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There are rumors that the Las Vegas monorail is about to be shut down, or that it will be merged with a new transportation project. Which story is true? The answer is stranger than you think.
Officials in Southern Nevada have confirmed a significant shift for the future of transportation along the Las Vegas Strip as the Las Vegas Monorail is set to be integrated into the underground transit system developed by The Boring Company. Steve Hill, president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, announced during a recent meeting with the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association that the current elevated tracks will eventually serve as an extension of the Vegas Loop. This transition marks a major evolution for the Las Vegas Monorail, which has operated as an independent elevated rail system since 2004 but has faced consistent financial and operational challenges.
Under the new plan, the physical infrastructure of the Las Vegas Monorail will undergo a substantial transformation. The existing rail tracks are to be removed and replaced with a pre-cast two-lane roadway designed to accommodate the fleet of Tesla vehicles utilized by the Vegas Loop. This modification allows the system to remain above ground while utilizing the existing Las Vegas Monorail stations and right of way. By repurposing the elevated structure, the project avoids the need for extensive new tunneling beneath several major resort properties situated along the nearly four mile route on the eastern side of the Strip.
The decision follows years of financial instability for the Las Vegas Monorail, which saw its operator declare bankruptcy in 2020 before the visitors authority purchased the assets for 24 million dollars. While the agency previously considered spending millions to keep the aging rail operational for another decade, the focus has now shifted toward full integration with the newer technology. Current estimates suggest the removal of the traditional rail service could occur between 2030 and 2035, though the system currently continues to serve approximately five million passengers on an annual basis as the transition planning moves forward.
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