Las Vegas Monorail
A monorail train arriving at the Sahara Station
Info
Type	Monorail
Locale	Las Vegas Strip, Nevada
Terminals	Sahara MGM Grand
No. of stations	7
Daily ridership	20,553 (March 2007)
Operation
Opened	July 15, 2004
Owner	Las Vegas Monorail Company
Operator(s)	Las Vegas Monorail Company
Character	Elevated
Rolling stock	9 Bombardier MVI trains
Technical
Line length	3.9 mi (6.3 km)
No. of tracks	2
Line map Sahara Las Vegas Hilton Las Vegas Convention Center Harrah's / Imperial Palace Flamingo / Caesars Palace Bally's / Paris Las Vegas MGM Grand

The Robert N. Broadbent Las Vegas Monorail is a 3.9 mi (6.3 km) monorail mass transit system located on the Las Vegas Strip, in the United States. It is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Monorail Company. For tax purposes, the Monorail is registered as a charity, which is allowed under Nevada law since the Monorail provides a public service. The state of Nevada assisted in bond financing, but otherwise no public money was used in construction, and no future taxpayer obligation will be incurred. ^[1] A Las Vegas Monorail train pulling into the Sahara Station. ... The KL Monorail in Kuala Lumpur, a colorful straddle-beam monorail A monorail is a single rail serving as a track for a wheeled vehicle; also, a vehicle traveling on such a track. ... The KL Monorail in Kuala Lumpur, a colorful straddle-beam monorail A monorail is a single rail serving as a track for a wheeled vehicle; also, a vehicle traveling on such a track. ... The south end of The Strip; approximately one third of the entire Strip is represented here. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Nevada. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A Mark VI Monorail from the Walt Disney World Monorail System The Mark VI monorail (or M-VI) is a monorail train used in the Walt Disney World Monorail System and the Las Vegas Monorail. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... “km” redirects here. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Las Vegas Hilton is a station on the Las Vegas Monorail. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Las Vegas Convention Center is a station on the Las Vegas Monorail. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links BSicon_uSTRrf. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The KL Monorail in Kuala Lumpur, a colorful straddle-beam monorail A monorail is a single rail serving as a track for a wheeled vehicle; also, a vehicle traveling on such a track. ... In the United States of America, transit describes local area common carrier passenger transportation configured to provide scheduled service on fixed routes on a non-reservation basis. ... The south end of The Strip; approximately one third of the entire Strip is represented here. ... The KL Monorail in Kuala Lumpur, a colorful straddle-beam monorail A monorail is a single rail serving as a track for a wheeled vehicle; also, a vehicle traveling on such a track. ...

History

The Las Vegas Monorail project was built by Bombardier Transportation upon an existing free monorail that ran between the MGM Grand and Bally's, closing a long gap in the strip that tourists usually had to travel on foot. Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Bombardier group. ...

After many delays, the finished Las Vegas Monorail opened to the public on July 15, 2004 with the completion and testing of "Phase 1." is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

During testing and commissioning, the monorail suffered several malfunctions that delayed the start of passenger service for almost a year. The most severe of these problems related to parts falling from the monorail to the ground under the tracks.

On September 8, 2004, more problems with falling parts led to the closing of the monorail for nearly four months. It reopened on December 24, 2004. A number of repairs were made to the monorail cars during this shutdown. Each time the monorail system requires major engineering changes, it must undergo a lengthy "commissioning" process to confirm the effectiveness and safety of the repairs. The local press reported that each day the monorail was down cost the system approximately $85,000, and that over $8.3 million was lost as a result of this one shutdown. is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 358th day of the year (359th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Transit Systems Management officials cited the good handling of crowds during the Consumer Electronics Show in January of 2005 as proof that the system can handle a major convention. The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a trade show held each January in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association. ...

On February 2, 2005, the monorail system had to be shut down again due to problems with the electrical system. Reportedly, a short circuit required replacement of a 30-foot (9.14 m) section of the power rail. The system reopened about 12 hours later. is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ...

