wsabo Wrote:
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> I believe the original plan was or still is to go
> from the airport to downtown but there was lack of
> funding....If it went to the airport and downtown
> there would be a lot more riders. I think they
> also had plans for another branch on the west side
> of the strip.....
>
> If it went down the middle of the strip it could
> serve hotels on both sides but it would be a long
> walk to check in at hotel lobby and in the hot
> summer it might be too much for people carrying
> luggage
>
> Las Vegas does have a pretty good rapid bus line
> up and down the strip that makes limited stops and
> a double decker that makes all stops....since they
> added ticket machines to pay the fares boarding is
> a lot faster....They sell a day pass for about $8
> which is a real bargain

The reason the monorail does not go down the middle of the Strip, or to the airport, or to downtown, is because of the Taxi Union. They fought and lobbied hard to make it not happen, because they knew it would reduce their income greatly. There are still plans to at least extend it to downtown, but I don't believe it will ever happen.

The monorail does get "packed" once in a blue moon. It's when there is a huge convention in town, and the conventioneers somehow end up on the monorail. If it weren't for that convention center, it would always be empty. But still, even with the convention center, it gets minimal use. That's why they are in bankruptcy. There was talk last month in the RJ to tear the whole thing down. That wouldn't surprise me at all.