[sustran] BRT in the land of casinos...

[P. Christopher Zegras]

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Jul-01-Thu-2004/news/24218704.html

Las Vegas Review-Journal
Thursday, July 01, 2004

MAX service gets under way

New system draws attention from other cities

By OMAR SOFRADZIJA
REVIEW-JOURNAL

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[PHOTO]
The Metropolitan Area Express bus line, known as MAX, pulls out of a
stop on Las Vegas Boulevard North of Cheyenne Avenue on its first day
of service Wednesday
Photo by John Gurzinski.
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[PHOTO]
Cynthia Demers carries Yasameen Janfada as the rest of the Janfada
family checks out the interior of a new MAX bus Wednesday in North
Las
Vegas.
Photo by John Gurzinski.
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The launch of the Las Vegas Valley's first rapid transit system
Wednesday is expected to usher in an era of new, fast mass transit links in
Southern Nevada and beyond.

The Metropolitan Area Express bus line, known as MAX, began trips
along Las Vegas Boulevard North and will be joined on July 15 by the
ballyhooed Las Vegas Monorail running behind the Strip.

Over the next few years, transit planners are looking at an
expansion of the MAX network; extensions of the monorail to downtown Las 
Vegas and
McCarran International Airport, and construction of a light-rail
system from Henderson to North Las Vegas.

But the eyes of the public transit world are more closely following
the progress of the less heralded MAX.

Since it doesn't need tracks, it could be a much cheaper alternative
to light rail lines being contemplated elsewhere.

"Everybody in America is going to be watching Las Vegas. We've
already had about a dozen visits from other transit agencies," said Jacob
Snow, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission, which is
operating MAX.

Added Leslie Rogers, a regional administrator for the Federal Transit
Administration: "We really believe it has the potential to
revolutionize transit systems throughout the country."

Transit agencies from Los Angeles, Boston, Pittsburgh, Seattle,
Tampa, Fla., and Reno are among those keeping tabs on MAX, Snow said.

And representatives from Washoe County and Phoenix were on hand for
MAX opening ceremonies Wednesday morning in North Las Vegas.

"There's a lot of medium-sized cities that are trying to decide
whether to go (with) light rail" or a MAX-type system, Snow said. "And there's
a lot of big cities that are interested in doing this to tie into their heavy
rail systems."

Although express bus systems have operated throughout the United
States for years, MAX incorporates a unique combination of traits
intended to maximize its speed.

It operates on bus-only lanes, allowing it to avoid traffic
congestion. It will make stops only at "stations" along its route, where 
commuters buy
tickets from automated kiosks before boarding. That will minimize stop times.

The MAX line also will be able to extend green lights at
intersections. All those factors will allow MAX to travel its initial 
boulevard route
from downtown Las Vegas to Nellis Air Force Base in 28 minutes, compared
to 47 minutes for regular buses on that route.

"We designed the Metropolitan Area Express system to be as much like
a train as possible," Snow said. "It has its own right-of-way, so it
doesn't have to get stuck in traffic."

The high-tech, bullet-shaped buses use environmentally friendly,
diesel-electric hybrid engines and optically guided computers to make
precise station stops.

MAX cost $19.4 million to set up here, or about $2.7 million a mile
for its seven-mile route. That is far cheaper than $20 million to $30
million per mile typically needed for light rail, or the $148.6 million per 
mile
needed for the monorail.

Federal officials hope programs like MAX will give cities an
affordable alternative to traditional rail when trying to improve mass transit.

"We recognize as local communities respond to congestion, there is
not one size that fits all. There is not one handy and convenient
solution," Rogers said. "We want to provide choices. We believe the MAX system
provides that sort of choice."

Systems similar to the French-built MAX are in operation in Europe,
but not in America.

The system has drawn praise from the Sierra Club, which has been a
big booster of light rail plans in the valley.

"It's a service concept rather than the type of vehicle that's
important," said Jane Feldman, a conservation chairwoman with the
organization. "It's one of the better solutions for air quality problems, 
for congestion
problems. It's great that we have it here in Las Vegas today."

Most riders on the initial MAX route are expected to come from the
existing Citizens Area Transit Route 113, the fourth-busiest CAT
route in the valley with about 9,000 riders per day.

The existing ridership on the route was one reason it was picked for
MAX use, along with a high concentration of low-income service industry
workers in that area who rely on mass transit to get to work in the
resort corridor or Nellis, according to the RTC.

Future MAX routes are expected along Boulder Highway, Rancho Drive,
Flamingo Road, Charleston Boulevard and Tropicana and Sahara
avenues. But it might be a while before those routes get buses.

"I think it's probably another three or four years before we see
another one (route)," Snow said.