The History of the Meadow City Express

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Meadow City Express started operation on June 9, 1995, as a fixed route with routes consisting of major arterial streets serving Luna Community College, New Mexico Highlands University, and the Armand Hammer World College. The routes were developed by LJS Consulting, a firm from Bernalillo County. The naming of the service Meadow City Express was derived via a community contest. According to the City’s comprehensive plan.

 

The public transportation service began with “two 22- passenger and a handy van for door-to-door service for individuals needing special assistance.” At the onset of the service. Ridership was approximately 20 passengers per day. The Master Plan further stated that the City was giving itself until 1999 to determine the success of the service. In 1998, the decision was made to change from a fixed route service to demand response in an effort to increase ridership. Following the change, the Transportation Director reported there was an increase in ridership. Meadow City Express was housed at various city-owned locations within the City of Las Vegas.

 

In March of 1995, the City initiated the process to file an application to the US Department of Transportation under the Federal Transit Act for a mass transportation project. This project culminated in the planning, acquisition, and renovation of the 1898 Las Vegas Railroad Depot into a multimodal facility under the ISTEA program. The project was completed in 2003 and received a historic preservation award. With the completion of the intermodal facility, Meadow City Express now has a permanent home that the service can be proud of. In order to provide access to AMTRAK customers during weekends and MEC’s off days, the City provided office space for the Visitors Information Center which operates 7 days a week and some holidays.

 

Presently Meadow City Express has four full-time drivers; one is also formally assigned to minor facility maintenance duties, a Dispatcher/driver, and an Operations Supervisor under the 5311 Program. Both the Dispatch/Driver and the Operations Supervisor step in and drive vans as schedules and staffing demand. The annual Ridership for 2013 was 16,500 and the annual Ridership for 2016 was 18,736. In addition, the Transit Manager oversees the entire operation to include the facility and its tenants. The transportation service has six vans and all are handicap accessible. Regular days of operation are Monday thru Friday 6:45 am to 5:00 pm. The service is funded under two City budges identified as the 231 (5311 Program) and the 235 (facility).

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