Finally…Some Monorail “Common Sense”

See Also: More Monorail Madness, 12/24/04

(01/27/05, LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Plans to extend the Las Vegas monorail to the downtown area have been scrapped because the federal government won't provide money for the nearly $400 million project. Ingrid Reisman, a spokeswoman for the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, said Wednesday that low ridership on the troubled first phase of the monorail was a factor.

The monorail began running a 3.9-mile, Z-shaped route in July behind some of the Las Vegas Strip's largest hotels and plans called for a 2.3-mile extension.

Organizers had hoped the $650 million monorail would cover its debts and operating budget by attracting 19 million to 20 million people riders a year. But mechanical problems shut down the monorail for nearly four months before it finally reopened in late December.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said he's been looking at cheaper, alternative funding for a light-rail system or high-tech buses. Cam Walker, head of Transit Systems Management, the private company that operates the monorail for the nonprofit Las Vegas Monorail Co., said his company has no immediate plans to extend the monorail in any direction.

Posted: 01/29/05