Las Vegas Monorail Vs. Houston Monorail

[BayouCityGirl]

There is really no comparisons. I just came back from Vegas and well...WOW their monerail may have some small problems but were fixed fast. Also provides ease on congestion on the Strip whereas our monerail just causes congestion!

I REALLY wish we had an above ground monerail. Why is Houston so stuck in the past

its SO sad!

[MidtownCoog]

Hun, the casinos bank rolled those.

[hokieone]

I also just got back from Vegas and actually was not too impressed with the monorails there. nice and clean yes. "Cool" factor also there. Obviously bank rolled by the casinos, yes there as well. Each one's "station entrance" might as well have been the casino entrance as well. The one by Bally's made you walk all through the casino floor, down some stairs and then back up some stairs. Same with MGM's. I also wasn't too pleased with the $3 one way, regardless of the stop. The strip is long, but not that long. Yes cheaper than a cab. Yes I know in Vegas money is not something to quibble about, but even a one day pass for $10 seemed high. Even in NY the one day pass is like $6 and their system is slightly more expansive. I realize they are trying to speed up the return on investment, but we just ended up using our god given monorail most of the time.

[YakuzaIce]

Houston has a monorail ?? I would not say it causes congestion, the few accidents that have happened have hardly casued congestion. It may be slightly more difficult traveling in that area, but if you are on Main just take the train. Other than being slightly faster and not on the street is monorail worth the exponentialy higher cost. These problems could be fixed if the light rail was in its own ROW, so it could go faster and be out of the way most of the time. So is monorail worth the money of locals so tourists can have a "futuristic" train lol. They do the same job. Look at seattle for how much a monorail can cost compared to our LRT.

[nmainguy]

There is really no comparisons. I just came back from Vegas and well...WOW their monerail may have some small problems but were fixed fast. Also provides ease on congestion on the Strip whereas our monerail just causes congestion!

I REALLY wish we had an above ground monerail. Why is Houston so stuck in the past

its SO sad!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

"monerail"...OK, I won't...but it would be SOOOO easy...

[YakuzaIce]

"monerail"...OK, I won't...but it would be SOOOO easy...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I almost did but decided not to.

Also BayouCityGirl, have you ever been on the LRT?

Edited August 23, 2005 by YakuzaIce

[BayouCityGirl]

I also just got back from Vegas and actually was not too impressed with the monorails there.  nice and clean yes.  "Cool" factor also there.  Obviously bank rolled by the casinos, yes there as well.  Each one's "station entrance" might as well have been the casino entrance as well.  The one by Bally's made you walk all through the casino floor, down some stairs and then back up some stairs.  Same with MGM's.  I also wasn't too pleased with the $3 one way, regardless of the stop.  The strip is long, but not that long.  Yes cheaper than a cab.  Yes I know in Vegas money is not something to quibble about, but even a one day pass for $10 seemed high.  Even in NY the one day pass is like $6 and their system is slightly more expansive.  I realize they are trying to speed up the return on investment, but we just ended up using our god given monorail most of the time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My friend's picture was plastered all over the um...high Vegas transit. Excuse my spelling

My friend was in the Borg 4-D Invasion thing (he was one of the Borg) so while we were there he kept showing us his pic. I was impressed :-D with the Star Trek Borg Invasion AND him LOL!

I may have mistaken the tram for the monerail. Sorry. I went on the MGM light rail thing. It was free to ride to a different hotel. Sorry for any confusion.

When did you go/come to Vegas?

I went from August 14th-August 20th. I know I lost alot of money but hey that's the price you pay for playing quarter or slots. I'm not worried about it.

I went in for the Star Trek convention and almost EVERY hotel! I missed only one hotel though. I did see the Wynn hotel. NICE!!! I couldn't afford the air breathed in there though. too expensive!! (Same for Belliago)

I did see the Freemont Experience and had a better chance of winning slots there. :9

I also saw Ron Lucas (ventrilaquist with his buddy "Scorch") and the Parade in the Sky at Rio, as well as experience some cool lounges to hang out in.

