Las Vegas is not all about high-speed rail as officials look at local light-rail option

Written by RT&S Staff
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The city of Las Vegas is looking at how transit could better serve Charleston Boulevard.

Las Vegas is connected to one of the hottest rail topics over the past year, a high-speed line connecting the gambler’s paradise with Los Angeles, but the city knows it also needs to take care of its own.

Charleston Boulevard could receive a massive transit system if everything falls into place. Axios Nevada LLC and the city of Las Vegas have reached an exclusive agreement on the construction of a high-capacity transit system that could cost as much as $3 billion. The line would be privately owned and operated.

Light rail, a solar-powered mass transit system, or a tunnel system are some of the options being discussed, but light rail appears to be the leading candidate, which is why the project could cost around $3 billion.

The route would run along Charleston Boulevard, starting near Hollywood Boulevard and ending near Town Center Drive in Summerlin. The line, which would be 19 miles long, would move through downtown Las Vegas.

Officials considered a similar system along the Maryland Parkway a couple of years ago, but decided to go with a bus rapid transit system to cover the 8.7 miles because the cost for a light-rail system was too high.

Charleston Boulevard is already served by bus, so it will most likely turn into a shared transit service corridor.

Over the next year Axios is required to show ridership and revenue forecasts, a preliminary route plan, the possible location of a maintenance yard and how land for the yard will be acquired. A final design along with construction and operation plans needs to be presented to the city by the end of year two.

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