RTC to Install 105 New Bus Shelters by 2028

The Regional Transportation Commission will install 105 new bus shelters across Clark County by 2028 to provide expanded shade and improved lighting for riders. The project targets areas where extreme heat poses a safety risk to commuters waiting for public transit.

RTC Executive Director M.J. Maynard-Carey announced the new shelter design on Thursday at the Robert E. Price Recreation Center. The presentation included Caleb Jackson, a first-year UNLV student, and members of Nevada's federal delegation. The new structures feature large metal frames with wide blue roofs and bidirectional seating.

Jackson, who lives near Blue Diamond Road, has relied on the bus since elementary school because his mother needs the family car for work. He travels up to an hour or more to attend classes at UNLV, work, and participate in folk dancing at the Boulevard Mall. "Waiting for the bus in the heat makes you question if you really want to take the bus, but in my case, I have no other choice," Jackson said during the press conference.

The shelters are prioritized for central and eastern Las Vegas, where heat island effects are most intense. A 2022 study funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration mapped these areas using data from 60 volunteers. The volunteers drove vehicles equipped with roof-mounted sensors, collecting approximately 138,000 temperature and humidity readings on August 13, 2022.

The study identified the highest concentrations of heat-related deaths in 2023 within zip codes 89101, 89030, and 89104. These areas cover central Las Vegas including the Corridor of Hope, central North Las Vegas, and the area bordering the Strat and extending northeast of the Strip. Other critical heat zones include stops along Spring Mountain Road, such as the location in front of Spring Mountain Plaza.

An RTC survey with more than 1,300 responses found that 88% of respondents walk to their nearest stop. Fifty-seven percent reported feeling the effects of extreme heat more while waiting for the bus. The new shelters include solar-powered lighting panels on the roof to improve visibility and safety during nighttime hours.

Clark County recorded 260 heat-related deaths in 2026 through September, according to the Southern Nevada Health District. This figure is lower than the 284 deaths recorded in 2025 and the record 513 deaths from the summer of 2024. The National Weather Service noted that 2025 was the fifth warmest year on record for Las Vegas, with 77 days reaching 100 degrees or higher.

Federal funding for the project totals $1.35 million. The funds were secured by Nevada's congressional delegation, which includes Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, and Representatives Steven Horsford, Susie Lee, and Dina Titus. All five members are Democrats.

Representative Dina Titus stated that extreme heat is a disaster that kills more people than tornadoes and hurricanes combined. "Anything we can do to address that here in the valley is really a step forward," Titus said. She emphasized that providing shade allows residents to wait for transport in safer conditions.

Senator Cortez Masto noted that the RTC handles 58 million passenger trips annually. The new shelters are designed to accommodate riders who rely most on the bus system, including seniors, students, and veterans. "This project aims to make our public transportation easier and more attractive for Nevadans," Cortez Masto said. She added that the delegation remains committed to securing additional federal funds to strengthen local transit resources.