I saw Siefried and Roy's secret garden. I LOVED the black panther, and white lions. The dolphins were cute too!!)

I didn't go to the jousting thing. It was too expensive. $55 a person now.

I also hear Stardust is getting demolished.

Anyway sorry to go OT.

[hokieone]

My friend's picture was plastered all over the um...high Vegas transit. Excuse my spelling

My friend was in the Borg 4-D Invasion thing (he was one of the Borg) so while we were there he kept showing us his pic. I was impressed :-D with the Star Trek Borg Invasion AND him LOL!

I may have mistaken the tram for the monerail. Sorry. I went on the MGM light rail thing. It was free to ride to a different hotel. Sorry for any confusion.

When did you go/come to Vegas?

I went from August 14th-August 20th. I know I lost alot of money but hey that's the price you pay for playing quarter or slots. I'm not worried about it.

I went in for the Star Trek convention and almost EVERY hotel! I missed only one hotel though. I did see the Wynn hotel. NICE!!! I couldn't afford the air breathed in there though. too expensive!! (Same for Belliago)

I did see the Freemont Experience and had a better chance of winning slots there. :9

I also saw Ron Lucas (ventrilaquist with his buddy "Scorch") and the Parade in the Sky at Rio, as well as experience some cool lounges to hang out in.

I saw Siefried and Roy's secret garden. I LOVED the black panther, and white lions. The dolphins were cute too!!)

I didn't go to the jousting thing. It was too expensive. $55 a person now.

I also hear Stardust is getting demolished.

Anyway sorry to go OT.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was there from the 10th through the 14th. Probably walked by each other in the airport. Getting back was terrible, flight delayed by 4 hours, didn't get back into Houston until 4:30 AM Monday. Not cool. I stayed at Caeasar's one night and the Hard Rock for the rest, and also saw just about every single hotel there. The Wynn was very nice, I agree. Would love to stay there. Don't like Bellagio either, too dry, no vibe in the place. No shows since I was there for a bachelor party, but the nonstop pool party at the Hard Rock kind of counts as a show. Wanted to see Seinfeld but sold out. Also lost money, but probably more on drinks at the Hard Rock pool than in the casino. Great time, lots to do even if you don't gamble.

Anyway, back to the topic, yeah that tram is separate from the monorail and is free. It is nice though, especially since that last stretch from the MGM back to Mandalay Bay is a little long. Can't complain about it anyway, its free, one of the only things in Vegas that was a good deal.

[Guest Plastic]

I will........MONOrail is what they have in Disney and some places around the country.

I wouldn't have wanted anything at all down Main St. but monorail would be a smart alternative. Light rail has to cost alot more than mono.

Lightrail cars are heavier than monorail's. YOu have to dig and shut off the street for construction. IN the Mainstreet LRT they tore up the entire street and took up lanes. Mono can run on sidewalks and takes alot less task during construction.

I wrote Metro suggesting they put a monorail down Westheimer. That's where we need one. Could put one on Westheimer and one on 1960. Run it on the sidewalk, won't effect pedestrians cause nobody uses it.Have it ride to each major intersection,Post Oak, CHimney Rock,Fountan View.

Have it go to a transit center connected to the Galleria where people could merge on a commuter routes that go to West Oaks and Sugarland.

[YakuzaIce]

I wouldn't have wanted anything at all down Main St. but monorail would be a smart alternative. Light rail has to cost alot more than mono.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What do you base this on. For example Houston for 7 some odd miles was around 300 mil. Seattle is spending $11 billion to build 14 miles of monorail. Also you would rather have pillars taking up the streets and sidewalks and blocking light than taking up a couple lanes? If you are going to waste that amount of money just build a subway system.

