2016-01-17 - The Sunday - Las Vegas by Greenspun Media Group

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THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

SPECIAL ISSUE CONTENTS

L I G H T R A I L GETTING OUR FUTURE ON THE RIGHT TRACK

eaders of The Sunday will notice that this issue is chock full of trains, so to speak. Actually, we have given this issue over to a most important discussion about how well and how fast our city will grow, and how our citizens and visitors will live over the next 20 to 30 years. And how much we are willing to invest in that future. Throughout our history, Las Vegas has always been ready, willing and able to step up and own the kind of future we envision. Our dreamers and our builders have always been able to capture WHERE I STAND the imaginations of our BRIAN GREENSPUN people to build the kind of city that, despite the setbacks of the 2008 crash, has made us a city to be envied and emulated. We now have an opportunity to write the next chapter in the brilliant history of Southern Nevada. This time it centers on the way we will move not only our tourist economy but also our local economy to the next level. To be more precise, it’s about how we will move our tourists and locals from one place to another in the coming decades. The Sunday, fulfilling our own responsibility

to enlighten, encourage and inform our readers about matters of public interest, has devoted its pages this week to a wide-ranging discussion about trains. Light rail to be exact. This isn’t the first time our community has discussed light rail as a mode of transporting 2 million residents and more than 41 million tourists safely and conveniently through our valley, but it is the first time community groups throughout Clark County have come together to have a serious discussion. We have framed the issues in our pages and hope to lead the discussion in which all of the stakeholders in this valley agree on a plan to prevent gridlock that not only will choke the life out of locals who cannot traverse our roads to and from work but also the lifeblood of our economy. Tourism is and will be for a long time our No. 1 industry, not only in Clark County but throughout the state. Solving the transportation challenge not only is a quality-of-life issue but goes to the very essence of our ability to compete. The world is getting smaller, but convention facilities, tourist attractions and hotels around the globe are getting larger, so our ability to provide world-class tourist transportation could be a differentiator. Already, cities such as Phoenix, Denver, San Diego and Orlando, Fla., have gotten a head start

on us with regard to light rail and its ability to move people in a smooth and cost-efficient manner. We are behind, to be sure, but we can catch up and surpass them all. All we have to do is start. And this is the beginning of that discussion. How much it will cost, how long it will take, the roadblocks in our way and the hurdles we must overcome are all part of that conversation. And that discussion cannot be had without you, our readers. For you will be the beneficiaries of a 21st century multimodal system of moving people from the airport to the Strip to downtown to North Las Vegas. Rail that will give tourists easy access to all that we have built for them and rail for locals to have easy access to work, play and home. The same attitude and commitment that has allowed decades of dreamers and builders to create today’s Las Vegas can propel us to the decisions necessary to make sure we continue to lead all comers when it comes to moving people around a city. Imagine a Las Vegas in 2026 that is the envy of the world. That’s easy. Now imagine a Las Vegas in 2026 with a world-class transportation system. That is a combination that can’t and won’t be beat. It all starts today in the pages of The Sunday.

12 16 19 31

WHERE ARE WE GOING WITH THIS?

ON THE COVER Illustration by Hernan Valencia

Plans are in the works for a light rail system in Southern Nevada, but where will it go? We map out the Regional Transportation Center’s plan and outline potential additions to extend the system’s footprint.

HOW CAN WE PAY FOR IT?

Studies show that investing in a light rail system can spur economic activity that more than makes up for the cost of construction and maintenance. Still, building one isn’t cheap. We outline potential ways to raise the money.

A LOOK AT OUR COMPETITORS

Phoenix, Denver, San Diego and Orlando, Fla., have provided blue prints Las Vegas can follow when it comes to building public mass transit systems. We examine their costs and the impact the systems have had on their cities.

HOW IT TOUCHES THE COMMUNITY

Light rail would affect the city’s vibe, quality of life and environment. MORE

■ A local’s take, P34 ■ Tourism and business, P35 ■ Impact on North Las Vegas, P40 ■ Downtown and sports, P41

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THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

SPECIAL ISSUE

LIGHT RAIL LAS VEGAS Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

WHY LIGHT RAIL?

The RTC considered a number of options for a rapid transit system on the Strip, including buses, streetcars and even another monorail. Ultimately, officials decided on light rail because it can move a large number of people in a relatively short time. Buses and streetcars would make the Stripâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bad gridlock even worse, while an elevated monorail would be costly to build and would ruin the view. A light rail system also can be expanded more easily.

