Submitted / Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority
Phoenix’s Valley Metro Rail system, shown here, became operational in late 2008 and since has been expanded from 20 miles to 26.
Monday, Nov. 15, 2021 | 2 a.m.
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Las Vegas suffered a setback in 2019 when local transportation leaders opted against a light rail proposal for the central valley. Now, however, there’s a new opportunity for Las Vegas to get moving on light rail, thanks to the $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan that President Joe Biden is expected to sign today.
Officials say Nevada will receive $459 million for public transportation improvements under the infrastructure framework, money that can and should be spent to start building a rail system in Southern Nevada.
In a recent interview with the Sun, the CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, M.J. Maynard, said light rail remains on the table despite the 2019 decision to reject it in favor of a bus rapid transit option for connecting Maryland Parkway to downtown Las Vegas.
Maynard said the problem then was that the RTC lacked local funding required by the federal government to maintain improvements such as light rail systems without cutting into operations of existing systems. The bus option, which is now under design with plans for completion in late 2024 or early 2025, was the cheaper option.
Matching funding remains a challenge today, but Maynard said the RTC administration and board are discussing the possibility of putting a ballot question for a sales-tax increase for transportation before voters, which could be used for light rail. The RTC has legislative authority to go to the ballot between now and 2024.
“That’s potentially something we’re looking at to identify a sustainable, long-term financial solution that will help us move this less-than-mature transportation system into one that our city needs, not just for the next year or the next five years but the next 20 years,” Maynard said.
It’s good for the RTC to be having this conversation, especially with the federal infrastructure funding now available.
Las Vegas desperately needs to modernize its archaic transportation system, which is a throwback to the era when traffic designers worshiped passenger cars and our city was a fraction of its current size.
Now, our roads are out of capacity, and there’s not enough public transportation to ease the overcrowding on our streets. Meanwhile, all these cars grinding along in stop-and-go traffic are producing greenhouse gases that are fueling climate change.
It’s bad for local commuters and for the tourists and conventiongoers who propel our economy. For a city whose vitality is tied closely to the quality of our visitor experience, we simply must make it easier for our guests to get around. It’s also critical to provide Strip workers and other commuters with more convenient public transportation as the city grows and the streets become more and more crowded.
This is why light rail isn’t just a wish-list item for Southern Nevada, it’s a necessity. We must have a system that connects McCarran International Airport with the Strip, and eventually travels through downtown and into North Las Vegas. This would spare visitors from being stuck in traffic instead of enjoying our resorts, and, with the addition of park-and-ride lots, would provide an inexpensive and convenient way for Strip workers to get to and from work.
Another value-addition: Light rail is a proven generator of economic development. Look at Phoenix, whose 28-mile system has attracted $14.4 billion in investment, with another $3 billion in commercial and residential building projects on the books.
No wonder so many cities in our region have gotten on board with light rail, such as Denver, San Diego and Salt Lake City. Las Vegas falls further and further behind with every year that passes without our own system — and let’s not forget that we compete against these cities for convention and visitor traffic.
Local residents understand all of this. In public comments for the Maryland Parkway upgrades, they overwhelmingly voiced support for the light rail option.
We’re confident this support remains rock-solid, because the need is doing nothing but growing. Look at the development along the Strip in recent years — T-Mobile Arena, Resorts World, the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion, the under-construction MSG Sphere, etc. With last week’s announcement that the Fontainebleau project was back underway, and with the Oakland A’s looking at lots on or near the Strip as potential stadium sites should they relocate to Las Vegas, Las Vegas Boulevard looks to get even more crowded.
Light rail is the relief valve our community has long needed. With the federal infrastructure funding in place, there’s new hope that it can finally become a reality.
