RENO — The new head of the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission told members of the Reno City Council last week that a number of significant transportation projects are continuing to move forward, including efforts to build a mass transit system along Virginia Street that could include street cars and eventually a light rail system.

In a presentation before members of the Reno City Council, RTC executive director Lee Gibson said work continues with the area's congressional delegation in Washington D.C. to secure as much federal funding as possible for the project.

The Reno City Council has already approved a four-phase concept to implement the plan as well as seven steps to move the project forward. The first phase of the project is underway with the introduction of bus rapid transit in downtown. The new RAPID buses began service in October and Lee said so far the new buses have increased ridership from downtown to the Meadowood Mall by 10 percent from a year ago.

Meanwhile, the city has made changes to its municipal code by adding station requirements and new design standards including new streetscape design alongside the transit corridor. The changes provide the necessary infrastructure support for new transportation modes.

The first phase is the implementation of bus rapid transit between California Avenue and the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. The second phase would have a streetcar running between Lawlor Events Center and California Avenue. The third phase expands the use of the streetcar to run further south from California Avenue to the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. The final phase would implement a light rail system that would run from Lawlor Events Center to the convention center.