Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County

What Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County does

The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC Washoe) is a regional government transportation authority established by the Nevada Legislature in July 1979 through the consolidation of the Regional Street and Highway Commission, the Regional Transit Commission, and the Washoe County Area Transportation Study Policy Committee. Headquartered at 1105 Terminal Way, Reno, Nevada, RTC serves the cities of Reno and Sparks and the unincorporated areas of Washoe County. It operates as the designated regional transportation planning body and Metropolitan Planning Organization, with a five-member board (two Reno council members, one Sparks council member, two Washoe County commissioners) and an executive director-led professional staff of 101–250 employees.

RTC's core product is a multi-modal public transit ecosystem comprising 20+ fixed-route bus services including BRT-style RAPID lines (Virginia Line, Lincoln Line), ADA-compliant RTC ACCESS paratransit (operated by Ride Right/MTM), the on-demand FlexRIDE service in Sparks, Spanish Springs, Somersett, Verdi, South Meadows, and North Valleys, the intercity RTC Regional Connector coach to Carson City, and the RTC VANPOOL commuter program operated with Enterprise. The technology backbone includes the RTC CONNECT app and web portal (Spare Labs), Token Transit mobile ticketing, the endorsed Transit App, and an ArcGIS-powered open-data portal publishing GTFS static and real-time feeds. RTC also administers a portfolio of regional street and highway capital improvement projects — including a $25M BUILD grant for the Sun Valley Boulevard Corridor, the $35M Military Road Capacity and Safety Project, and the planned $50–60M Keystone Avenue Bridge Replacement.

Revenue is sourced from a 1/4-cent Washoe County sales tax allocated to public transportation, federal grants (including BUILD), Regional Road Impact Fees, fare revenue, and contracted operator partnerships. Pricing is mass-market (single ride $2 / day pass $3 / monthly pass $65) with reduced fares for seniors, youth, veterans, people with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders; UNR, TMCC, DRI, and Western Nevada College students ride free with valid ID, as do Washoe County School District K-12 students under the Youth-Pass program launched June 2025. Subsidy channels — Washoe Senior Ride Taxi Bucks ($60/month on a CardONE reloadable card) and the RTC Lyft/Uber Rides Voucher Program — extend mobility beyond RTC's owned fleet. A planned Workforce Rail commuter rail connecting downtown Reno to the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center represents the agency's largest forward-looking capital expansion.

Name

Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County

Legal name

Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County

Website

https://rtcwashoe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County is a Nevada state-designated government transportation authority established in 1979, operating multi-modal public transit (fixed-route bus, BRT, paratransit, on-demand, vanpool, and planned commuter rail) and administering regional street/highway capital projects across Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transportation Services

NAICS

Special Needs Transportation (485991), Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), School and Employee Bus Transportation (4854)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100)

akta.pro primary industry

ADA/Accessible Paratransit (Complementary to Fixed-Route Transit) (THAIAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

On-Demand Ride Coordination & Assisted Rides (TNC/Taxi Brokerage) (HSABAOAJ)

Keywords

• Public transit services
• ADA paratransit services
• Regional transportation planning
• On-demand microtransit
• Commuter vanpool programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Transportation Services: RTC operates public transit services funded primarily through the ¼% Washoe County sales tax allocated for public transportation, federal grants (including BUILD grants), and fare revenue from riders. Services include fixed-route bus service (RTC RIDE), paratransit (RTC ACCESS), regional connector, vanpool, and FlexRIDE on-demand services.
2. Engineering and Construction Projects: RTC administers regional street and highway improvement projects in partnership with Washoe County and the cities of Reno and Sparks. Projects are funded through Regional Road Impact Fees (RRIF), federal grants, and local matching funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RTC Washoe operates multi-modal public transportation services for Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County, including fixed-route bus service (RTC RIDE with 20+ routes and BRT-style RTC RAPID), ADA-compliant door-to-door paratransit (RTC ACCESS), on-demand microtransit (FlexRIDE), an intercity Reno-to-Carson City coach (Regional Connector), a subsidized vanpool program (RTC VANPOOL), and partner-branded subsidized rideshare (Lyft/Uber) and taxi (Washoe Senior Ride Taxi Bucks) programs for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. The agency also administers regional transportation planning and administers street/highway construction projects in partnership with the Cities of Reno and Sparks and Washoe County.

Product overview

RTC Washoe operates a multi-modal public transit ecosystem comprising fixed-route bus service (RTC RIDE with 20+ routes including BRT-style RTC RAPID), ADA paratransit (RTC ACCESS), on-demand service (RTC FlexRIDE), an intercity coach (RTC Regional Connector), vanpool program (RTC VANPOOL), subsidized rideshare voucher programs (Lyft/Uber), a senior taxi bucks program, and a free youth pass program. Core services are bookable through the RTC CONNECT platform (powered by Spare Labs), with fares payable via Token Transit, the Transit App, or physical passes. A proposed commuter rail (Workforce Rail) is under feasibility study.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RTC RIDE: Fixed-route transit service providing bus transportation throughout Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County.
• RTC ACCESS
• RTC FlexRIDE
• RTC Regional Connector
• RTC VANPOOL
• RTC RAPID
• Transit Watch
• RTC Youth-Pass
• Washoe Senior Ride (WSR) Taxi Bucks
• RTC Washoe Lyft/Uber Rides Voucher Program

Products and services

• RTC RIDE Fixed-Route Bus Service Fixed-route bus transit service operating across Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County on 20+ routes, including standard bus and BRT-style RTC RAPID services. Available to the general public with reduced fares for seniors, youth, people with disabilities, veterans, and Medicare cardholders.
• RTC ACCESS Paratransit

