[tijlover]

When I read Clark County's Wish List from the Stimulus Package for all their $750M Road Projects, I pray and hope that Obama rejects each and every one of those 20th Centrury Projects and only approves the 21st Century projects. Click on to Light Rail U.S. on Wikipedia.com and look at all the light rail tracks being laid down, city after city across this country and how wildly successful it's become everywhere. Even our nearest neighbor Phoenix, with a bit more foresight and intelligence, opened their first line on 12/27 and, thus far, a huge success. As to be expected, the naysayers predicted in every one of these cities, it would be a white elephant, only to be dispproved by the unexpected ridership numbers.

In the 1930's, as history shows, there was that consortium of GM, Phillips Petroleum, STandard Oil of CA, Firestone and Mack Trucks, who formed that National City Lines, to buy up all the street car lines in 45 of our cities across the country to deliberately destroy it so we'd, by no choice, develop a love affair with the automobile. With the increasing popularity of light rail across the country, and demanding more and more of it, what's that telling you? The love affair with the automobile is over?

Come on Las Vegas! Why are you still dragging your feet 8-9 years now into the 21st century? Las Vegas is held up to one of the cities of the future, people travel here from all over the world, and let those travelers go back to where they came from and brag about what it was like to spend some time in a 21st century city, as they're whisked from the Airport to the Strip and whisked from the Strip to Red Rock on a train and not in a limo or a taxi.

[AA702]

When I lived in San Jose, CA.. the light rail system was really a bust because it really wasn't a good alternative to cars. I think people think its a good thing, but I never knew anyone who would take it because those who have to drop kids off at daycare and do errands at lunch time need their cars. I know it works better in cities like San Francisco where parking is almost impossible.

[tijlover]

This is a long-term FUTURE investment for the city. I recently rode Portland Oregon's DREAM light rail system. Fly into the Airport, the rail station greets you once you leave the terminal to whisk you away to DT Portland in minutes. What I saw riding the rails there for 4 days was mid-rise housing construction rising at the various subway stops. Las Vegas thinks in such short-term plans, it's hard for them to envision a light rail system, where, invariably, over the years/decades you'll see our city transformed with mid-rise to high-rise developements at the major subway stops. Research light rail u.s. on Wikipedia and its successes across the country.

[BoracayJohnny]

The taxi folks (owners and others) are not gonna let that happen without a huge fight.

[aqualung8705]

Can you imagine how much it'd cost to purchase the right of way to stretch to the four corners of BFE? If they can't get the monorail stretched out to McCarran, what makes you think that they'd make light rail work? The day that happens is the day Oscar starts drinking vodka martinis, and smoking White Owls.

[lvkewlkid]

they tried about 2 years ago to propose a route, people put up a big fight, even built websites to fight it, its sad, they said it would attract homeless, we already have a homeless problem so how much worse can it be, plus i think the homeless would be priced out of the light rail, the buses are already getting to be expensive enough...i wish the route was actually approved and not fought but the residents of las vegas just do not like mass transit and to call this a city of the 21st century would be crazy...its definitely not a real city and i don't know anyone that calls it a city of the 21st century...of course it is a city of the southwest, which is not my taste...

[AA702]

Honestly the way Las Vegas is set up.. you cannot get people out of their cars. Maybe some people, but a car is still part of the Southwest culture. I do not think it will work for a city such as LV.

[RandalR]

Light rail has been an expensive, taxpayer-fleecing boondoggle in every Western city - a vastly improved bus system could be implemented for a tiny fraction of the cost. Even the monorail simply doesn't work financially and is well on its way to closing down this year and possibly being scrapped.

[kwm03160]

I lived in Salt Lake up until last year. It is a great way to get to the downtown area cheaply (especially when gas was over $4 a gallon). The light rail system is heavily used and is considered a success. There was an existing rail corridor that was used for the first phase, and the 2nd phase out into the suburbs is also using an existing rail corridor (it will be interesting to see if light rail gets used out there). While I haven't lived in Vegas long, it seems like there isn't an available rail corridor that could be used. It seems like light rail would be too cost prohibitive because of this.

[airics]

i believe the monorail is a failure because of its location. the mere fact that you have to go to the rear of the casinos to get to the entrances is absurd in my opinion. Even though it may have cost more upfront, they should have made it above the strip itself... even if they put trolly cars there, that would be cool but of course with the traffic situation, lights would be unbearable.