With Las Vegas being the single most traveled-to destination city
in the West, getting around the Strip these days can be a
challenge. With nearly 30 million visitors per year squeezing
through this remarkably condensed area for business, pleasure or
frequently both, it is a wonder the city continues to move at such
a pace. The key is efficiency and ease of transport in order to
pack as much Vegas into a weekend, or even just a day, as possible.
Since 2004, the Las Vegas Monorail system has been helping visitors
and locals alike keep up with the rapid pace of the city that never
sleeps.
The Las Vegas Monorail was the first, and remains the only,
privately owned public transit system in the nation, funded solely
through fare box collections and advertising revenue. The system
continues to break new ground, as nearly 32,000 passengers ride the
system daily to restaurants, shows, attractions and conventions
within the Strip resort corridor.
With the Strip undergoing constant refurbishment, expansion and
change, a fast and comfortable means of transportation is becoming
essential for any and every Vegas visitor. Many of the hotels and
resorts in Las Vegas are like cities unto themselves, and getting
from one to the next is becoming an ever more impossible task on
foot. Not to mention, summer temperatures can make walking the
crowded streets a grueling experience, as well as hazardous for
people with certain disabilities and health conditions. Driving or
taking a taxi can be equally stressful and time-consuming, as Vegas
traffic jams have become legendary.
The alternative is an air-conditioned, clean and comfortable
ride of 15 minutes or less, which picks guests up and drops them at
any of seven locations, conveniently situated within close
proximity to all the major hotels on the Strip. All that passengers
will have to endure is a brief wait of approximately 5 to 12
minutes for the next available train going their way, and that in
secure, covered stations with plenty of seating.
The system also features the first fully automated control
network for driverless operation and incorporates fail-safe
protection throughout its software and equipment, making this
monorail one of the most advanced urban transportation systems in
the world.
The Las Vegas Monorail currently runs a four-mile route between
the MGM Grand and Sahara hotels at opposite ends of the Strip on an
elevated guideway that provides access to nearly every major hotel
and attraction on the Strip. While the monorail currently runs only
above the east side of the Strip, pedestrian-only walkways over the
street make hotels on the west side a safe and easy stroll from the
stations.
Las Vegas doesn’t do anything small, and the monorail trains are
no exception. Not only do they act as a public transportation
system, but as a unique and very visible advertising opportunity
for such investors as Monster Energy Drink, Vegas.com, Sprint, Bank
West of Nevada and Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas
Hilton.
A whole new kind of marketing-gone-entertainment has emerged
through the monorail’s “immersive riding environments,” which tie
bold exterior graphics in with interior audio and video advertiser
themes and messages. Each train is emblematic, completely
recognizable, and an attraction all its own.
The latest addition to the line is the NBA All-Star 2007
monorail train, unveiled in celebration of the upcoming 56th NBA
All-Star game, to be held in Las Vegas this February and televised
to fans worldwide. The exterior of the four-car train features an
eye-popping design, emblazoned with the image of a nine-foot
basketball amid yellow starbursts and the signature NBA All-Star
logo. Inside, riders are immersed in the world of the game floors
are painted to mimic the hardwood and lines of center court, and
thanks to a 3-D image of a basketball hoop above, passengers are
invited to picture themselves at the free-throw line about to make
the game-winning shot.
Tickets for the Las Vegas Monorail can be purchased in advance
online, at automated touch-screen vending machines or customer
service booths, located at every monorail station or within various
resort properties. Ticket prices range from $5 for a single ride to
$40 for an unlimited three-day pass. If spending the day or
weekend, unlimited day or three-day passes are a cost-effective way
for visitors to skip around to as many Vegas sites as their hearts
desire.
702-699-8200
www.lvmonorail.com