July 2005 set a record for ridership for the monorail, with over one million passengers. Bank West debuted a red "MoneyRail" branded train, and joins Nextel Communications (now a part of Sprint Nextel Corporation), Hansens Beverage, and Paramount Studios (with a Star Trek themed train) as corporate sponsors. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Paramount Pictures logo used from 1988 to 1989. ... This article is about the entire Star Trek franchise. ...

On July 8, 2005, Transit Systems Management announced that it would shut down, turning over its responsibilities to the Las Vegas Monorail Company, the system operator. Curtis Myles, a former deputy general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, became President of the Las Vegas Monorail Company. He assumed his duties on July 18. is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada is an independent governmental agency responsible transportation in Southern Nevada, primarily Las Vegas. ...

Expansion plans took a step forward on November 1, 2005, when the County Commission approved a study into the feasibility of an airport extension. is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On June 6, 2006, it was announced by the Las Vegas Monorail Corporation that Las Vegas Monorail revenues rose nearly 16 percent from the previous year, to $3,250,565 in April 2006. Likewise, ridership had also increased, from 563,823 riders in January 2006 to 704,527 in April 2006. New ticket distribution and marketing efforts had been implemented to continue the trend, including a ticket brokerage program that provided convention attendees with monorail tickets in advance and a national public relations program.

Operations

The Las Vegas Monorail pulling into the Las Vegas Convention Center Station

The present monorail (Phase 1 of the overall project) begins at the MGM Grand Hotel near the south end of The Strip, and runs roughly parallel to the Strip on its eastern side. The monorail passes next to the Convention Center and the Las Vegas Hilton, both with stations, before ending at the Sahara hotel at the north end of the Strip. The ride takes about 14 minutes to travel its total distance of 3.9 miles (about 6.3 km). The Las Vegas Monorail, pulling into the LV Convention Center Station, near Paradise & Desert Inn Rds. ... The Las Vegas Monorail, pulling into the LV Convention Center Station, near Paradise & Desert Inn Rds. ... link titleThe Las Vegas Convention Center is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and is located in Clark County, Nevada. ... The KL Monorail in Kuala Lumpur, a colorful straddle-beam monorail A monorail is a single rail serving as a track for a wheeled vehicle; also, a vehicle traveling on such a track. ... “MGM Grand” redirects here. ... The south end of The Strip; approximately one third of the entire Strip is represented here. ... link titleThe Las Vegas Convention Center is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and is located in Clark County, Nevada. ... The Las Vegas Hilton is a hotel, casino, and convention center in Las Vegas, Nevada owned by Colony Capital. ... The Sahara Hotel and Casino is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... “km” redirects here. ...

The monorail generally runs behind the eastern Strip side hotels and casinos, a long block away from the Strip. To get to the Strip thus usually requires a long walk through one or more casinos, with the prospect of emerging upon the Strip in an unexpected location. This lack of a direct presence on the Strip along with relatively high ticket prices has been a factor in the rather slow acceptance of the monorail.^[2]

The proposed New Las Vegas Arena, to be built behind Bally's and Paris Las Vegas could be accessed from the existing Bally's station.

System name and sponsorship

The Las Vegas Monorail is named for Robert N. Broadbent, whom Las Vegas officials credit with gaining the support from the public and officials needed to bring the monorail to fruition. Broadbent, a former Boulder City mayor, Clark County commissioner, assistant secretary of the interior, and McCarran International Airport director, died in 2003, a few months before the system's scheduled opening. Boulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. ... Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. ... The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is a Cabinet department of the United States government that manages and conserves most federally owned land. ... FAA diagram of McCarran International Airport “LAS” redirects here. ...

The Las Vegas Monorail generates revenue not only from ticketed passengers, but also from corporate sponsors. Branding rights for the seven stations and the nine trains are available, and the sponsorship prices are in the millions. Hansens Beverage sponsored the first monorail train, featuring its Monster Energy Drink. Nextel Communications created a totally themed pavilion by branding the largest station, adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center. Since the Sprint-Nextel Merger in late 2005, Nextel Central has been rebranded as Sprint Central. All stations in the system are available for branding by companies and groups. By selling branding rights for the stations, the system earns additional income to limit the fares paid by passengers.^{[citation needed]} Monster Energy (usually simply known as Monster) is a brand of energy drink manufactured by Hansen Beverage Company. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For other uses, see Brand (disambiguation). ...

