RTC compromises over Strip monorail plans

Jeff Schweers

Friday, May 16, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The Regional Transportation Commission has approved a modified fixed guideway system designed to appease Strip resorts planning to build their own people-mover systems.

The partial system was seen as a compromise that would enable Strip properties to begin development of their own fixed guideway systems, with the ultimate goal of connecting the private and public systems.

"The intent is to address the full transit system throughout the whole valley," RTC board member David Wood said. "We're concerned with transit in all areas of the valley, not just the Strip."

The $380-million "minimum operating system" approved Thursday is a 5.2-mile route with 10 stations and 30 cars, and an annual operating cost of $10.5 million. The average ridership was projected at 92,960 a day or 31 million annually.

The new system is scaled back from an original plan to build a $1.5-billion fixed guideway system from Cashman Field to McCarran International Airport with more than 20 stations throughout the downtown and Strip corridors.

The compromise plan was developed at the urging of private interests that want to build their own monorail systems. The Hilton Hotels Corp. and MGM Grand Inc., for instance, are planning a 3.4-mile monorail system that would extend the MGM-Bally's monorail north to the Flamingo and Las Vegas Hiltons.

And Mirage Resorts has plans to build a system linking the Monte Carlo and Bellagio with The Mirage and Treasure Island. Also, Circus Circus wants to build a people mover system connecting its properties at the south end of the Strip, across from the airport.

"This compromise is to allow them to move ahead on their projects on a private basis, then integrate the public system into that," said Wood, who also is a member of the Henderson City Council.

"A large part of the discussion was making sure their technology was compatible with a public system, meaning that we wouldn't want everybody to get off one type of rail car and get onto another just to get down the Strip a few more blocks."

The RTC board also discussed the language of bills in the Legislature where Hilton is looking for the authority to build its own private system. The RTC wants to ensure that it has the ability to authorize a fixed guideway system that ultimately can branch off into suburban routes.

"Both entities have the same objectives, moving people through crowded corridors," Wood said. "But the RTC wants to make sure we address transit needs throughout the valley."

The RTC board also approved a $190 million budget for 1997-98.