Light rail is a long overdue solution for the Las Vegas Valley

By Noah Fischel
November 12th, 2023
Nevada Independent

"In the glittering expanse of the Las Vegas Valley, a pressing transportation issue remains primarily unaddressed. Despite being a central metropolitan hub that attracts millions of tourists each year, the valley lacks an essential component of modern urban transportation networks: a light rail or tram public transit option. As the backbone of a city's infrastructure, public transit facilitates the daily commute, shaping the urban landscape and the fabric of community life.

The Las Vegas Valley remains the only large metro region in the Mountain West without a developed light rail system. In a city where transportation should be smooth and efficient to cater to locals and tourists, relying on cars, buses, the limited Las Vegas Monorail, or even The Boring Company's emergency-exit-free tunnels is not just inadequate — it's an insult to progress. Implementing light rail would also serve as a testament to Las Vegas' commitment to sustainable and accessible urban development.

The argument for light rail becomes even more compelling when we look at successful implementations such as the one in Salt Lake City, Utah. The initial phase of its TRAX system, spanning roughly 15 miles from Sandy to Downtown Salt Lake, cost a mere $312 million. Salt Lake City has roughly less than one-third (31 percent) of the population of Las Vegas and was able to mark 1 million riders just two years into operation, and increase to 10 times that amount a year later..."

https://thenevadaindependent.com/art...s-vegas-valley

Massing released for the Las Vegas Museum of Art at Symphony Park.

https://news3lv.com/news/local/plann...symphony-park#

https://twitter.com/CityOfLasVegas/s...-symphony-park

https://news3lv.com/resources/media2...me_155742.jpeg

Worth noting that the linked article compares only the populations within the incorporated city limits of Las Vegas and SLC, which are about 635k and 199k, respectively.

A fairer comparison would acknowledge all of Clark County, NV's 2.2 million people compared with UT's eight-county Wasatch Front metropolitan area, population 2.6 million.

TRAX serves only Salt Lake County, population 1.1 million, and the four most urbanized counties of the Wasatch Front are also served by the UTA heavy passenger rail FrontRunner.

Given Utah's historic position as a rail hub and the fact that it has a linear string of communities that were established long before cars were Americans' preferred mode of transportation, it's hardly surprising that it currently has more rail options than Vegas, which didn't even start developing into a major metropolis until the postwar heyday of American car culture.

Las Vegans would absolutely benefit from more and better transit options, but I think that sort of city-vs.-city comparison isn't going to win the argument for them.

Trop set to close on April 2, two days short of their 67th anniversary

https://news3lv.com/news/local/tropi...24-demolition#

Glad to see Vegas approaching the reality of developing a more complete mass transit system. I think Cities like Vegas, (which is one of my favorite locals) are past due as Cyclist pointed out. However, your point-on Jordan regarding Salt Lake Metro's geography and rail history, which made it much easier to implement a light and heavy rail mass transit system. Easier than say Nashville, Austin, or Vegas. I do think Vegas is more forward-thinking than many of the metros throughout the U.S. and commuter rail is a strong probability sooner than later. Now if The Wasatch Front will be as fortunate as Vegas in landing a few more major sports franchises. There is a major push to bring MLB and NHL into the Salt Lake Metro. I imagine it will happen sometime within the next five years, at least before the next Olympics.

Just a small correction on the current pop. stats. The Central Metro of Salt Lake Valley/Tooele is closer to 1.3 million. Adding in the interconnected Northern and Southern Metros, along with its eastern periphery of Summit and Heber Valleys the estimate is close to 2.9 million. Not sure about the Vegas CSA, but I'm thinking it's probably more than 2.2 million. I know I know, estimates seem to be all over the map on some of the faster-growing cities in the West. I'm just extrapolating from some of the more dependable sites.

Edit: Can't wait to do a walk-through of The Fountainebleu. Gorgeous!!

https://www.travelandleisure.com/thm...3259d84d8f.jpg

https://www.travelandleisure.com/thm...ce11a9f468.jpg

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They supposed to build the light rail in Las Vegas. But they didn’t have an approval from the city council. Can’t get it done now??

New renderings for the A's new stadium. This looks fantastic.

https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images...3qtssggeev.jpg

https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images...wrloc72qhr.jpg

https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images...kzd3lsx7al.jpg

https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images...mpvgcpughb.jpg

Full article: https://www.mlb.com/athletics/news/a...k-in-las-vegas

Ballys doesnt want to give up the whole property and want to integrate a casino in to it, that stadium rendering would need the whole property

end of the year Tropicana will be imploded, the problems now start. Ballys doesnt have the money to build a new Casino and the A's owner doesnt have anywhere close to build a new stadium. very doubtful a stadium goes there.

The stadium will now, not be a retractable roof, per McCarthy, the GC. Only to fit it on 9 of the 35 available acres, so that Bally’s is able to build a new resort on property…

neither has the money to build though, it will be an empty lot until it is sold to someone with money to build there

out last week, the convention center is moving on with their 600mil renovations. whole north hall wall removed to continue the west hall ribbon roof among other enhancements

https://i.imgur.com/U8LfXRDh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tNsWACxh.jpg


Paris is getting the remodel and roof updates currently for the Jubilee tower that was taken from Ballys/Horseshoe and being rebranded to the Versailles tower for Paris. crossover coming along with balconies on the front and a matching paris roof

https://i.imgur.com/qoYi51zh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/iaVFlydh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/5enoQzvh.jpg

The Mirage casino, closing to be replaced by Hard Rock Hotel
 

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The iconic Mirage hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip will shut its doors this summer, the end of an era for a property credited with helping transform Sin City into an ultra-luxury resort destination.

The July 17 closure will clear the way for major renovations and construction on the 80-acre (32-hectare) property, which is to reopen in 2027 as the Hard Rock Las Vegas, featuring a hotel tower in the shape of a guitar soaring nearly 700 feet (about 210 meters) above the heart of the Strip....

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mirage-ca...204340878.html

Ugh, they should just leave The Mirage as it is or add on more towers. The Hard Rock looks tacky and uninspiring.

they are adding a tower, a huge guitar. but the property is old and needs renovation. Hardrock has bigger rooms for their casinos so they need to gut the current hotel


https://i.imgur.com/Xfl1MJyh.jpg

^^^ too bad they wont just move the volcano to the side of the guitar, would definitely prefer that over the trees/grass planned there now.

many people would prefer it stay but it doesnt fit the Hardrock brand...just like the Cats and Dolphins, all have been relocated.