Community

RTC Washoe offers free bus rides on Election Day

By Kaitlin Atherton · October 31, 2026 · 1 min read

A public transit bus with open doors parked at a curbside bus stop. — All RTC transit services will be free on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County announced. The offer covers RTC Ride fixed-route buses, RTC FlexRIDE on-demand transit and RTC Access paratransit. AI-generated illustration / Surround Sound Media

All RTC transit services will be free on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County announced.

The offer covers RTC Ride fixed-route buses, RTC FlexRIDE on-demand transit and RTC Access paratransit, according to an RTC alert posted Oct. 30.

Several RTC Ride routes run through the Sparks area, including Route 2 (Ninth/Silverada/Sparks), Route 5 (Sun Valley), Route 11 (Fourth/Prater) and Route 21 (Sparks Marina/Legends/NNMC), according to the RTC's route listings. FlexRIDE, a curbside-to-curbside on-demand service, operates in Sparks and Spanish Springs with service near Sparks City Hall, Northern Nevada Medical Center and the Sparks Senior Center, according to the RTC FlexRIDE page.

FlexRIDE riders can book through the RTC Connect app or by calling (775) 335-0035. The RTC website lists an average wait of 20 minutes, though waits can reach one hour during peak times.

NewToReno.com reported that the RTC is offering the free service in partnership with the Washoe County Registrar of Voters to help riders reach polling locations. That site also noted that not all polling locations are served by transit. Polls in Washoe County open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Upcoming community date:

Tuesday, Nov. 3: Election Day. Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at any Washoe County polling place. All RTC transit rides are free.

Kaitlin Atherton

Kaitlin Atherton

Producer

About Kaitlin Atherton Kaitlin is an experienced news professional with nearly a decade of experience across multiple facets of the newsroom. Her background includes news production, newscast directing, digital executive producing, assignment editing, and content center management. With a passion for storytelling and a strong understanding of the fast-paced news cycle, she brings a well-rounded perspective to covering the stories that matter most to the community. Throughout her career, Kaitlin has developed expertise in newsroom leadership, breaking news coverage, digital strategy, and social media, helping connect audiences with timely, accurate, and engaging information across platforms. From behind-the-scenes production to managing day-to-day newsroom operations, she understands what it takes to bring important stories to life. Have a news tip or story idea? Email: [email protected]

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