KOLO TV and the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) have created a new weekly news segment focused on transportation in the Truckee Meadows. “The Road Ahead with RTC” airs on Tuesdays at 6:20AM during “Daybreak.” This weekly news segment will feature experts discussing a wide range of transportation issues. Following each broadcast, webcasts of each interview will be available here on the web channel for at least one month.

The Road Ahead with RTC

May 6: Pyramid Highway – US 395 Connection Project Last week, we learned about plans to improve the intersection of Pyramid and McCarran in Sparks. Most of the traffic that uses this intersection travels to and from Spanish Springs on the Pyramid Highway. RTC Project Manager Doug Maloy shares long-term plans for easing traffic congestion within the Pyramid Highway Corridor. April 29: Pyramid / McCarran Intersection Improvements Traffic congestion at the intersection of Pyramid Way and McCarran Boulevard makes the daily commute last longer for thousands of Sparks residents. Good news is on the way. RTC Project Manager Scott Gibson discusses this intersection improvement project and the need for public input. April 22: Road Construction Season Has Begun Watch out for the cone zones; it's road construction season in the Truckee Meadows. Earlier this month, RTC’s Director of Engineering Bob Russell, described how roads are selected for reconstruction. He returns to highlight the projects planned this year. April 15: Go Green! Ride FREE on Earth Day, April 20th Earth Day in Reno is celebrated on Sunday, April 20th. One easy way to go green is to leave the car at home and try transit. All trips on RTC RIDE on Earth Day will be free. All day. All around town. Carol Perry, RTC’s trip reduction specialist, lets us know about the free transit day, plus lots of alternative transportation solutions. April 8: Transportation Safety Fair If you’re looking for a fun way to teach yourself and your kids the importance of transportation safety, mark April 19th on your calendar. The Nevada Department of Transportation is partnering with the RTC and the Nevada Department of Public Safety to bring the first Transportation Safety Fair to Reno. Public Information Officer for NDOT Scott Magruder shares all the details. April 1: Regional Road Reconstruction Program Regional roads connect communities and carry most of the traffic in the Truckee Meadows. Bob Russell, RTC’s Director of Engineering, explains how regional roads are identified and selected for repair and reconstruction. March 25: Blue Ribbon Committee The Blue Ribbon Committee for Transportation Funding Issues (BRC) was recently formed by the RTC to consider road recommendations and a funding initiative for the Truckee Meadows. Steve Brown, former county commissioner and chairman of the BRC explains what this new decision-making resource is doing to ensure our quality of life. March 18: Washoe County Redirects Fuel Taxes to RTC The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners recently decided to redirect revenues generated by local fuel tax to RTC. Dan St. John, Washoe County Public Works director, explains why the County is shifting these funds and how the decision will benefit citizens. March 11: St. Patrick’s Day Safe Ride Home Program St. Patrick’s Day is the best time of the year to make your own luck ’o ’the Irish. A number of community partners have joined the RTC to make it a safe holiday, including Ceol Irish Pub. Ron McCarty, owner of Ceol, discusses the RTC RIDE St. Patrick’s Day Safe Ride Home Program. March 4: Regional Road Impact Fee Update New development in the Reno, Sparks areas brings more business, more residents and more diversity. But it also brings more traffic, a reason the Regional Road Impact Fee is in place. RTC’s Executive Director Greg Krause explains how the fee provides financial support to maintain the existing roads and construct necessary new ones. February 26: Transit Service Change and Possible Fare Increase RTC provides almost nine million rides on transit services each year. However, record ridership doesn’t mean higher revenue. RTC’s Senior Transit Planner Roger Hanson talks about how our local economy affects RTC’s services. February 19: RTC 4th Street Station Plans are in the works for RTC 4th Street Station, a new, state of the art transit center that will be “green-friendly” and enhance the transit experience for everyone. RTC Project Manager Chris Tschirhart explains how the biggest little city and the region will benefit from the new transportation hub. February 12: The CitiCare Foundation Transportation can be expensive, and there are some who simply can’t budget for it. The CitiCare Foundation raises money to provide rides on RTC ACCESS for residents with disabilities. Donna Kollman, president of the non-profit organization lets us know how we can help. February 5: Senior Outreach Program More and more seniors are taking public transit. Christine Campbell, RTC Marketing Administrator shares details of RTC’s Senior Outreach Program. January 29: Clear Acre Interchange Project Residents in the northern part of Reno are enjoying the benefits of a newly completed RTC road project at the intersections of U.S. 395, North McCarran and Clear Acre. RTC Engineering Project Manager Brenda Lee highlights how the Clear Acre Interchange is providing an easier commute through a once congested trouble spot. January 22: The Southeast Connector The Southeast Connector, projected in RTC’s 2030 Regional Transportation Plan, will be a connecting road running from East Sparks to South Reno. RTC Engineering Project Manager Garth Oksol explains the need for the road and invites citizens of the Truckee Meadows to learn more at the community meeting on Jan. 29, 2008. January 15: Driver Recruitment The New Year has long been a chance for new beginnings and 2008 is no different. As Truckee Meadows residents find themselves looking for jobs and new opportunities, RTC RIDE is searching for friendly people. Transit Manager Mike Steele explains how working with RTC RIDE could be the new start you’ve been looking for. January 8: Carson City Transit Changes RTC INTERCITY and Jump Around Carson (JAC) transit routes have recently changed to ensure there is no unnecessary duplication. Patrick Pittenger, transportation program manager for Carson City, explains what this change means for commuters. December 31: Winter Maintenance When winter weather makes driving difficult for Truckee Meadows residents it can be a real treat to sit back and let RTC get us around. But how do the buses stay safe in harsh conditions? RTC RIDE’s Safety and Training Supervisor Paul Earnshaw