ACE Gold beats the Deuce Bus on The Las Vegas Strip!
Posted by thetraveldoctor on May 3, 2010
Ace Gold Bus
The ACE Gold line is the latest in public transportation in the City of Las Vegas. This new Express bus, that really looks and acts more like a train is a great addition to the Vegas scene.
So what is the ACE Gold Line anyway? Well, the ACE Gold Line is a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route that provides convenient, limited stops and frequent service on Las Vegas Boulevard in the Resort Corridor between the South Strip Transfer Terminal (SSTT) to the South and the Clark County Government Center/Las Vegas Premium Outlets/Symphony Park area to the North.
So this new term BRT or Bus Rapid Transit, what is it? Well Bus Rapid Transit combines the quality of rail transit with the flexibility of a regular bus service. BRT provides enhanced rapid transit service by using bus only traffic lanes, limited stops, off-board fare collection and level boarding stations. That means that you cannot pay your fare on the bus. You must purchase your ticket at the stop/station. These stations have automated fare vending machines. This makes boarding faster as people can board without having to pay a fare at the entrance of the bus. This is the way transit trains work. You can board more passengers in a shorter amount of time.
This new service is a great way to get up and down the Las Vegas Strip quickly. But remember, this is a limited stop service. So you have to plan your route in advance so you know where you can get on and get off.
I tried the ACE Gold service this past April and I was really impressed. The boarding moved much faster then the Duce Bus due to the fact that you just get on and hold up your fare card to the “Conductor” at the door. That’s right, there is a conductor on this bus, just like on a train. The motorman is in an enclosed cabin and this person drives the ACE.
The prices are the same as the Duce Bus, $3 one way, $7 for a 24 hour pass, or $15 for a 3 day pass. And you can use your fare card on the Duce Bus or the ACE Gold. So the next time you are in Las Vegas, give the ACE Gold Line a try!
Below is the route map of the ACE Gold.
Ace Gold Line Route Map