TERMS TO UNDERSTAND BEFORE YOU BEGIN READING RAPID TRANSIT

GRADE

STATION

LINE

A form of high-speed urban passenger transportation, such as a subway or elevated railroad system. Rapid transit systems generally serve a larger area than light rail with faster trains that travel, below or above ground, at 30 to 50 miles per hour. Stops tend to be more spaced out than light rail stops. The New York City Subway, the London Underground, Chicagoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s L and Bay Area Regional Transit all are rapid transit systems.

Rail systems can run above, below or level with roads. Subways run underground, and elevated trains run above ground. Systems that run at grade travel are on the same plane as pedestrians and automobiles.

Where a train stops. In light rail systems, stations typically are built on the sides of roads and often include sun shades molded in artistic designs.

The fixed route that a transportation system travels on, typically designated by numbers, letters or colors.

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

Every $1 invested in public transportation generates about $4 in economic returns.

Every $1 billion invested in public transportation supports and creates more than 50,000 jobs.

Every $10 million of capital investment in public transportation yields $30 million in increased business sales.

Home values were 42 percent higher on average for homes near public transportation with high-frequency service.

Public transportation is a $61 billion industry that employs more than 400,000 people.

Source: American Public Transportation Association

Park-and-ride

Multimodal transport

Right of way

A fancy name for a parking lot. Parkand-rides are aimed at reducing urban traffic congestions by enabling drivers to leave their cars in parking lots on the outskirts of a city and travel to the city center on public transportation. At some stations, parking carries a small fee. At others, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free.

Combines two or more modes of movement, such as walking, biking, driving, taking a bus or riding light rail. Also called combined transport. There are a lot of ways to get where you need to go. Multimodal transit planning recognizes that and provides for a flexible range of options.

A legal easement granted for a patch of land set aside for transit. Generally, building new transportation systems requires buying rightsof-way along the routes.

In 2014, Americans took 10.8Â billion trips on public transportation, the highest number in 58 years. People boarded public transportation 36 million times each weekday.

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

special issue

light rail las vegas Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

LIGHT RAIL

WE DISSECT THE IDEA THAT IS CRItiCAL TO THE VALLEY’S FUTURE

By Ric Anderson | Staff writer

There’s a problem with our transportation system, Las Vegas, and it goes way beyond tedious commutes and long lines of orange pylons. ¶ The system has become an Achilles heel in a high-stakes competition with other major cities to attract new businesses, residents, tourists and conventions. Our road system is outdated, built for an era of rotary phones, coin slot machines and cars with cassette players, and other communities are taking advantage of it in an attempt to leapfrog us. ¶ Don’t believe it? Let’s take a trip to Orlando, Fla. ¶ There, a light rail train whisks passengers along a 31-mile route that connects downtown Orlando with suburbs and surrounding communities for as little as $3.75 per round trip. Transportation authorities recently approved a new phase of construction that will connect the system, called SunRail, with Orlando International Airport. When that happens, look out. Visitors will be able to jump on the system for a quick, cheap and convenient ride to hotels, attractions and convention halls, while their counterparts in Las Vegas endure long lines for taxis or Uber and Lyft vehicles, then face expensive, slow rides on congested streets and highways, where, of course, they have to suffer more expensive, slow rides if they want to go anywhere beyond walking distance. Which sounds better? It’s no contest. Don’t think Orlando isn’t trying to capitalize on its advantage either. During a recent visit there, a Las Vegan found a list of our conventions written on a white board at the convention and visitors bureau. True story. Scary story. And Orlando isn’t the only city actively trying to pick off our conventions. Meanwhile, the Strip has reached a tipping point on traffic congestion, and that’s without attractions that either are on the drawing board or are almost live. T-Mobile Arena between New York-New York and Monte Carlo is an example; as many as 20,000

people will be trying to get in and out of events there once it opens. Because Las Vegas always has been a place that looks for the next big thing, others are talking about equally ambitious plans for facilities that will, inevitably, place further strain on our transportation system. Another source of pressure: With traffic at McCarran International Airport reaching its pre-recession levels, the city moves an average of 1.8 million people per month — and counting — between the Strip and the airport. Given that tourism and convention tax revenue and fees are the leading economic drivers for the state, it’s critical that the Las Vegas transportation system supports them. But there is more reason to consider upgrades: The tech industry sector that now is taking a close look at Las Vegas, and Nevada expects — and a new workforce demands — effective and convenient mass transportation options. Put simply: Our infrastructure isn’t prepared to support the next generation of development in Las Vegas.

