Jones won’t push RTC command of monorail

Jeff Schweers

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones has backed off a resolution establishing the Regional Transportation Commission as lead planning agency and operator of a planned monorail system linking the Strip with downtown hotel-casinos.

A month ago, Jones said she would ask the RTC to solidify its position after reports that Clark County Aviation Director Bob Broadbent was tapped to spearhead efforts to build a fixed guideway system on the Strip.

But after talking to Broadbent and County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, Jones postponed putting her resolution on Thursday's RTC agenda to see if some interlocal agreement could be worked out first.

"I feel the RTC has to be involved in this project if it's going to be a public access system," Jones said. "I don't want to discourage private sector involvement, so we're taking 30 days to sit down and try to look at different options."

If something can't be worked out to her satisfaction, Jones said, she will bring her resolution to the RTC board in January.

Jones said she was persuaded by Woodbury and Broadbent to work on a collaborative solution among the various entities that have a stake in a monorail system.

"Her main concern is anything we do should be programmed so it ties into moving the monorail downtown," Broadbent said. "Both Bruce and I have assured her it is, and I don't blame them. At the same time, anything to build a segment quicker is better for all of us."

RTC Director Kurt Weinrich said his understanding was that the city, county and RTC would work together to try to come up with an agreement by next month.

"We will be working toward an interlocal agreement among the entities spelling out the role of the various parties and what they can contribute to advancing the rail project," Weinrich said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to bring back an agreement to the RTC at its January meeting."

The RTC is scheduled Thursday to choose a route for a 14-mile system that would link downtown with the Strip and potentially running to the airport, the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Field.

The vote would mark the end of nearly two years of study and consensus building among the resort owners and the RTC, and is a crucial step to receive federal transit funding.

Broadbent said what he's doing will in no way interfere with that process, which could take another three years to negotiate with the properties for station and rail right of way, financing and other issues.

"All the hotel owners know you've got to finish the study to receive federal funding," he said. "But I don't think we can wait until the turn of the century to get going."