Las Vegas investing in bus service

http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2012/03/RTC-Southern-Nevada-to-install-150-solar-bus-shelters.aspx

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) announced its plans to install 150 new solar-powered bus shelters throughout the Las Vegas Valley as part of its federally funded transit amenities program.

(Wait...TriMet claims federal funds can't be used on bus amenities?)

“As a result, these 150 new bus shelters are estimated to save taxpayers about $54,000 a year in energy costs.”

(Whoa, a transit agency using federal funds to improve service AND cut costs????  Haven't I been saying that all along?)

The purchase and installation of the 150 new energy-saving shelters is funded by a $1.8 million formula grant from the Federal Transit  Administration FTA that must be allocated for transit enhancement projects such as transit shelters.

(You mean...there's a specific federal grant program that pays for bus shelters?!!!)

In total, the RTC has approximately 3,500 transit stops valley-wide and 1,500 stops have shelters.

(Let's see...1,500 of 3,500 is... 43% of bus stops have shelters, in a city in the high desert?!!!)