light rail las vegas Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

But here’s the good news. We can compete in this fight. The answer is to build our own light rail — either the system proposed by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada or one that extends the RTC’s lines to North Las Vegas. Make no mistake, the system would be costly. The RTC’s plan, which connects McCarran International Airport to downtown’s Bonneville Transit Center and then to Cashman Center, would cost a minimum of $600 million and as much as $5.7 billion (if portions are built underground) in today’s dollars. The RTC has proposed paying for a significant portion of the system through federal funding and has floated the concept of a public-private partnership. A rider fee also is part of the RTC’s vision. In addition, there are other potential options for revenue streams that would lessen the burden on Las Vegas residents, such as an increase in hotel room tax, higher surcharges on flights from McCarran and perhaps reclaiming and selling BLM land on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Steps like these might make it possible to both build the system and let tourists and locals ride it for free. The 42.3 million visitors coming to Las Vegas annually — a figure that is expected to keep rising — could foot the bill for a portion of the system. Even with a modest increase in fees to support a rail system, tourists come out ahead because they wouldn’t have to pay as much for taxi rides or rental cars. Now, think about what the system would mean for Las Vegas residents. It would allow tens of thousands of people get to work more easily and cheaply, not only the ones riding the light rail, but car commuters who’d benefit from a reduction of congestion on the roads. It would ease the pressure on our environment. It would create jobs and spur massive development of housing, retail and industry — with an economic impact of $56 billion to $178 billion, as estimated by the RTC. If you doubt the potential of light rail as an economic driver, just look at Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Denver — other Western communities that have invested in rail systems. Development driven by light rail in Phoenix exceeded $8.2 billion this year, including 15,000 residential units within a half mile of the 20-mile route. The 7-year-old system is being used for 44,000 rides per average weekday, more than the Phoenix transit authority estimated for ridership in 2020. For Las Vegas, light rail would create new development opportunities and strengthen the heart of our economy by improving the Strip. Tourists like trains — just ask the operators of San Francisco’s cable cars or New Orleans’ streetcars — and light rail would make getting up and down Las Vegas Boulevard a convenient attraction for visitors, not a bumper-to-bumper buzzkill. Improving the visitor experience is critical to our future. Remember, the days are long gone when Las Vegas tourists checked into a resort, headed straight to the casino and holed up for as long as their bankroll held out. Today, the average tourist visits several casinos per visit, and a change in the Strip’s business model is prompting even more of them to get out and wander among a growing number of restaurants, shops and attractions. Allowing visitors to get around more easily is key to keeping them happy. And just imagine how happy they’d be if they could cruise the boulevard in a train that allowed them

special issue

to see the sights and quickly reach their destination. Lights, action, fabulousness. Even beyond the Strip, light rail is a link to our economic future. It would help attract and retain the millennial workers we need for our budding technology industry and other businesses that can diversify our economy. If you don’t think light rail is a major bargaining chip when trying to recruit younger workers, just look at any number of studies showing that millennials are waiting later to get driver’s licenses than other generations, are less likely to use cars as a main source of transportation and are more likely to walk, bike or use public transit. Another sector that could take off: manufacturing. For the first time, North Las Vegas could gain a direct connection to the Strip, which would help in the development of the massive Apex Industrial Park. With Faraday Future preparing to build a $1 billion car manufacturing plant there, a rail link would become an attractive incentive to help sell other companies on locating in Apex. Then there’s the north Strip. Today — and this isn’t a big secret — it’s struggling. SLS Las Vegas has been bleeding revenue since it opened. The closure of the Riviera opened an even bigger hole between the Wynn and Encore, and the SLS and Stratosphere. And while the Lucky Dragon project west of Las Vegas Boulevard on Sahara Avenue may inject some energy into the area, there’s nothing else being developed between Resorts World Las Vegas and downtown. Plus, the Genting Group has yet to begin construction in earnest, raising concerns the project may not be moving forward. In that environment, a light rail could be a lifesaver. For most Strip tourists, the Riviera/Fountainebleu area marks a no-man’s-land where they quit walking on the boulevard, feeling ill at ease among the rusting hulk of empty and abandoned resorts. Add a train, and getting to the SLS, Stratosphere and beyond is safe and fun. For downtown, the rail would bring tourists and locals not only to East Fremont and the Fremont Street Experience but to the Arts District and the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Light rail lines would become arteries to invigorate arts and culture. There also are winners who would never even set foot on the train. They’d benefit because the system would provide the tool to compete with cities such as Orlando for tourists, conventions and economic development, therefore strengthening the economy valleywide. The harsh reality, Las Vegas, is that we risk getting stuck in gear economically if we don’t do something about our transportation system. Right now, nothing is happening to create more area for development on the Strip. We still rely mostly on tourism and mining as the underpinnings of our economy, leaving us vulnerable to the same busts we just went through during the recession. And while tourists still are coming, other cities are fighting to siphon them away. Granted, Orlando is no Las Vegas when it comes to 24/7 fun, but it is positioning itself as a modern, progressive, convenient option other than Las Vegas. Las Vegas has explored light rail before, only to set it aside while others pushed forward. Now we’re behind, and we have a major choice on our hands. Move in a new direction, or stay on the same path. Just watch out for the orange pylons.

