A Great Idea To Relieve Traffic On I-15 North During Special Events

LAS VEGAS - Since the opening of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1998, local transportation expert Peter Christ off has proposed that the existing Southern Pacific rail line be expanded to include intra-city light rail service connecting Downtown Las Vegas and the Speedway.

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The 11.5 mile railroad right of way could provide thousands of race fans and attendees of the yearly Electric Daisy Carnival a fast and convenient way to access the Speedway, and relieve gridlock on Interstate 15 North, and Las Vegas Blvd. during special events. Christ off has also identified another under-used rail right of way connecting the city of Henderson with points just west of the Las Vegas Strip, and Downtown. The proposed terminus in Downtown could be the unused Union Pacific rail station still located at the rear of the Plaza Hotel on the intersection of Fremont and Main St. Opponents of this concept include local taxi cab and limo companies who reportedly believe such a service would cut into their profits. Also, owners of Southern Pacific Railroad have shown little interest in sharing their right of way with a municipal or county run light rail service. However, eminent domain laws exist to allow a city or county to acquire space adjacent to existing rail lines if it is for the public's benefit, and this use certainly would be. Steve Miller - former Clark County Regional Transportation Commissioner

Brace for Electric Daisy Carnival traffic this weekend

By RICHARD N. VELOTTA LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Extra Nevada Highway Patrol troopers will be on duty over the weekend to manage traffic for this weekend’s three-night Electric Daisy Carnival at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event begins at sunset Friday, and 135,000 people are expected to attend each night of the world’s largest electronic music festival. Entertainment begins nightly at 7 and ends at 5 a.m. Trooper Loy Hixon said there will be no easy way to avoid traffic on Interstate 15, the primary route to the speedway. He recommended against using Las Vegas Boulevard North. “Probably the best thing you can do is arrange your trip to avoid being on I-15 in the late afternoon and early evening those three days,” Hixon said. “If you’re heading for Utah or to take U.S. Highway 93 to Lincoln County, there’s really no other route. Just be patient and watch the signs. If you’re heading north, get in the left lane because most of the festival traffic will be exiting at Speedway Boulevard.”