Quantifiable outcome

• 21,595 trips provided by Senior/Disabled Transportation Grant Fund Program in one year (October 2023 - September 2024)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Token TransitcoreTechnology or IntegrationMobile ticketing partnership allowing riders to purchase and store digital bus passes on their phones. Riders download the Token Transit app, link a credit/debit card, purchase passes, and scan QR codes when boarding.
• Transit AppcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial app partnership for trip planning, real-time bus arrival tracking, and service alerts. Official mobile app of RTC Washoe available on iOS and Android.
• Commute with EnterprisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnterprise provides vehicles, maintenance, and insurance for the RTC VANPOOL program. RTC contributes $400/month subsidy to qualifying vanpools traveling up to 3,000 miles per month.
• Reno/Sparks Cab Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating taxi company for Washoe Senior Ride Taxi Bucks program, accepting the RTC WSR CardONE reloadable card for fare payment 24/7.
• Yellow Cab Co.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating taxi company for Washoe Senior Ride Taxi Bucks program, accepting the RTC WSR CardONE reloadable card for fare payment 24/7.
• Reno RydecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParticipating taxi/rideshare company for Washoe Senior Ride Taxi Bucks program via Flywheel app (775) 400-3009.
• KeoliscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted operator providing RTC RIDE bus drivers. Contact: (775) 332-9505 or [email protected]
• Ride Right (MTM)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted operator providing RTC ACCESS ADA para-transit drivers. Contact: (775) 348-0414.
• Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTART is operated by Placer County in the Lake Tahoe basin and is partially funded by RTC. Route scheduling and planning is coordinated with RTC.
• Jump Around Carson (JAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic transit system for Carson City. Free transfers available between RTC Regional Connector and JAC in both directions.
• Tahoe Transportation DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic transit connecting South Lake Tahoe and Carson City. Free transfers available between RTC Regional Connector and Tahoe Transportation District.
• Access to Healthcare Network (AHN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant-funded partner providing non-emergent medical transportation for seniors (60+) and disabled residents of Washoe County. Part of Senior/Disabled Transportation Grant Fund Program. Approximately 3,300 trips projected annually.
• University of Nevada Reno - Senior Outreach Service (SOS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant-funded program providing free door-through-door transportation for adults 60+ in Reno/Sparks area using volunteers and Uber. Approximately 7,800 trips projected annually.
• Neighbor Network of Northern Nevada (N4)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant-funded program providing up to $160/month in Lyft rides for people with disabilities and people aged 60+ in Reno/Sparks. Aims to serve 600 adults with 2,778 $80 Lyft vouchers over two years.
• WSPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading transportation consulting firm that led the comprehensive commuter rail feasibility study for RTC.
• Save Mart SupermarketsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicket outlet locations for purchasing RTC ACCESS tickets. Multiple locations in Reno including 10500 N. McCarran, 525 Keystone Ave, 4995 Kietzke Lane, 195 W. Plumb Ln.
• Smith's Food and DrugminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicket outlet locations for purchasing RTC ACCESS tickets at multiple area stores.
• WINCO FoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicket outlet locations for purchasing RTC ACCESS tickets at Reno locations on Northtowne Ln and S Virginia Street.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA): Multi-modal transit authority in Silicon Valley operating bus, light rail, paratransit, and highway/transportation planning; comparable in combining transit operations with regional infrastructure project delivery.
• Utah Transit Authority (UTA): Multi-modal regional transit authority in the Salt Lake City metro operating fixed-route bus, light rail, commuter rail (FrontRunner), paratransit, and vanpool — closely comparable in service mix to RTC Washoe's planned evolution.
• Lane Transit District (LTD): Mid-size Oregon transit district operating fixed-route bus, paratransit, and vanpool in the Eugene-Springfield metro; directly comparable in scale, service mix, and reliance on dedicated payroll/sales tax funding.
• Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT): Operates fixed-route bus, light rail, and paratransit in California's capital region; comparable in service breadth, ridership scale, and mid-size multi-modal profile to RTC Washoe.
• Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada: The Las Vegas-area counterpart to RTC Washoe; operates under the same statutory naming and structure as a designated regional transportation commission with multi-modal transit services in a comparable Nevada metro.

Others

• Token Transit: Mobile fare-payment platform powering RTC Washoe's digital ticketing for RTC RIDE, ACCESS, FlexRIDE, and Youth-Pass; serves comparable role across many small and mid-size US transit agencies.
• Spare Labs: Provider of the RTC CONNECT paratransit and on-demand booking platform; technology enabler with deep integrations into paratransit and demand-responsive transit operations across North America.
• Lyft: Rideshare platform partner in RTC Washoe's subsidized voucher program for seniors, ACCESS clients, and veterans; broader peer for mobility-on-demand and paratransit-brokerage models that compete with or complement fixed-route service.

Broad incumbents

• Keolis: Major contracted transit operator that delivers RTC Washoe's fixed-route bus service and runs similar operations for transit agencies nationwide; relevant both as operational peer and as incumbent contractor alternative.
• Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD): Larger multi-modal regional transit authority operating bus, light rail, and commuter rail across the Denver metro; relevant as a more mature reference point for the rail/FlexRide integration trajectory RTC Washoe is pursuing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rtcwashoe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPr-AJ62P9b3ejt74A3UBcg
• Facebookfacebook.com/RTCWashoe
• Instagraminstagram.com/rtcwashoe/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/regional-transportation-commission-of-washoe-co.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County