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

42.3 million

Number of annual tourists to Las Vegas, and each tourist visits an average of 6.4 casinos.

That’s more than

5.2 million trips

() along the crowded resort corridor each week.

That doesn’t include the 658,000 trips tourists make to McCarran International Airport each week.

Or the 100,000 Strip workers who, if they work five days a week, make another 1 million trips each week to and from the Strip.

All together, the Strip sees at least 6.8 million trips per week. When put in those terms, the sheer scale of the challenge to create a light rail system and the opportunity it could present become readily apparent.

D E C A T U R B LV

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

Encore Wynn

H A R M O N AV E

PA R A D I S E R D

Las Vegas Convention Center

MCCARRAN AIRPORT

UNLV CAMPUS

SWENSON ST

Thomas & Mack Center

WHAT WOULD THE SYSTEM LOOK LIKE? Electric trains typically receive power either through an electrified third rail on the ground or wires strung above the trains. Because a mess of overhead wires can be ugly, engineers want to avoid using them on the portion of the line that would run down the Strip.

LEGEND

RTC L ight R ail proposed route

RTC Light Rail airport connection options

RTC Maryland Parkway transit project

Other routes to consider *

RTC proposed transit centers

Key landmarks

*A plan recently released by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada suggested a potential route for a light rail system that would connect McCarran International Airport to the Strip and downtown, with options that include taking the tracks as far south as Town Square. But nothing has been decided, and there are other options that could be considered. For example, instead of going down Casino Center, the light rail could run along Fourth Street, which would take the system closer to the east part of Fremont Street. Also, one of the benefits of light rail is that it can be expanded into a larger, more regional system — and a logical place to take that is North Las Vegas to strengthen that city's connection to the rest of the community.

RUSSELL RD

PAT R I C K L N

HOW DOES THE AIRPORT FIT IN? Of every 10 visitors to Las Vegas, four arrive at McCarran Airport. To handle that volume of people, RTC officials want to build a 13-acre transit hub outside the airport, between Paradise Road and Swenson Street. The $300 million facility would handle all transportation to and from the airport, including taxis, limos, ride-hailing companies and light rail. Two people-movers would link the building to Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.

MCCARRAN AIRPORT

HACIE NDA AVE

E A S T E R N AV E

Fashion Show

Palazzo Venetian Linq

Tropicana

MGM Grand

Planet Hollywood

Paris Las Vegas

Bally’s

Flamingo

Treasure Island Mirage

Caesars Palace

L A S V E G A S B LV D .

DESERT INN RD

WHERE WOULD IT STOP? The current expectation is that stops along the Strip would be spaced about a half-mile apart. A gamechanger would be an expansion of the monorail to Mandalay Bay, which also is proposed by the RTC. A light rail line could connect visitors to the monorail at Mandalay Bay, along the Strip and at Sahara Avenue, where the monorail stops at SLS Las Vegas.

Bellagio Cosmopolitan City Center

New YorkNew York

Excalibur

Luxor

GILESPIE ST

FLAMINGO RD

WHERE WOULD IT GO? The RTC’s proposed light rail line could extend from near Cashman Field south toward Las Vegas Boulevard, where it would run until Tropicana Avenue. After that, the line has a couple of options to get to McCarran, including looping south past Sunset Road or going east down Tropicana.