Also isn't one of the reasons for these inner city rail lines to encourage urban development and get more pedestrians. Will these people be teleported directly to their destination, or have there car at every stop? I say this because you say it doesn't matter that the pillars would be on the sidewalks. So if the sidewalks were used by pedestrians, then the supports would go in the roadway, and you have the same thing with taking up the roadway, and having it ripped up.

Also knowing Houston drivers, they will just hit the pillars.

[RedScare]

Well, I finally figured out why it is $11.4 Billion to build a 14 mile monorail. It is a $2 Billion construction cost, financed over 50 years. With interest, that adds up to $11.4 Billion over 50 years.

http://www.komotv.com/stories/37729.htm

However, that is still 3.5 times the cost of our LRT mile for mile. Don't know how that qualifies as a smart alternative. Plus, going up stairs or escalators to get to the platform is nowhere near as convenient to riders as a street level platform.

And I've got to tell you people. Come downtown some day and look at how much traffic it took off Main Street. It is literally devoid of cars! Main Street used to have 1400 buses a day. Noisiest, dirtiest street in downtown, and now it's the cleanest and quietest!

[BayouCityGirl]

I was there from the 10th through the 14th.  Probably walked by each other in the airport.  Getting back was terrible, flight delayed by 4 hours, didn't get back into Houston until 4:30 AM Monday.  Not cool.  I stayed at Caeasar's one night and the Hard Rock for the rest, and also saw just about every single hotel there.  The Wynn was very nice, I agree.  Would love to stay there.  Don't like Bellagio either, too dry, no vibe in the place.  No shows since I was there for a bachelor party, but the nonstop pool party at the Hard Rock kind of counts as a show.  Wanted to see Seinfeld but sold out.  Also lost money, but probably more on drinks at the Hard Rock pool than in the casino.  Great time, lots to do even if you don't gamble.

Anyway, back to the topic, yeah that tram is separate from the monorail and is free.  It is nice though, especially since that last stretch from the MGM back to Mandalay Bay is a little long.  Can't complain about it anyway, its free, one of the only things in Vegas that was a good deal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I do agree the Excalibur/MGM/NY-NY hotels were a bit of a walk even with the moving sidewalk.

My friend's brother who lives in Vegas didn't even know the Mandalay Bay tram was back up and running.

I agree Belliago didn't do anything for me either. Gave me room to stretch my legs (which cramped up on me when I got into Las Vegas)

Wynn is nice if you have money

I am kinda pissed that Treasure Island changed his pirates theme to "Sirens" some women singing to pirates. I was thinking "what the heck is this?!" Women blowing a ship down by singing and people jumping off the plank.

I went to some lounges out there.

I agree with whoever said we need a tram/MONOrail down Westheimer but I Feel we need to going from the airports (Hobby/Intercontinental) to downtown.

I like the tram from the airline to your luggage as well in Vegas. SMART!!!

Well gtg for now. Until later!

[kjb434]

A monorail system would be more like a commuter rail with a few key stops. Not the best choice for urbanization. LRT is a better choice for the inner city areas.

A monorail would be good to like the LRT with airports and far out suburbs (just like a commuter rail).

I still prefer the commuter rail.

The Las Vegas monorail is primarily for visitors to the city to allow them to move around the strip easily. It doesn't serve Las Vegas citizens commuting to and from work.

[Guest Plastic]

Commuterrail, what does that look like?

I would just put lightrail elevated out to the suburbs.

[Original Timmy Chan's]

Commuterrail, what does that look like?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The proposed commuter rail would be run on existing freight rail tracks. The commuter rail cars would share the rails with the freight company that owns the rail. Up front costs would be pretty cheap: buy commuter rail cars and build a few Park & Rides along the rail.

[YakuzaIce]

Commuterrail, what does that look like?

I would just put lightrail elevated out to the suburbs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What is with you and elevated rail. When it gets out to the suburbs it is easier to get an ROW, so it wouldn't be right on a street.

Also commuter rail doesn't have to be on freight lines, also it is hard to convince the freight companies to share their rails with commuter trains.

