Editorial: Monorail must not ignore downtown

Wednesday, April 3, 2002 | 8:43 a.m.

In the early planning stages of the four-mile monorail planned for the Strip, the idea of connecting downtown Las Vegas via a 3.5-mile section from Sahara Avenue generated controversy. Fears of downtown business being disrupted during the lengthy construction period were expressed as well as concern for historic buildings and the traditional look and feel of downtown. Then there was the Stratosphere, which pulled its share of funding for preliminary studies because the city balked at its roller coaster proposal, which had ignited protests from several neighborhoods.

Happily, the controversy has now died down and the downtown connection appears to have gained general acceptance. A public hearing last week drew only a few people and they seemed agreeable to some short-term setbacks in exchange for the long-term gain. The gain, of course, will be in the numbers of Strip tourists who will find it fun and convenient to visit downtown while they are here. It is inconceivable to us that a monorail could be built that would leave out downtown. We hope the planning for a downtown leg can now move full steam ahead.