Editorial: Planes, trains and automobiles

Saturday, Feb. 21, 1998 | 3:52 a.m.

Considering the casino building boom, many Southern Nevadans might scratch their heads and wonder why there is so much concern over our tourist-based economy. But as the SUN's Gary Thompson pointed out in a three-part series starting last Sunday, the gaming industry is facing an array of challenges, including transportation problems confronting tourists.

To use just one example, the number of people using McCarran International Airport declined in 1997. Then add to that the number of rooms available climbed 6 percent by the end of 1997. "For the first time, we might be in a situation where the demand is there, but the ability to get (tourists) here is not," Bryan, a Nevada Democrat, said. A number of megaresorts are slated to open soon, so the problems we face in transportation aren't going away and must be addressed.

There are essentially three ways to get into Las Vegas -- by plane, train and automobile. Each artery leading into Las Vegas is experiencing problems:

* Planes. A crucial component of tourist travel is the price of a ticket. Air fares to Las Vegas so far in 1998 are about 42 percent higher than in the previous year's period. Along with the increase in fares is the concern over flights being curtailed to Las Vegas because it is more profitable to fly to other cities. An encouraging prospect is that a group headed by former America West Airlines President Michael Conway has raised 80 percent of the money necessary to start a new, low-fare Las Vegas-based carrier flying Boeing 757s to cities with a demand for nonstop service to Las Vegas.

* Trains. Last year, Amtrak discontinued the three-times-a-week Desert Wind run, which took passengers between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, with a stop in Las Vegas. Fortunately, Amtrak announced recently it plans on getting Amtrak service rolling again into Las Vegas. In a public-private partnership, Amtrak is making a commitment to upgrade the tracks and build platforms to accommodate a high-tech train. The gaming industry, meanwhile, would chip in the operational expenses of the venture, guaranteeing from 70 percent to 80 percent of 330 seats a day at a cost of $100 per round trip ticket.

* Automobiles. The major highway to Las Vegas from Southern California is Interstate 15. This artery supplies about 30 percent of Las Vegas visitors but it is sorely being taxed. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., recently drove to Barstow, Calif., to dedicate an interchange and it left an indelible imprint. "That's not a freeway but a two-lane road that needs significant repairs and expansion."

Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., added that if motorists know they'll be backing up at Barstow, they'll leave earlier to avoid the heavy traffic. "And because our gaming business really involves renting time at a slot machine or a blackjack table, the less time they're here, the less money comes into our economy." On an upbeat note, the Nevada Transportation Board is working out the details to pay part of the costs of widening I-15 in California. The plan calls for Nevada to pay about $10 million of the $153 million cost of widening a 29-mile stretch of the interstate between Barstow and Victorville, Calif.

There are no easy prescriptions in solving the transportation ailment. But not talking about the problem will not make it go away. It's heartening to see public officials tackling this problem. It's time for all members of the community -- business leaders as well as government officials -- to step up to the plate and look for innovative solutions to address this critical link in our economy.