve safety and comfort.
3. Modifying the Reno Municipal Code to allow a Regional Road Impact Fee credit for newly constructed parking lots next to Virginia Street that create a right-of-way for any type of motorized vehicle (cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, etc.).
4. Improve streetscape standards.  This contract was awarded to Wood Rodgers in December 2009.  To keep the public abreast of the latest news of the project, a website was set up at www.sovi-completestreet.com.
5. Modify the new Virginia Street bridge design to include streetcars and light rail transit (LRT).  Ideas were received by the Public Works in December and are under review.
6. Construct a multimodal center to centralize several different forms of transportation in one area.  The Reno City Council recently approved ReTRAC enhancement funds for this project.
7. Establish the Virginia Street Coordinating Committee (VSPCC) to coordinate all projects involved in improving the Reno Transit Corridor.  The VSPCC is comprised of members of RTC, the City of Reno and the TMRPA (Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency).

The VSPCC has also agreed to create an informal committee that would consist of members who represent the community and businesses along the Virginia Street corridor.  They will meet three times a week and present their independent findings and recommendations to the VSPCC by April 1, 2010.

The City of Reno is taking great strides to improve transportation in Reno to help ease congestion and keep Reno the Biggest Little City in the World.