Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Bus Rapid Transit

Las Vegas Monorail Has Few Lifelines After Losing Earmark Cash to Buses

The beleaguered Las Vegas monorail, which filed for bankruptcy in January after repeatedly failing to meet ridership targets, lost a possible lifeline yesterday when the local metropolitan planning organization, known as RTC, said it would not aid the monorail for fear of diverting resources from its own bus expansion.

mono.jpgThe Las Vegas monorail on a test runs before its 2004 opening. (Photo: LVRJ)

From the Las Vegas Sun's report:

Since the monorail is a private company, it would need support fromthe commission to get federal transit funds, RTC General Manager JacobSnow told the commission’s board at its monthly meeting Thursday.

But supporting the monorail could create competition for funds the RTC uses for its own transit system, Snow said.

The board didn’t take any formal action, but Snow said the RTC staffrecommends the two organizations stay separate. Board members said theyagreed and would look into taking formal action if necessary.

The monorail project initially enjoyed support from both sides of the aisle in Nevada's congressional delegation, including now-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Its real death knell, however, may have come not in bankruptcy court but in the fine print of a December deal struck by lawmakers to apportion federal transport funds for 2010.

That bill included language asking the U.S. DOT to redirect unspent earmark money for the monorail, as well as for Las Vegas' proposed CATrail transit line and a potential transit hub in North Las Vegas, to the RTC's bus projects. In total, $10.3 million in unused earmarks were in line to shift to Las Vegas buses, according to a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) estimate compiled last fall.

That amount of freed-up funding for buses is nothing to sniff at -- but how big was the original monorail earmark? It's tough to say. The December bill that reprogrammed Las Vegas earmarks referred to "funds made available" for the monorail under one section of a large 2002 spending bill that added an extra $144 million in federal transportation grants, with no specific apportionment included.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Tuesday’s Sprawling Headlines

Sprawl seems to be having a moment, but it remains a very shortsighted and environmentally disastrous way to solve the housing crisis.

July 1, 2025

Does Constant Driving Really Make Our Country Richer?

A new study reveals that constant driving is making America less productive and prosperous — and getting people on other modes could help right the ship.

July 1, 2025

‘We’re Not Copenhagen’ Is No Excuse Not to Build a Great Biking And Walking City

A team of researchers identified eight under-the-radar cities leading the local active transportation revolution — and a menu of strategies that other communities can and should steal.

June 30, 2025

Monday’s Headlines, Ranked

New reports rank the best cities for biking and the best complete streets policies. Plus, the robotaxi wars have begun.

June 30, 2025

Washington State Is About To Have the First Pro-‘Woonerf’ Law in America

Washington state is making it legal for cities to have people-centered streets in a first-in-the-nation law.

June 30, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Are Doomed

Philadelphia transit is falling off the fiscal cliff, with other major cities not far behind. And the effects of service cuts on their economies could be brutal.

June 27, 2025
See all posts