Centennial Plaza bus transit center in Sparks is an important piece of a five-year transit plan that could be challenged by a weak economy.

The Regional Transportation Commission discussed the short-term transit plan on Friday, along with the goal to expand bus ridership to comprise 6 percent of all trips made in the Truckee Meadows. The current rate is between 2-3 percent, or more than 8.5 million riders each year, according to the RTC.

Centennial Plaza is set to open in August. As this transit center opens, the RTC plans to buy 46 new buses for specific bus routes, and 36 new paratransit buses. The clean-burning Hydrogen Fuel Project will continue to be used by the RTC to fund a few Hydrogen-powered buses, as long as funding from the Department of Energy and private sources can be found.

During a six-month testing period with the RTC, including longterm research, these buses were found to save money in parts, longterm maintenance and fuel. Research and testing by the RTC continues.

Sparks Councilman and RTC board member John Mayer said he fully supports the program, and said it makes good sense. Mayer said if test results continue to be positive, he supports the purchase of more Hydroogen Fuel buses for the RTC fleet.

The Reno transit center will also be completed within the next five years, building on the extra capacity that Sparks has offered through its new transit center.

Because of growth in the region and an increase in traffic along all major roadways, the RTC is looking to expand its bus services in the longterm, said David Jickling, Director of Public Transporation. However, the agency must deal with the effects of a weak economy in the short term, and that economic downturn is reflected in the short-term transit plan.

A 1 percent downturn in sales tax revenue is expected in fiscal year 2008. This follows a significant shortfall in expected tax revenue over an 18-month period. In addition, current bus fares fund about 28 percent of the cost of providing the service.

To address the downturn in the economy, the RTC is considering a cut to its constuction projects and reducing the current level of bus service by 5 percent - or increasing bus fares by about 15 percent, Jickling said. As economic conditions improve, the RTC hopes to restore cut services and expand bus routes and ridership in the longterm.

The RTC will present proposed bus service changes to the public on March 29. A final proposal for bus service cuts will be the subject of a public hearing in May, along with approval of the RTC's annual budget.