[ssullivan]

Metro's proposal for commuter rail would put the lines running parallel to the freight lines on separate tracks.

Monorail is very expensive to build and often more expensive to maintain than light rail. There are many reasons why no major city has selected monorail as the backbone of a true mass transit system. It's one thing to set up small-scale systems like at Disney, or in Las Vegas, but longer systems covering a large metro area just aren't practical.

[Guest Plastic]

It would have to be elevated at some part. Unless we build it in the middle of the hiway we'd have elevate. That or put it behind storefronts and only elevate it for over street crossings.

[houstonfella]

Houston needs rapid transit .... not slow trains. I don't care what procedure is used, just get some mobility in here for those people who don't have cars. For me, I drive all over. I am addicted to the ga$mobiles. However, we do need rapid transit.

[BayouCityGirl]

here here! I so agree!

Then again how will we pay the bills for those poooooooooor people who work in the gas and oil industry. I know they fear of losing their homes and going on welfare. They are only screwing everyone else around by raising gas prices!

We need a fast transit. Any chance we can tear apart an Astroworld Roller coaster and make a railway down Westheimer and connect it to downtown and then on to the airports?

That would be nice! Pretty unique I think but who'd want a roller coaster in their city outside an amusement park?

[YakuzaIce]

We need a fast transit. Any chance we can tear apart an Astroworld Roller coaster and make a railway down Westheimer and connect it to downtown and then on to the airports?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What??

We don't need connection to the airports yet. At least it shouldn't be a major priority. We need a good rail system at lesat connecting all parts of the inner loop, and then have a higher speed rail to the airports and suburbs. If you are a tourist and take a train from the airport to downtown, they could take a train anywhere in Houston. But if the airport connectors come first then they are stuck to the main st. line or buses.

[BayouCityGirl]

OOOOOOOOOOoohhh I get ya!!

[bigguy]

Well you know the tax payers of Clark County paid for the whole fiasco glad to hear the wheels dont fall off of it anymore . The Belagio , Golden Nugget , Treasure Island are all Wynn creations. but were sold to build Wynn Resort he hopes to cater to high rollers from around the world or as he put it the eighth wonder of the world . Houston needs trains to Katy and should put them in while they rebuild I-10 but that would be cost effective . Also up alongside the Hardy toll road with park and rides would be nice could service Woodlands , Kingwood and the 1960 area of 45 then you could go across the top of the fm 1960 area before it fills in with houses all the the way to the 290 and on into Katy to connect .Save billions and comute millions could be the slogan .

[BayouCityGirl]

Isn't Golden Nugget now Tilman's casino? Belagio is nice but too expensive for my taste.

Houston really needs trains going around the loops of Houston and meeting somewhere in the middle. Aside from Katy Mills Mall, what's out in Katy?

[57Tbird]

Isn't Golden Nugget now Tilman's casino?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes.

Where did you leave your money? I'll try to bring some of it back. Leaving Sunday for the Golden Nugget.

[BayouCityGirl]

I left traces of my money all over Las Vegas LOL!

Mostly:

Westward Ho, Golden Nugget, "Mermaids" down on Freemont Street, Stardust, Mirage....just to name a few.

Most of the bigger casinos don't pay out that well. The smaller ones on downtown Freemont Street are easier.

[bigguy]

Casinos that dont payout are New York , Tropicana , Paris . Cesars pays out on the tables and and Slots of fun in front of Circus Circus , the best steak is Bob Taylors a well kept Vegas secrect , the best Pizza is Metro , the best burger is Fat Burger , The locals do not go to the casinos on the strip unless its to eat .

[BayouCityGirl]

I lost at Star Trek the Experience casino too. I put a quarter in each slot (well nearest Quarks Bar) and lost. (The smaller gaming room)

There went my bars of latinium!

[kjb434]

The Katy Freeway will lose the need for a train when the construction ends. The HOT lanes will provide higher volume transit that the raill would provide.

[ssullivan]

The Katy Freeway will lose the need for a train when the construction ends.