Beltway leg could aid speedway traffic

Eric Leake

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003 | 10:13 a.m.

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Driving to the races may be a little faster this year with the addition of a new leg of the Las Vegas Beltway.

Officials expect the new segment -- which opened in October and joins U.S. 95 and Interstate 15 a mile south of the speedway -- to take some of the load off the interstate for the NASCAR Winston Cup series events set for Feb. 27 to March 2.

"We're excited about the addition of the beltway. We think it's going to be a big plus," said David Stetzer, Las Vegas Motor Speedway director of operations.

"We believe that it's going to be a benefit for inbound traffic for all of the people that live in the northwest part of the valley."

Still, race officials do not expect the beltway to bring traffic much closer to raceway speeds. Stetzer recommended fans depart at least two hours before the March 2 race, which starts a half-hour earlier this year, at noon.

The sold-out UAW-DaimlerChrylser 400 will bring an estimated 138,500 fans and more than 20,000 cars. As speedway spokesman Jeff Motley noted, the influx of fans turns the speedway into the state's fourth largest city for a day. Then they all leave.

Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Jim Olschlager said the beltway addition opens new avenues to and from the race.

"If folks get onto the 215, they have two or three places they can get off and still get to the race," he said. "It's going to be a little bit longer, but in the long run they'll get parked quicker."

Or, better yet, he said, ride a bus.

Citizens Area Transit will run special NASCAR buses from the Strip to the speedway for a $5 fare each way that Saturday and Sunday. CAT will have priority travel lanes into the speedway and drop off passengers in front of the grandstand tunnel.

"Riding the CAT bus will take the headache away from you and onto somebody else," Olschlager said. "Have a good time; let somebody else do the driving."

In past years CAT routes cut through Nellis Air Force Base. Because of security concerns, CAT may not be allowed to take that shortcut this time.

Traffic conditions for the races have been improving since the first green flag waved six years ago. Olschlager said NHP's preparedness for the event has also improved.

"I think the first couple years were a trial and error thing. Last year we had it down to a fine science," he said. "I think this this year it's going to be even better."

He had some succinct advice for those heading into race day traffic: "Leave plenty early and keep your attitude in check."

The speedway also improved handicapped parking this year by relocating the lot and guaranteeing paved parking. Handicapped parking used to overflow into gravel lots.