Park and ride, additional bus service can ease holiday travel

Local residents can reduce the cost of their holiday vacations by using park-and-ride locations to McCarran International Airport.

The Regional Transportation Commission Southern Nevada operates three park-and-ride facilities in the valley and collaborates with private businesses for additional park-and-ride locations. Parking is free, and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those using the transit system.

The three RTC-operated facilities are:

■ Centennial Hills Transit Center and Park and Ride, 7313 Grand Montecito Parkway, in the northwest valley near U.S. Highway 95 and Durango Drive, 900 parking spaces available.

■ South Strip Transfer Terminal, 6675 S. Gilespie St., just south of the airport at the corner of Sunset Road and Gilespie, 250 spaces available.

■ Westcliff Transit Center and Park and Ride, 25 S. Durango Drive, just south of Summerlin Parkway, 140 spaces available.

The RTC asks drivers to register their vehicles at park-and-ride locations if they plan to leave their vehicle at the location for more than one day. To preregister vehicles, go to the RTC's website, rtcsnv.com, or complete the form onsite with security at the park-and-ride location.

For drivers planning to leave a vehicle onsite for more than 14 days, they must request extended parking privileges by calling 676-1849.

Park-and-ride facilities also are available to locals who wish to use transit service around the valley for weekend holiday shopping.

There will be additional local transit service this week, beginning Wednesday and running through Sunday, because of anticipated increased passenger bus loads, the agency said. Added service will include:

■ Wednesday through Sunday: Two additional double-deck vehicles from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. for Deuce service and an additional vehicle from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. for Strip and Downtown Express service. During this time, the commission will provide one additional vehicle from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. for Centennial Express and Westcliff Airport Express that will stop by several popular shopping centers throughout the valley.

■ Thursday through Saturday: Vehicles will be added to the Strip and Downtown Express.

■ Friday and Saturday: Additional RTC vehicle will be added to serve as a continuous loop service from the Bonneville Transit Center to areas near the Las Vegas Premium Outlet to aid in expected increased transit needs.

Regular residential transit fares apply.

Contact reporter Joe Hawk at jhawk@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2912. Follow him on Twitter: @RJroadwarrior.