A taste of London to roll on Strip

Friday, Sept. 12, 2003 | 10:08 a.m.

The double-decker buses that have become an icon of London will soon be making trips along the Las Vegas Strip.

The Regional Transportation Commission board on Thursday voted 6-0 to approve opening negotiations to buy 25 of the buses from Transbus International, an English company that was the sole respondent from an April request for proposals.

Ingrid Reisman, RTC spokeswoman, said the expected cost is about $12.5 million for the buses.

RTC General Manager Jacob Snow told the board that the buses will travel the Strip and downtown, but not much else, because the height of the buses prohibits running on other roads. The buses could soon tie those two tourist destinations together, he added.

"When the monorail is complete to the Sahara Station, we will have special double-deck service from the Sahara Station to downtown," he said. The buses also will provide relief for traffic congestion along the Strip, Snow said. The double-deckers hold as many people as the 60-foot buses that now travel up and down Las Vegas Boulevard, but are 20 feet shorter -- leaving 20 feet more for other traffic.

The contract for the 25 buses would include an option to buy another 25 buses.

Reisman said the buses could arrive two years from now with a successful contract negotiation.

Chip Maxfield, Clark County commissioner and RTC board member said he was looking forward to the new buses.

"This could make traveling on the CAT system fun," he said.