Stratosphere left off monorail route

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001 | 10:11 a.m.

The Stratosphere has been released from its original financial commitment to help fund studies for a proposed downtown monorail, but members of the Las Vegas City Council hope the hotel's decision wasn't done out of spite.

The Stratosphere has been lobbying hard for a thrill ride that would drop riders 700 feet down the hotel's tower, and head in any possible direction -- either along Las Vegas Boulevard south or north or across the boulevard.

In November, the Stratosphere withdrew the ride application after representatives were drowned out by residents' protests.

According to a letter sent to the city, the Stratosphere asked to be refunded the $250,000 it paid to help finance preliminary studies for the downtown monorail. In August, the Stratosphere, city, Boyd Gaming and the Fremont Street Experience agreed to pay $250,000 apiece to fund the studies.

The Riviera hotel has expressed interest in having the monorail stop at its property, and the council amended the original agreement to include that hotel's name and a $250,000 commitment.

The Regional Transportation Commission recently approved the configuration of the downtown monorail without a stop at the Stratosphere, as was originally proposed.

The proposed monorail would link downtown with a private monorail along the Strip now under construction.

Mayor Oscar Goodman called the Stratosphere's decision to withdraw its support "foolish" and plans to contact casino officials to be sure they understand that there will not be a stop at their property, a stop that could bring tourists from the Strip to the hotel's front door.

Councilman Gary Reese said the Stratosphere is only hurting itself.

"To me this is kind of like saying if you don't play my game, I'm taking my football and going home," Reese said.