Valley’s largest bus station approved by commission

Angela Soo

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2001 | 8:44 a.m.

North Las Vegas could soon be home to the valley's largest bus station, twice the size of the Greyhound terminal in downtown Las Vegas.

The North Las Vegas Planning Commission Wednesday approved a plan for a 6,000-square-foot bus station at Las Vegas Boulevard North and Cartier Avenue, about one-half mile north of Civic Center Drive.

Golden State Transportation expects to begin construction in April and complete the project four to five months later, Tim Ayala, a representative of the company, said.

"The buses operate like the Greyhound, but it's not nationwide," Ayala said.

The existing bus station at Lake Mead and Las Vegas boulevards needed an upgrade, but rather than remodel, the operators decided to build a new station.

Initial design work included a small cafeteria, a fountain and ample landscaping to buffer any noise coming from the buses, planners were told. The nearest neighborhood is 200 feet away, and a six-foot high wall was required between the station and the homes.

"I'm glad the vacant lot ended up being something like this instead of a 24-hour place," said Victor Bauswell, who lives directly behind the land. "It's the lesser of two evils."

Operating hours will run from about 6 a.m. to midnight with three daily departures, at 9 a.m., noon and 8 p.m., Ayala said.

The company has runs between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, in addition to routes to San Francisco, Phoenix and El Paso, Texas. A round-trip ticket to Los Angeles would cost about $80, which includes a television to watch during the bus ride, a free drink and sandwich.

"It's still cheaper to fly, but people are looking for better service," said Ayala, adding that people are apprehensive about flying after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"Right now people are afraid to fly," he said. "They want to ride the bus instead."

Of the 35.8 million visitors a year traveling to Las Vegas, 2.8 million -- or 8 percent -- arrive by bus, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. About 56,000 to 60,000 buses bring tourists to the city each year.