explained how they work against the winter elements to keep riders out of harm’s way. December 25: New Year’s Eve Free Safe Ride Home 2008 is just around the corner and New Year’s Eve celebrations are the talk of the town. RTC wants everyone to enjoy a safe celebration. To tell us more about the Free New Year’s Eve Safe Ride Home program is RTC’s Public Information Officer Eric Ritter. December 18: RTC Centennial Plaza The foundation is down and the steel posts are up; it’s the beginning of an exciting new structure for RTC and Executive Director Greg Krause discusses the new transit center being built on Victorian Avenue in Sparks. December 11: Food for Fare Donating to a good cause can earn you a free ride around town. Cherie Jamason, executive director of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, will explain how the Food for Fare Program will provide needed holiday meals to folks in the Truckee Meadows. December 4: Catch the Spirit! Heading to a Wolf Pack game? Avoid parking hassles and traffic stress and catch the spirit – RTC SIERRA SPIRIT! It’s free, convenient, and the easiest way to get to the game. David Jickling, RTC Director of Public Transportation discusses the daily service that travels all around downtown, between the University of Nevada and the Nevada Museum of Art. November 26: Camp Christmas To help spread the holiday spirit in our community, RTC, the Salvation Army, the Nevada Air National Guard and Reno Radio Reps will collect new toys for children from Nov. 30th through Dec. 2nd during Camp Christmas. Eric Ritter, RTC Public Information Officer, describes this annual charity event. November 20: Planning For Holiday Traffic Learn about smart transit options for the holiday season from RTC RIDE Transit Supervisor, John Gould. November 13: Traffic Signalization RTC Traffic Engineer Jim Poston explains what traffic signalization is and how it benefits drivers throughout the region. November 6: Stuff-a-Bus to Benefit the Salvation Army Begin the holiday season by helping others in the community. Major Doug William from the Salvation Army explains how to get involved in the 9th annual Stuff-a-Bus event with KOZZ and RTC. October 30: Winter Driving Tips Winter is on its way, which means drivers are going to need take special precautions for the next few months. NDOT Chief of Maintenance Operations, Bill Haufman discusses the program, “Ice and Snow; Take it Slow.” October 23: Find a Ride with RTC RIDESHARE There are many ways to save money and reduce traffic. The RTC SMART TRIPS program provides many tools to help you find a better way to work. Carol Perry, RTC’s Trip Reduction Specialist, announces a new, free program to help you find a carpool partner. October 16: RTC To Launch New Website RTC will launch a new website on October 19th. Christine Campbell, RTC Marketing Administrator discusses the changes at rtcwashoe.com, including the new design and easy to use navigation. October 9: Planning Around the Peak Hours One easy solution to reduce rush-hour traffic congestion is as easy as staggering work hours. Eric Ritter, RTC Public Information Officer, explains planning trips around the peak hours. October 2: Technology and Transit If ever you’ve wondered where the nearest RTC RIDE bus stop is located, when the next bus will arrive, or how long a trip will be, the answer is only a mouse click away. RTC is teaming up with Google software to provide an online resource that will give you the answers to planning your trip around town. David Jickling, RTC Director of Public Transportation describes the new partnership. September 25: Bicycling as a Driving Alternative There are many easy alternatives to driving to work every day, including bicycling and public transit. Duane Sikorski, Washoe County’s Air Quality Monitoring and Planning Supervisor, discusses the benefits of commuting by bicycle. September 18: Creating a Coordinated Transportation Plan for Seniors and the Disabled Lea Rogers, RTC Paratransit Administrator, reviews new community plans to coordinate services for several groups of people who have certain transportation needs, including seniors, persons with disabilities and people who are financially disadvantaged. September 11: Roundabout Grand Opening If local traffic jams have you spinning, the grand opening of the highly anticipated Neil Road / Kietzke Lane Roundabout will spin you in a new direction. Dave Aiazzi, RTC Commissioners and City of Reno Councilman, talks about this historic project. September 4: Taking Public Transportation to Special Events Heading to the Balloon Races or other events? Avoid traffic and ride with RTC. Bob Turley, transit supervisor with RTC RIDE, discusses the benefits of taking public transit to special events. It’s the easiest way to get around town. August 28: Transportation in the Year 2040 The RTC prepares a long-range plan for our transportation network. Currently, the plan is being updated through the year 2040. Derek Morse, RTC’s Deputy Executive Director joins us today to discuss how these plans are made. August 21: RTC Ride Annual Fare Adjustment on August 26 The annual RTC RIDE service change and fare adjustment will occur on Sunday, August 26, 2007. David Jickling, the RTC’s Director of Public Transportation reviews what changes riders can expect. August 14: Public Transportation the Environment In ways both large and small, we can all make changes to benefit the environment, including how you choose to move around town. Jen Huntleysmith, the Associate Director of the University of Nevada Academy for the Environment, discusses the environmental benefits of public transportation. August 7: Transportation and Downtown Redevelopment A great deal of redevelopment and investment is occurring in downtown Reno, including community support of RTC’s free bus service, RTC SIERRA SPIRIT. Dave Aiazzi, Reno City Councilman and Vice-Chair of the RTC Board of Commissioners, addresses the important role of transportation plays in downtown redevelopment. July 31: Easing Traffic During Hot August Nights More than 800,000 people enjoy Hot August Nights, increasing both the population and traffic. A solution is available. Bruce Walter, the Executive Director of Hot August Nights, discusses the partnership that works to reduce traffic concerns during Hot August Nights. July 24: Impact Fees for New Development Recently the RTC Board of Commissioners voted to raise regional road impact fees which pay for new roadways needed as the result of development and community growth. Greg Krause, the Executive Director of the Regional Transportation Commission, explains why these fees are needed to address traffic created by new development.