The Deuce is the name of the double-decker bus line serving Las Vegas operated by RTC Transit. These buses went into service on October 27, 2005. Originally The Deuce meant four things: (1) the bus was double decked, (2) the price was $2 one way, (3) the route connected the two primary gaming areas: Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas, (4) the first double deckers bought in 2005 primarily for the service started with "2". Currently the double decker buses also serve other local routes, and the price is no longer $2. However, the name The Deuce on the Strip is used by RTC to emphasize that the route refers to just the tourist route.
As of November 7, 2010, the routes these double-decker buses serve are:
- The Las Vegas Strip (Route #301)
- Decatur Boulevard (Route #103)
- Boulder Highway (Route #107)
- Eastern Avenue (Route #110)
- North Las Vegas Boulevard (Route #113)
- Nellis Boulevard (Route #115)
- Flamingo Road (Route #202)
- Sahara Avenue (SX-A & SX-B)(Route #504)
- Charleston Boulevard (Route #206)
The buses seat 27 people on the lower deck, 53 on the upper deck, and are 40 feet long. The fare for the Las Vegas Strip is currently $6 for a two hour pass, or $8 for a 24-hour pass.
In March 2010 a new bus rapid transit line connecting the Strip to downtown Las Vegas and Town Square and the South Strip Transfer Terminal became operational. This new 11 mile service was called ACE Gold Line and is similar to the Metropolitan Area Express BRT Line which has been operating since June 30, 2004. Due to a lawsuit by Ace Cab, the line was rebranded as the Gold Line. On November 7, 2010, it was rebranded to be known as the Strip and Downtown Express (SDX).
Previously, RTC planned to shorten The Deuce on the Strip from the current 9.3 miles to just the 5 miles of the Strip from Mandalay Bay Casino to Palace Station on Sahara Avenue. This would have been the first time in 45 years (including Las Vegas Transit System) that the main Strip corridor route had undergone a major route change and be shortened. However, the first week of the service change, the northern portion of the route was reinstated with buses continuing to serve the Downtown Transportation Center.
RTC Transit is one of six transit agencies that operate double-decker buses in the United States for fixed-route services, the others being Unitrans of Davis, California, Community Transit of Snohomish County, Washington, Antelope Valley Transit Authority of Palmdale, California and Lancaster, California, MUNI of San Francisco, California, and SLO Transit of San Luis Obispo, CA. All of the six agencies reside on the west coast.
In 2006, the RTC announced that they purchased 40 more double-deckers that arrived in Spring 2007, and another 40 that arrived in 2008. These new vehicles replaced the original 50 that have been serving the Strip. The original vehicles were reassigned to local routes (height permitting). These new Deuces are special in that they have 2 staircases, one in the current position, and a second one in the back. They are also be 2 feet longer than the present double deckers, and have earned the nickname "Superdeuce."
Since January 2008, 80 new double deckers have arrived with half of that order featuring the reconfigured 42 ft, double staircase bus. The double staircase buses are assigned mostly to The Strip, while some, as well as all of the 40 ft double deckers are assigned to local routes. Although rare, some of the 40 ft vehicles will find their way onto The Strip route as a last resort.