RTC, Lyft Partner on Pilot Program to Enhance Commuting Options for Northgate Distribute Center Employees, Save on Transportation Costs

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is again partnering with transportation network company Lyft, on an innovative six-month pilot program to enhance job access and encourage multimodal commuting options for Fanatics employees at the Northgate Distribution Center in North Las Vegas.

Under the RTC’s new Workforce Mobility Program (WMP), registered employees of sports merchandise company Fanatics will be able to use Lyft at a reduced rate to the employer for first- and last-mile service to and from 13 specified RTC bus stops along six transit routes. Those routes include 111 (Eastern), 113 (Las Vegas Boulevard North), 115 (Nellis/Stephanie), 203 (Spring Mountain/Desert Inn/Lamb), 219 (Craig) and the Downtown & Veterans Medical Center Express (DVX).

“We’re excited to once again work with the RTC to provide a comprehensive transportation solution to residents,” said Yacob Girma, Lyft’s Nevada general manager. “Lyft understands the importance of partnering with transportation agencies on critical programs designed to improve access to jobs.”

Through the partnership program, Lyft is providing the first-/last-mile service at a reduced rate, and the RTC will subsidize $1 per trip. Fanatics will also subsidize the remaining balance for each employee trip to and from the designated bus stops from its worksite.

“This is another example of the incredible innovation that's come to define our city,” North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee said. “When government and the private sector come together to collaborate on creative solutions, amazing things happen. I commend the RTC and Fanatics for providing safe, reliable transportation options for our North Las Vegas workforce.”

The Workforce Mobility Program kicked off yesterday for Fanatics, which anticipates about 15 to 20 percent of its employees to take advantage of the opportunity. The program can be extended to other interested companies at Northgate Distribution Center located near Lamb Boulevard/I-15 and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, an area that isn’t served by the RTC fixed-route transit system.

“As a government agency, the RTC has a responsibility to look for ways to partner with private-sector companies in an effort to provide accessible and cost-effective transportation options,” said RTC General Manager Tina Quigley. “This partnership with Lyft and Fanatics is an innovative move toward creating first-mile/last-mile connections that benefit the employees who use the service and the employer, as well as Lyft and the RTC.”

Following the end of the six-month pilot, the RTC and Lyft will explore the possibility of bundled transit and shared-ride monthly passes for eligible participants.

The RTC and Lyft are currently engaged in another pilot program geared toward paratransit customers. The RTC Ride On-Demand program provides same-day, on-demand and/or advance scheduled transportation as an alternative for a select group of paratransit customers. The program has proven very successful with 150 participants taking more than 5,000 Lyft rides taken in the first few months, with 80 percent of rides booked via the Lyft app. In addition, the new paratransit program yields a 53-percent savings in operating costs for the RTC.