[tijlover]

Before I left Las Vegas, and a subscriber to the LV Review Journal (owned now by his son-in-law) there was opposition to the expanding the Monorail to Mandalay and opposition to the light rail line on Maryland.

Yes, along with the taxi drivers, I can see why the casino's wouldn't want a rail line on the Strip either. So, I'm sure RTC knows that as well, and before I left Las Vegas in June, I attended a light rail meeting, to discuss the Maryland route, at the Winchester Community Center. But they were confidant the line was to be operational by 2022. We shall see!

Off-topic, what's the news on the Art Museum in Symphony Park? In the last legislative session, Tick Segerblom tried to embarrass the legislature by saying Las Vegas was the last big city to have an art museum, and they voted on $10 million in seed money to get the wheels moving. Then, is there any surprises in Nevada?, Sandoval chopped $9 million off of it, leaving only $1 million.

[FML157]

Sisolak has $5M slated for a Las Vegas Art Museum in his 19/20 budget.
"$5 million for a Las Vegas Museum of Art. Lawmakers appropriated $1 million for a future Las Vegas art museum in 2017"
source: https://thenevadaindependent.com/art...-care-spending


Can't really buy much art work with $5M.

[timothyaw]

Originally Posted by Willy702

All excellent points, but the true decision is made by the casino owners. They don't want light rail on the Strip, they didn't want a monorail, they don't want to pedestrianize it...they don't want to do anything because some other casino is going to figure out a way to make it work better for them and that will upset their big boss. I know this to be 100% true, Sheldon Adelson was sending his lieutenants to block the monorail because he thought MGM and Harrahs at the time would figure out how to become the dorm rooms for conventions in his building and his business plan would be screwed. After he got it blocked he started his raging campaign against the LVCVA which fortunately hasn't worked out for him. I'm sure he'd say light rail is the same thing.

Sheldon may be buying into the Monorail now, as they are adding a stop for the MSG Sphere. Which Sands has an investment stake in the project.

[RationalExpectations]

Originally Posted by FML157

Sisolak has $5M slated for a Las Vegas Art Museum in his 19/20 budget.
"$5 million for a Las Vegas Museum of Art. Lawmakers appropriated $1 million for a future Las Vegas art museum in 2017"
source: https://thenevadaindependent.com/art...-care-spending


Can't really buy much art work with $5M.

But you can reward your friends by hiring them as "consultants" to put together a plan.

[RationalExpectations]

Originally Posted by equid0x

I still think building light rail on Maryland is a terrible idea. It's going to be like one of those "bridge to nowhere" projects... Light rail to nowhere...

It will become mobile air-conditioned housing for the homeless at night.

[RationalExpectations]

Originally Posted by tijlover

I think the Maryland route is the best choice of the first light rail line.

I disagree.

I think the best choice of the first light rail line is NO LIGHT RAIL LINE whatsoever.

[RationalExpectations]

Originally Posted by Deuterion

I think a light rail system is awesome

No it isn't. There is zero evidence it is awesome. Zero.

Originally Posted by Deuterion

but these types of projects always get attacked.

With good reason.

Originally Posted by Deuterion

If you funnel public money to the rich using tax increment financing you won’t hear a peep from people...

That statement is a false dichotomy. That statement shows complete absence of understanding problem statements and solution spaces, misunderstanding of public finance mechanisms and classic SJW demonization of success and successful people.

Originally Posted by Deuterion

but use it to create a rail system then they come out with the same talking points nationwide:

- We don’t have the money.

Of course we have money - it is just that we are using it for other things. In order to fund a light rail system, that means not funding something else. What do you propose to cut? Be specific: what departments would you cut back or eliminate, and how much money would you then free up to pay for light rail?

Originally Posted by Deuterion

- It’s going to allow the dangerous people in the inner-city to have easy access to us.

How do you propose to make it safe? Be specific.

Originally Posted by Deuterion

- Why have light rail when we have buses.

Few people take the buses - so why waste money building a fixed rail system that few will use?
Light rail is a 20th century solution to a 21st century problem. Why bother with it when we have Uber & Lyft and soon will have autonomous on-demand vehicles?

Originally Posted by Deuterion

But these same regressive thinkers will turn around and complain about traffic.

The solution to excess traffic is not light rail.

[RationalExpectations]

Originally Posted by tijlover

One good reason to get some light rail in Las Vegas is to end the embarrassment

So that's your statement of the problem? Embarrassment is the problem to which light rail is the optimal answer?

[OmegaSupreme]

Light rail works really well in some cities, mainly those with a grid-like system and lots of businesses. I don't see it working in Las Vegas right now, maybe downtown at some point, but probably not.

Widening roads, building more roads, building freeways through cities doesn't always work, and can actually increase traffic.
https://www.citylab.com/transportati...demand/569455/

I think the best solution, ultimately, is to introduce tolls.

[RationalExpectations]

Originally Posted by equid0x

I don't have any problem with a light rail. I just don't understand the local obsession with putting it on Maryland Parkway? There aren't really traffic problems in the area, it's well served by bus, most have a car anyways or they are working nearby and walk.

What is the statement of the problem to which light rail is the optimal answer?

Originally Posted by equid0x

There is an obvious need for better mass transit in one section of the valley... The Strip.

It may be obvious to you, but it isn't obvious to me. Tourists like to do the strip in cars - either their own, rentals, or an Uber.

Originally Posted by equid0x

Build a backbone there and then branch out with lines to Summerlin, the East Side, and Downtown.

If you were to do that, you must then build massive parking garages at each stop. After all, people will need to drive to a light rail stop in order to hop on the light rail. Once they get to the stop where they are going to, they then need transportation to their ultimate destination - either a rental car or an Uber or a bus. That's just adding complexity and time.

Let's see... I can do either (a) or (b) below.

(a) drive to a light rail station, then hunt for parking, fend off beggars and homeless and tweakers as I walk to the platform, dodging used hypodermic needles and condoms and human excrement, wait maybe 15 to 20 minutes in an un-airconditioned train stop in the summertime heat, try to buy a ticket from the vending machine only to discover it is broken or it has run out of paper to print such a ticket, get on the train that is 10 minutes off schedule, get to a stop, exit, dodge human refuse, get an Uber and go to my final destination...

- or -

(b) get in my car and drive to my final destination. Or take an Uber from my point of origin to my final destination.

Clearly, light rail is a solution in search of a problem.