TOWN SQUARE

K O VA L L N

215

PA R A D I S E

T R O P I C A N A AV E

H A C I E N D A AV E

RUSSELL RD

215

SUNSET RD

WOULD IT BE STREET LEVEL OR BELOW GROUND? Nothing has been decided, but engineers are exploring the options. Underground lines are faster and more reliable, but tunneling through the earth is enormously expensive.

VA L L E Y V I E W B LV D

O W E N S AV E

WA S H I N G T O N AV E

Cashman Field

ON T

BRUCE ST

MARYLAND PARKWAY Maryland Parkway has long enticed city engineers who want to use it to link the airport and downtown Las Vegas. The RTC has proposed a centerrunning bus or light rail line that would travel the length of the street, with stops at every mile. The RTC’s overall vision for Maryland Parkway is to make it more pedestrian friendly by reducing lanes from six to four and improving access for pedestrians and cyclists. VD

MARYLAND PKWY

C A R E Y AV E .

L A K E M E A D B LV D

BONANZA RD

S T E WA R T AV E

S T. L O U I S AV E

PECOS RD

LIGHT RAIL IN LAS VEGAS

ARTS DISTRICT

Las Vegas Country Club

M O J AV E R D

. vd Bl er nt Ce no si Ca et re St h 4t

jan. 17 - jan. 23

RANCHO DR

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada recently unveiled a gargantuan plan intended to revolutionize the way people move around Las Vegas and the Strip. ¶ Called the Transportation Investment Business Plan, the 2,365-page report outlines a score of upgrades to the valley’s existing road and transit networks. ¶ Among them: an ambitious proposal to build a light rail line connecting McCarran International Airport to the Strip and downtown Las Vegas. ¶ Clocking in at under 10 miles, the light rail line, which would travel down the Strip, would rank among the shortest urban rail systems in the country. But the project, and its potential impacts, nevertheless are immense. ¶ In 2015, 42 million people visited Las Vegas. If current projections are accurate, the visitor count will rise to 53 million by 2030. The population of Clark County is expected to spike as well, with nearly 1 million people moving here by 2040. ¶ All those people will need to move around somehow. And that’s where light rail comes into play.

O A K E Y B LV D

M A R T I N L U T H U R K I N G B LV D

Stratosphere

SLS

MAIN ST

HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO BUILD? RTC officials estimate that building a light rail line on the Strip would take 10 to 20 years.

VA L L E Y V I E W B LV D

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15 Circus Circus

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C H A R L E S T O N B LV D

A R V I L L E S T.

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special issue

How does a plan like this come to be? who is responsible? derground segments. The plan also notes the Strip’s high number of fare-paying cusThe long process of bringing light rail tomers could help attract private investto Las Vegas has begun. ment. It’s being handled by a mix of related but So far, the plan has been presented to the distinct groups made up of government ofRTC’s board and the board of the Las ficials, resort representatives and others. Vegas Convention and Visitors The push started more than Authority. It is slated to be three years ago, when Rossi presented to the SouthRalenkotter, president ern Nevada Tourism of the Las Vegas ConMass transit isn’t just about engineering. It also Infrastructure Comvention and Visitors involves politics, race and class mittee this month. Authority, brought considerations, and as such can That committee is local tourism indusbe tricky to navigate. For example, playing a key role in try leaders together in December, civil rights groups sued determining the futo talk about transthe Maryland governor for cancelling a long-planned rail extension that ture for major tourportation issues. would have served predominantly ism projects in Las Ralenkotter made it black neighborhoods. At the same Vegas. Convened last clear from the outset time, mass transit can contribute summer by Gov. Brian the group needed to to gentrification, as it has in Sandoval, the group is think beyond its own West Oakland. tasked with evaluating specific interests about the area’s tourism-related how to keep Las Vegas globinfrastructure, establishing prially competitive, according to orities and making recommendations Tina Quigley, general manager of the for how best to move forward. Regional Transportation Commission. A report from the committee to Sandoval The group met regularly for several and the Legislature is expected this summer. months before bringing in the firm ch2m as Meanwhile, the transportation plan has a consultant to craft a detailed, long-term been available for public review since it was vision for transportation in Southern Nereleased in December (visit rtcsnv.com/ vada. The result, about 18 months later, was govegas to download the plan). Quigley exthe Transportation Investment Business pects to bring a final version of the plan, Plan. incorporating changes from the public and The plan includes a long list of suggesvarious boards, back to the RTC board in tions, such as new pedestrian bridges and March. wider sidewalks on the Strip, road and freeAt that point, Quigley said she expects way improvements, expansion of the monoto ask for guidance in a few key areas. One rail and a circulator trolley downtown. But likely will be seeking the formation of anthe most significant recommendation was other group, the Resort Corridor Mobility for light rail to connect the airport, the Association, to help carry out proposals in Strip and downtown Las Vegas. the plan. Light rail is an attractive option because The RTC also will need direction from its it could grow into a transit system that board on evaluating light rail and the differserves the entire region and has the flexent ways of implementing it. ibility to include both street-level and unBy J.D. Morris | staff writer

What comes next?

