Fixed bus routes approved -- a first for state's capital

Johannes and Renée Vanderwal, of Carson City, want to depend on public transportation rather than driving their car.

A $1 million transit plan approved Thursday by the Carson City Board of Supervisors will help them do that. Supervisors unanimously approved a four-route system that includes a downtown transfer station from which three buses will depart then loop through the north part of town. One bus will travel south as far as Koontz Lane.

"It seems like we can get rid of our car in the future," Johannes Vanderwal, 75, said after he saw the planned bus routes. Vanderwal and his wife are retired and use an older car to get around town. Renée Vanderwal said they've anticipated this implementation of citywide bus routes.

"We know in our area there are a lot of senior citizens," she said. "This is going to be a help to them."

Supervisors called this the next step in the evolution of Carson City.

"I've already recommended a name for the system - CART - Carson Area Rapid Transit," said Supervisor Pete Livermore, who then laughed. "And also because the sizes of the buses are the size of a cart."

The new system will use four 14-passenger vehicles used by the Carson City Community Transit dial-a-ride system.

"This shows we are evolving as a community," said Supervisor Robin Williamson. "I do want to say I am in support of this project as an aid to the community, not a support to the south Wal-Mart. I want to support other businesses also."

One of the needs identified for this project was to serve the new Wal-Mart, which is under construction on College Parkway, and connect down to Douglas County to reach the Wal-Mart on Topsy Lane.

Mayor Marv Teixeira said if the community uses the buses there is a chance it could support itself, but he wouldn't bet money on it. Very few transit systems, even in large cities such as Las Vegas, are supported through ridership.

"Do we want this to work? Absolutely," Teixeira said. "Can we ever get people out of their love affair with cars? That's an ongoing problem."

Mike Dulude, Carson City transit/transportation planner, said the transfer point will be on the east side of Plaza Street between Robinson and Washington streets, beside the federal building. It will have passenger shelters and benches. If all goes as planned, he said it could expand to 30-foot buses.

Buses will operate on the weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fares will be $1 one-way for the general public and 50 cents for seniors and the disabled. Paratransit fares would be $2 for those who are eligible for disability benefits, and $2.50 otherwise. The new routes could have an annual ridership of 200,000 to 400,000.

Buses will stop about every two-tenths a mile, Dulude said, which is less than a quarter mile between stops. The bus service could be operating by Oct. 1, after an intensive marketing campaign.

Two other buses will be used for dial-a-ride, which will be kept in service for disabled and elderly riders. Dulude said riders will be encouraged to take the fixed-route buses, instead of the more costly Dial-a-ride general ride passengers now pay $4 for a scheduled pickup and drop-off. It has an annual ridership of about 36,000. The existing service costs about $408,000 annually.

- Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.

How will it be funded?

Federal Transit funds:

$432,500

Passenger fares:

Based on the estimated ridership of 200,000: $150,000

Carson City general fund:

$432,500, which is about $130,000 more than what the city contributes to the dial-a-ride system

Aging Services grant:

$66,250