Construction and planning

The Las Vegas Monorail was designed by Gensler of Nevada, engineered by Carter Burgess (now Jacobs Carter Burgess) and constructed by Granite Construction, Inc. of California, one of the largest civil contractors in the United States.

The Las Vegas Monorail vehicles and signals systems were developed by Bombardier Transportation, which has been blamed for problems with the system. Bombardier also constructed the Mark VI monorail trains for Walt Disney World, as well as many other transit systems around the world. The company may be subject to litigation and liability for losses of income due to monorail malfunctions. The design of the monorail stations was executed by Carter & Burgess (now Jacobs Carter Burgess) Las Vegas, NV by Shafiq Alam, Jeremy Scallion, ***** ******, Bandi Chandrashekar and Juan Chavez. The guideway design was mainly performed by Harry Jasper, Carlos Banchik, Paul Greco, and Laura Thompson.^{[citation needed]} Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Bombardier group. ... The Walt Disney World Monorail System is a public transit system in operation around Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. ... Cinderella Castle, at the center of the Magic Kingdom, is Walt Disney World Resorts most recognizable icon Introduction Owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, USA is home to four theme parks, two water parks, several resort hotels and golf courses...

The technology for the monorail vehicles came directly from the well-tested and safe monorail train systems running in Walt Disney World. Having an independent non-profit corporation in charge of financing, maintaining and running the entire system was a relatively new idea with very few precedents. From the start, extremely high standards and great financial demands were set for what was a new, unproven management structure in the transit domain. The pressure to perform without losing money was great. It was expected that in addition to covering operating expenses and service of the debt, there would be surplus revenue that would be invested in expansion of the system. While still in the project stage, Las Vegas officials were warned by experts in mass transit that no major urban transportation system in the United States operates without significant public subsidies. As reported in the Washington Post, a spokesperson for the largest association of transit utilities in the United States noted that New York city's subway system recovers only 67% of its costs (through fares and advertising revenue), and it is the best performer in the US in that respect. ... The New York City Transit Authority (also known as NYCTA, Transit, NYCT for New York City Transit or simply the TA for Transit Authority) is a New York State authority that operates buses and subway trains in New York City. ...

Stations

The Las Vegas Monorail pulling into the Bally's/Paris Station

Stations listed from north to south.

• Sahara Station
• Las Vegas Hilton Station
• Las Vegas Convention Center Station
• Harrah's / Imperial Palace Station
• Flamingo / Caesars Palace Station
• Bally's / Paris Las Vegas Station
• MGM Grand Station

Saraha is a station on the Las Vegas Monorail. ... Las Vegas Hilton is a station on the Las Vegas Monorail. ... Las Vegas Convention Center is a station on the Las Vegas Monorail. ...

Trains

The monorail uses nine Bombardier MVI trains that have four cars in each of the fully automatic trains. A Mark VI Monorail from the Walt Disney World Monorail System The Mark VI monorail (or M-VI) is a monorail train used in the Walt Disney World Monorail System and the Las Vegas Monorail. ...

All trains in the system are available for branding by companies and groups. By selling branding rights for the trains, the system earns additional income to limit the fares paid by passengers. Branding income from the trains is much lower than the income received from the station branding.

Extensions

The Las Vegas Monorail over Paradise Rd

The Las Vegas Monorail. ... The Las Vegas Monorail. ...

Phase 2 to Downtown Las Vegas

Phase 2, a 2.3 mile (3.7 km) extension along Main Street to Downtown Las Vegas was planned, with new stations at the Stratosphere Hotel, Charleston Boulevard, Bonneville Avenue and Main Street Station. Construction was planned to begin in 2005 with service beginning in 2008. However, the anticipated funding from the federal government was not allocated in 2004, so the plans were put on hold. On January 27, 2005, the federal government announced that it will not provide money for the $400 million project. The Stratosphere Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, owned by American Casino & Entertainment Properties which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Real Estate Partners. ... Nevada State Route 159 is also known as Charleston Boulevard in Las Vegas. ... Several places go by the name Main Street Station including: Main Street Station (Richmond) Main Street Station Hotel and Casino and Brewery This is a disambiguation page — a list of articles associated with the same title. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The original plan was to open the system in January 2004, and for it to cover its debts and operating expenses by attracting 19 to 20 million riders. Since the system was not only delayed in opening, but later shut down for four months, income was not as great as organizers had hoped. This reportedly is a contributing factor for the government's denial of Phase 2 funding.