How much would it cost to build? Depending on how and where a light rail line is built, it could cost anywhere from $600 million to $5.7 billion, which RTC officials project would amount to $2 billion to $12 billion in 10 to 20 years when the system likely would be built. Much of the cost depends on whether the system is built above ground or underground and how many miles the line travels. There would be additional costs for operation and maintenance.

Where would the funding come from? The project could be paid for using a combination of federal sources, taxes and local revenue, including sales tax, parking fees, naming rights and grants awarded through the Federal Transit Authority.

How much would it cost to ride? RTC officials expect the light rail line to cost money to ride, but no fare amounts have been discussed. However, it’s still early in the process, and the fare proposal could change.

Is this plan a done deal? No. None of these plans is set in stone. In fact, RTC officials expect plans could change as stakeholders and the public weigh in. The RTC proposal represents a basic outline of a working light rail system, but a full-fledged plan ready to be executed remains a long way off.

The next step is to conduct an environmental study, which should take three to five years. Designing and funding the project likely would take another three to five years, then construction could begin.

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

SPECIAL ISSUE

LIGHT RAIL LAS VEGAS Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

HOW DO WE Light rail could transform the future of Las Vegas — but the future comes with a hefty price tag Building one mile of light rail costs from $25 million to more than $100 million, depending on whether it’s built above, at or below ground level. That means constructing a 10-mile light rail system from, say, McCarran International Airport to North Las Vegas City Hall would cost from $250 million to more than $1 billion. That doesn’t include the cost of a transit center at McCarran to connect the system to the airport or the construction of transit centers or hubs along the line. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada proposes a more extensive line wrapping around McCarran to the Bonneville Transit Center in downtown Las Vegas. Transportation officials say building that system could cost $600 million to $5.7 billion, depending on whether the system travels above, at or below ground level. RTC officials also propose running a bus rapid transit or a light rail line down Maryland Parkway from downtown to the airport. That project doesn’t have a cost estimate yet, but a light rail route would need to be at least six miles long to span the parkway, which means it would cost roughly $150 million to more than $600 million just to lay the rail. Expanding the Bonneville Transit Center is expected to cost $5 million to $11 million, and a light rail extension to Cashman Center would cost $128 million to $200 million. Building a new transit center at McCarran to link the light rail system to the airport is expected to cost $300 million to $360 million. The plan likely would require a patchwork of funding approaches, cobbled together from a number of local, state and federal sources. Here’s a look at some of the possibilities. — Megan Messerly

BUILDING ON EXISTING FINANCE STRUCTURES WHAT IS IT?

HOW MUCH IS IT? It used to be 5 percent for resorts; today, it’s 12 percent on the Strip and 13 percent downtown.

ROOM TAX

Since the late 1950s, visitors to Las Vegas have been charged a tax on top of the cost of their hotel rooms. Although initially intended to pay for efforts to boost tourism, a decreasing percentage of the money has been reinvested in tourism, from almost 100 percent to about 35 percent. Portions of the money, for instance, now pay for education. One percent goes toward transportation projects.

OPTION 2

Every time someone boards an airplane in Las Vegas, he or she pays a small fee that goes to McCarran International Airport. The passenger facility charge, managed by the federal government, is collected by airports to fund large-scale infrastructure projects.

The maximum airports are allowed to charge by law is $4.50 per segment. McCarran charges $4.50.

OPTION 1

PASSENGER FEES

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PAY FOR IT?

Taxes provide a stable, significant funding source for transportation projects. For instance, Phoenix recently approved a sales tax increase from 0.4 percent to 0.7 percent that is expected to generate almost $17 billion toward the city’s $32 billion, 35-year transportation plan. ¶ The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada proposes using money from two existing taxes in Clark County to help pay for light rail in Southern Nevada. ¶ Room tax from the resort corridor also could be used to fund projects if approved by the Nevada Legislature, although the RTC isn’t considering that.

