Here in Las Vegas, one of the busiest arterial streets is the colorfully-named Flamingo Road – an essential commuting and traveling corridor for tens of thousands of Nevadans and visitors every day.

Over the past few years, thanks in part to USDOT grant funding, Flamingo Road has been undergoing a suite of upgrades to improve its infrastructure, particularly for transit and active transportation like bicycling and walking.

Last week, I was proud to join local officials to announce the completion of these improvements, which will help provide more modern, convenient transit options to the Las Vegas community.

To redevelop the Flamingo Road Corridor, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada received $13.3 million through USDOT’s highly-competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program.

TIGER grants are designed to help communities both recover and grow economically, and the Flamingo Road project does just that by improving transportation options to major job and educational centers, like the Resort Corridor and the University of Nevada – Las Vegas.

While plans are in the works for further major capital investments, potentially including light rail, this project makes smart use of largely existing infrastructure to improve mobility options in the corridor.

For example, the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology along the roadway will enhance traffic flow for transit buses and personal vehicles alike, with transit buses receiving both priority at traffic signals and dedicated lanes in certain areas to help run transit service run more efficiently.

Safety and accessibility will be greatly improved, as well, with over 100 redesigned bus shelters, dedicated bike lanes, and substantial sidewalk improvements all combining to make the traveling experience more comfortable and convenient for all road users.

All of these upgrades mean that the over 12,000 daily bus riders along this corridor will enjoy quicker trips and decreased wait times. And as the Las Vegas region continues to see rapid job and population growth, the community will have corresponding rapid transit options to help avoid congestion and gridlock.

Overall, this locally-driven, TIGER-assisted project is a great example of a community coming together to reimagine their infrastructure. With better mobility options to reach some of the area’s most popular destinations, Flamingo Road is becoming a true pathway to opportunity.