Reps. Titus, Price Tour Southern Nevada Transportation and Housing Initiatives

Statement

Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, hosted Congressman David Price (D-NC), Chairman of the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, in Southern Nevada this week to tour the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) Bonneville Transit Center (BTC) and Dina Titus Estates.

"I was pleased to show Congressman Price some of the impressive housing and transportation initiatives located right here in the heart of Las Vegas," said Rep. Titus.

"One of the greatest honors of my time in office is having the Dina Titus Estates named after me. This affordable housing complex provides quality facilities for members of our community with disabilities. Every Nevadan deserves a roof over their head where they feel safe and have access to services they need to prosper. Equally as important is ensuring our community has an effective transit system that provides access to daily needs, including employment, education, and healthcare. This is why I was pleased to host a roundtable with Chairman Price, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, and local stakeholders to discuss our region's infrastructure needs as well as highlight the funding that has been made possible through the effective collaboration between Chairman Price and my team. "

"As Chair of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, it was an honor to visit Nevada's First Congressional District with my friend and colleague, Rep. Dina Titus," said Chairman David Price. "My team and I were able to see the direct impacts of these critical investments in both public transit and affordable housing have had in increasing accessibility, lowering emissions, and expanding mobility to meet the needs of this growing region. I'm grateful to Congresswoman Titus and her staff for showing me around her district, and look forward to translating this experience to our work in Washington."

Background

Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, the BTC serves as the main transit hub for Southern Nevada. On any given weekday, more than 9,000 passenger boardings occur across the 15 routes that service the transit center. The RTC has also been working with community partners to utilize space at the BTC in new ways to help meet pressing community needs. The BTC is in an area that is adjacent to both persistent poverty and one of the more densely populated food deserts in the region, making it an ideal location to offer programming that expands access to critical resources and services. The RTC is committed to leveraging the transit system and its physical assets to increase access to essential goods and services that improve public health and quality of life in the region.

In August, the RTC of Southern Nevada was awarded $6.7 million as part of the FY22 Low-No Grant Program. This funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support the RTC in purchasing additional hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, solar lighting for bus stops, and pedestrian detection and collision avoidance software for RTC's transit buses. This project will help accelerate RTC's fleet transition efforts, while helping to meet state emission-reduction targets that will create a more equitable, resilient, and environmentally sound future for Nevada.

In March 2022 with the signing of the FY22 Appropriations Omnibus, Congresswoman Titus secured a $2 million earmark for the RTC of Southern Nevada to purchase zero-emission buses as part of the Maryland Parkway Bus Rapid Transit project.

The Dina Titus Estates is an affordable housing complex that provides accessible living for persons with disabilities. Dina Titus Estates offers 18 wheelchair-accessible one and two-bedroom apartments for adults with qualifying disabilities. The development receives funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) including through the Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program. In FY22, thanks to the leadership of Chairman Price and the support of Congresswoman Titus, the Section 811 Program received $352 million in funding, which will support affordable housing complexes like Dina Titus Estates and the construction of approximately 1,800 new affordable housing units for persons with disabilities.

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