It is thus unclear if Phase 2 will ever be built. The Associated Press (AP) reported that Cam Walker, head of Transit Systems Management, the non-profit corporation charged with operating the monorail, said his company had no immediate plans to extend the monorail in any direction. The AP also reported that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has been looking at cheaper, alternative funding for a light rail system or high tech buses. The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... Oscar Baylin Goodman (born on 1939-06-26 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an attorney and the Mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada. ... This article is about light rail systems in general. ...

Phase 3 to McCarran International Airport

Phase 3 was planned to extended the monorail system south from the MGM Grand Station underground to McCarran International Airport. Providing monorail service to the airport has been an unpopular idea with limousine and taxi operators in the city, as trips to and from the airport form a major portion of their business.^[3] Several hotel and casino owners on the Strip continue to support the project, and are more supportive of an extension to the airport than one to downtown Las Vegas.^[4] The airport extension will be built with private funds and is expected to be built by 2011.^[5] FAA diagram of McCarran International Airport “LAS” redirects here. ...

On August 28, 2006 the company announced that it is working on a revision of phase 3 that should be announced early in 2007. The plan would work with existing casino companies to add additional stations and connections to existing stations. The plan includes connections to all of the major convention centers and the airport. In addition the plan is expected to provide some connection to the three small monorails on the west side of the strip.^[6] is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

At present, a feasibility study has been ordered to fit in with an upcoming expansion at McCarran Airport that would allow for an integrated station at the airport as part of the new terminal 3. The extension would begin at the new Terminal 3, with the first stop near Terminal 1, then north on Swenson Avenue, stopping at the Thomas & Mack Center at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). The route would then continue north on Paradise Road and west on Harmon Avenue, with stops at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and the proposed W Hotel (now cancelled) ^[7], before turning south on Koval and west on Tropicana to meet up with the existing system at the MGM Grand. This proposed route would be all overhead like the existing line and is proposed to be built with private funds. The Thomas & Mack Center is an arena on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The facility was first opened in the summer of 1983. ... UNLV redirects here. ...

On December 7, 2006, Clark County commissioners granted permission for the proposed extension to McCarran Airport. Funding has not yet been identified.^[8]

See also

• List of rapid transit systems
• Las Vegas Monorail stations

A train approaching a London Underground station This is a list of rapid transit systems around the world. ...

References

1. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
2. ^ Clark, Andrew. "How Las Vegas transport gamble turned into a one-track ride to ruin", The Guardian, February 16, 2008. Accessed February 16, 2008.
3. ^ LV cab, limo companies rap monorail
4. ^ Las Vegas Review-Journal article August 29, 2006
5. ^ System's president sees bright future
6. ^ Monorail set to grow
7. ^ w hotel las vegas
8. ^ reviewjournal.com - News - COUNTY COMMISSION: Monorail extension gets OK

is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Las Vegas Monorail web site
• Monorail Stations Gallery
• Las Vegas Strip Map - Including Monorail Stops
• Monorail Society Homepage (good source for the technical details of trains, track and stations)
• Ridership Graph 2005-2006

v • d • e Las Vegas Strip
South end	Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign
West side	Bellagio · Caesars Palace · Circus Circus · Excalibur · Luxor · Mandalay Bay · THEhotel at Mandalay Bay · Mirage · Monte Carlo · New York-New York · Slots-A-Fun · Stratosphere · Treasure Island CityCenter (2009) · Cosmopolitan (2009) · Echelon Place (2010) · Plaza Hotel (2011)
East side	Bally's · Bill's · Casino Royale · Flamingo · Harrah's · Imperial Palace · MGM Grand · O'Sheas · Palazzo · Paris · Planet Hollywood · Riviera · Sahara · Tropicana · Venetian · Wynn Encore (2009) · Fontainebleau (2009)
Transportation	Las Vegas Monorail · The Deuce · Citizens Area Transit