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20,060 PER DAY: Monorail ridership plunges
Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | 20 July 06

Posted on 07/20/2006 4:40:18 AM PDT by rellimpank

Passenger counts down nearly 30 percent in aftermath of fare increase in January

A rider goes through the turnstile Wednesday at the Sahara station of the Las Vegas Monorail. Ridership is down significantly this year.

By OMAR SOFRADZIJA

The good news is that Las Vegas Monorail riders have found roomier trains as of late. The bad news is that's because there are far fewer riders on board than last year.

Ridership in the first half of 2006 plunged nearly 30 percent from already weak passenger counts last year, with the sustained turnstile slowdown following a fare hike at the start of this year. Base one-way fares are $5, up from $3 in 2005.

(Excerpt) Read more at reviewjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: masstransit
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1 posted on 07/20/2006 4:40:22 AM PDT by rellimpank
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To: rellimpank

--for the mass transit fas out there--


2 posted on 07/20/2006 4:40:58 AM PDT by rellimpank (Don't believe anything about firearms or explosives stated by the mass media---NRABenefactor)
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To: rellimpank

--aargh--"fas"="fans"--


3 posted on 07/20/2006 4:41:39 AM PDT by rellimpank (Don't believe anything about firearms or explosives stated by the mass media---NRABenefactor)
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To: rellimpank

Not much cheaper than a cab in Vegas. Cab's probably faster.


4 posted on 07/20/2006 4:43:50 AM PDT by DaGman
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To: rellimpank; A. Pole; Willie Green
--for the mass transit fans out there--

Hope your lurking Willie!

5 posted on 07/20/2006 4:43:57 AM PDT by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
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To: rellimpank

Amazing that the casinos wouldn't subsidize the entire thing to get bodies through the front door.

Another mass transit utopia goes kablooey. Somebody tell the young commies writing in all those alternative newsweeklies in all those Midwest cities that light rail, monorail, and public transit in general is not a panacea.


6 posted on 07/20/2006 4:44:40 AM PDT by relictele
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To: rellimpank

Wen to Vegas with my wife and kids and the monorail was way too expensive for what you get. It was robbery and I don't like being robbed (leaves a bad taste in my mouth). Compare to cost of NY Subway or London Tube ride. Vegas needs to substantially lower the price and they will get a lot more riders and make more money through higher ridership.
Simple economics, people will act in their own best interest and a taxi is much cheaper.


7 posted on 07/20/2006 4:45:51 AM PDT by ex_desert_cowboy
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To: DaGman
Not much cheaper than a cab in Vegas. Cab's probably faster.

Not a peak times, it isn't. It can take over an hour to go from one end of the Strip to the other.

8 posted on 07/20/2006 4:46:28 AM PDT by Cincinatus (Omnia relinquit servare Republicam)
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To: rellimpank

I was there for the first time last week, and could't believe the fares for the damned thing.


9 posted on 07/20/2006 4:47:58 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: rellimpank

Monorail

Lyle Lanley: Well, sir, there's nothing on earth
Like a genuine,
Bona fide,
Electrified,
Six-car
Monorail!
What'd I say?

Ned Flanders: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: What's it called?

Patty+Selma: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: That's right! Monorail!

[crowd chants `Monorail' softly and rhythmically]

Miss Hoover: I hear those things are awfully loud...

Lyle Lanley: It glides as softly as a cloud.

Apu: Is there a chance the track could bend?

Lyle Lanley: Not on your life, my Hindu friend.

Barney: What about us brain-dead slobs?

Lyle Lanley: You'll be given cushy jobs.

Abe: Were you sent here by the devil?

Lyle Lanley: No, good sir, I'm on the level.

Wiggum: The ring came off my pudding can.

Lyle Lanley: Take my pen knife, my good man.

I swear it's Springfield's only choice...
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!

All: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: What's it called?

All: Monorail!

Lyle Lanley: Once again...

All: Monorail!

Marge: But Main Street's still all cracked and broken...

Bart: Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!

All: Monorail!
Monorail!
Monorail!

[big finish]

Monorail!

Homer: Mono... D'oh!


10 posted on 07/20/2006 4:48:08 AM PDT by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein(the moon is a harsh mistress))
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To: rellimpank
Ridership in the first half of 2006 plunged nearly 30 percent from already weak passenger counts last year, with the sustained turnstile slowdown following a fare hike at the start of this year. Base one-way fares are $5, up from $3 in 2005.

Now that they've identified the problem, they have several options.

1) Reduce fares. 2) Raise gas taxes, taxi fares, and public parking rates. 3) Put slot machines and strippers on the monorail cars.

