Want to save $8,000? Take the bus

By Kyle Hansen (contact)

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

People who ride public transportation in Las Vegas save more than $8,000 a year over those who drive, according to a new report.

But that is significantly less than many other cities, according to the report from the American Public Transportation Association, which looks at how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transportation and living with one less car.

The association ranked the 20 cities with the most transit riders in the nation based on how much a person would save by purchasing a monthly transit pass instead of paying for a car, gas and parking.

Las Vegas ranked No. 19 out of the 20 cities with a monthly savings of $711 or an annual savings of $8,127.

Nationwide, public transit riders save an average of $766 a month and $9,190 each year.

New York led the nation with a monthly savings of $1,145 and an annual savings of $13,736.

Rounding out the top five cities for savings were Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle.

The only city to come in behind Las Vegas was Pittsburgh, where riders save $677 a month and $8,127 a year.

Ramps connecting I-215 and I-515 to close

Part of the connection between interstates 215 and 515 in Henderson will be closed Saturday and Sunday evening.

The ramps from eastbound Interstate 215 to Interstate 515 will be closed from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. for sign replacement.

The on-ramps from Gibson Road and Stephanie Street to the eastbound beltway will also be closed during those times.

Motorists will be detoured off I-215 at Gibson Road to take either Auto Show Drive or Horizon Ridge Drive to I-515.

North Las Vegas flood project closes Tropical Parkway

North Las Vegas Public Works crews have begun construction on a flood control box along Tropical Parkway.

The box will be one mile long, going underground from Commerce Street to the Upper Las Vegas Wash.

Construction is expected to continue until October 2010, during which time lane closures, reduced speed limits and detours may be in effect on Tropical Parkway.

The Clark County Regional Flood Control District is funding the $6.8-million project.

Flamingo Road lanes closed near Desert Springs

A sewer project on Flamingo Road is expected to impact traffic near Desert Springs Hospital.

Two eastbound lanes of Flamingo Road from Algonquin Drive to Burnham Avenue are expected to remain closed until Friday.

Crews are scheduled to work 24 hours a day during the Clark County Water Reclamation District project.

Cheyenne Avenue lanes closed for work on waterline

Lanes of Cheyenne Avenue will be closed nightly for waterline construction at Revere Street for the rest of November.

Lanes will be closed from Martin L. King Boulevard to Commerce Street.

The closures, which will be in both directions, will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each evening until Nov. 31.

The waterline work is part of the $9.7 million Cheyenne Avenue repaving project that is scheduled to end in June 2010.

I-15 lanes to close at Tropicana

Lanes on southbound Interstate 15 are expected to be closed Thursday evening for bridge inspections.

The closures will be around the interchange with Tropicana Avenue.

The closures are scheduled between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.