11 posted on 07/20/2006 4:48:35 AM PDT by coconutt2000 (NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
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To: rellimpank; All

--for thse unfamiliar with it, the monorail was financed by a quasi-private entity. Harry Reid is already greasing the skids for "federal' money for an extension---


12 posted on 07/20/2006 5:12:30 AM PDT by rellimpank (Don't believe anything about firearms or explosives stated by the mass media---NRABenefactor)
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To: Incorrigible

What happened to Willie? Did he finally "jump the track " ? Why was he booted? Did he have an opus?


13 posted on 07/20/2006 5:14:04 AM PDT by csvset ("It was like the hand of G_d slapping down and smashing everything." ~ JDAM strikes Taliban)
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To: coconutt2000
It's like taxes. The Lib answer to any of their unprofitable pet causes is "make it cost more!" In the real world, you raise the cost of anything except air, there is going to be a reduction in consumption. For years, I have had preached at me how horrible cars are, and how all we need to do is raise the price of gas to decrease the horrible, horrible things we are doing to the environment. So, having funded a huge, expensive, can't-pay-for-itself boondoggle, the same Libs are surprised when raising the price of entry decreases sales?
14 posted on 07/20/2006 5:17:43 AM PDT by 50sDad (ST3d: Real Star Trek 3d Chess: http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~abartmes/tactical.htm)
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To: relictele

"Amazing that the casinos wouldn't subsidize..."

Casinos aren't as stupid as government and quasi-government agencies. Subsidies don't work. Check out the subsidies that already exist for the monorail that are in addition to the fare increases.

This is another nail in the coffin of the idea that central planning can solve our energy crisis. People are consciously choosing their cars over the central planners wetdream.

To quote from the movie "Nature always wins". That includes the laws of economics. Whether in mass transit, or immigration, the government cannot repeal natural law.


15 posted on 07/20/2006 5:27:17 AM PDT by spintreebob
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To: rellimpank
The monorail was indeed financed essentially by the casinos.

I used it extensively when I was in LV (April) for a week long conference. I stayed at the Sahara, and the meetings were at the MGM Grand for the first part of the week, and the LV Convention Center for the latter part.

I purchased a 10 ride ticket for $35, and for a couple of nights when after day activities (e.g. dinners) were not at the MGM I either walked back, or just took the bus ride up the strip. (Bus is a +lot+ slower than the monorail, and a +lot+ more crowded, but, only (IIRC) about $2.

Staying at the Sahara, which is probably about due for an implosion, saved me significantly on room rates and the monorail allowed me to conveniently get from one end of the strip to the other in a minimum amount of time.

I didn't ride a taxi once. I liked the monorail, the system had trains pretty often.

Basic supply and demand will work on the ticket price, if they go up too much (or have gone up too much) then the rider ship will go down, and the rates will either go down to attract more riders, or the rates will go up and the monorail will have less riders and go out of business.

(or dingy Harry will get the federal money to extend it)
16 posted on 07/20/2006 5:34:30 AM PDT by garyb
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To: rellimpank
This is the classic template by the social manipulators, the clueless and the totalitarians.

Rapid Transit, monorail whatever, is a social accessory. In biological terms the tail on the dog.

The experience however, is invariably the monster tail with tiny dog attached. The servants very quickly become the masters, by affecting prices and expenses, without regard for the overall health of the original plan.

Fortunately, no government (yet) has found a way to both keep people from using their own cars, and simultaneously forcing them to pay exorbitant amounts to use the "public transit" system, which invariably becomes another insane combination bureaucracy and welfare system.

The whole nightmare is punctuated by the new oligarchy being able to hold hostage millions of citizens by going on strike and paralyzing all transportation, of course.

Rapid transit is normally accompanied by total neglect of the normal highway system.

17 posted on 07/20/2006 5:46:50 AM PDT by Publius6961 (Multiculturalism is the white flag of a dying country)
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To: DaGman
Not much cheaper than a cab in Vegas. Cab's probably faster.

Cabs are faster and much more convenient. I would only take the monorail if it were free.

18 posted on 07/20/2006 5:48:50 AM PDT by Always Right
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To: DaGman
Not much cheaper than a cab in Vegas. Cab's probably faster.

Going from one end of the strip to the other, the monorail is faster and cheaper for one person.

A group of 2 or more is better off taking a cab.

19 posted on 07/20/2006 5:49:16 AM PDT by HitmanLV ("5 Minute Penalty for #40, Ann Theresa Calvello!" - RIP 1929-2006)
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To: coconutt2000
2) Raise gas taxes, taxi fares, and public parking rates

One of the neat things about Sin City is that there is usually plenty of free parking all around the LV strip. There isn't much in the way of a public parking rate to speak of.

20 posted on 07/20/2006 5:50:56 AM PDT by HitmanLV ("5 Minute Penalty for #40, Ann Theresa Calvello!" - RIP 1929-2006)
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