WHO PAYS IT? Anyone staying in a hotel room in the state. The amount varies by jurisdiction, with the bulk coming from Southern Nevada.

Air travelers. Airlines collect the fee when people book their airplane tickets, then pass the money along to airports.

OPTION 3

FEDERAL FUNDING

HOW MUCH MONEY DOES IT GENERATE?

HOW COULD IT BENEFIT LIGHT RAIL?

CAN IT BE INCREASED?

HOW MUCH MORE COULD IT GENERATE?

In fiscal year 2014, Southern Nevada brought in $565 million in room tax. Of that, $179 million went to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, $139 million to the State Distributive School Account and $78 million to the Clark County School District.

The 1 percent of room tax that goes to transportation projects could be used to pay for a light rail system. But RTC officials aren’t considering that for now. “It’s certainly a potential funding source, it’s just not one we’re talking about actively right now,” General Manager Tina Orlando, one of Quigley said.

Yes, but it would need approval by two-thirds of the Nevada Legislature. State lawmakers also could choose to change the laws that specify where money generated by the tax goes.

It’s too soon to say. But based on the $565 million generated in 2014, a 1 percent increase would net about $47 million and a 2 percent increase about $94 million.

Nationally, the fee brings in about $3 billion each year, which airports use to finance infrastructure projects. McCarran generated almost $84 million in passenger fees during the last fiscal year.

Revenue generated by the passenger fee charge can be used to finance special projects at the airport such as a new terminal or transit center at to connect the airport to a light rail system. Streamlining travel between McCarran and the Strip could make Las Vegas more competitive with other tourist destinations that already have or are building transit systems that connect to their airports. The passenger facility charge, however, couldn’t be used to fund the light rail system itself, and the money McCarran collects is allotted toward other projects.

Increasing the fee would require congressional approval. The fee hasn’t increased in 15 years.

In 2015, airports urged Congress to raise the fee to $8.50 per segment as part of its reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration funding bill. The measure failed.

Las Vegas’s biggest competitors for conventions, plans to build a maglev route between its main convention center and airport.

Money from a number of federal grants could be applied toward building light rail. Funding for the grant programs are authorized by Congress in the federal budget. Agencies that administer transportation grants: ■ Federal Highway Administration

■ Federal Railroad Administration

■ Federal Transit Administration

■ Department of the Treasury

■ U.S. Department of Transportation

TURN TO PAGE 18 TO READ ABOUT MORE FUNDING OPTIONS

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OPTION 4

BLM LAND SALES

SNPLMA DISPOSAL BOUNDARY

Southern Nevada is unusual in that much of our land is owned by the federal government. Under the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, money from the sale of certain public lands designated under the act can be applied toward preservation efforts, capital improvements and conservation initiatives — and potentially building a light rail system in Las Vegas.

BLM-controlled land Las Vegas

WHAT IS IT?

HOW CAN IT BE SOLD?

HOW COULD IT BENEFIT LIGHT RAIL?

HOW MUCH MONEY COULD BE GENERATED?

It is land owned by the federal government and overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. In Southern Nevada, the bureau oversees 3.1 million acres of federal land. It is used in a number of ways but generally is open, empty space. One of the reasons land remains under BLM control is to stop urban sprawl.

In 1998, Congress enacted the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act to provide the federal government an organized way to sell land in Southern Nevada. Parcels of land to be sold are selected by local governments and the Bureau of Land Management. The sales take place fairly regularly.

The Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act outlines a number of projects it can fund, including capital improvements, conservation initiatives and the creation of parks, trails and natural areas. Rob Lang, director of Brookings Mountain West, believes there’s a strong case to be made that light rail would contribute to conservation by reducing urban sprawl. Therefore, revenue generated by selling public land at the edge of town could, in turn, fund a system that encourages density. Lang said a light rail system could persuade fewer people to live on the periphery of the valley and thereby fulfill the mission of land conservation and increased residential density.

It’s not clear, but Lang estimated anywhere from a couple hundred million to a billion dollars. The amount would depend on how much land the BLM would be willing to sell and whether officials would allocate the money to a light rail project.

FAREBOX REVENUE

OTHER LOCAL FUNDING OPTIONS ■ TAX INCREMENT

FINANCING AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS Taxes and fees can be applied to a group of properties to fund transit construction or other improvements within a specific area.

Money generated from charging fares to public transit riders can be used as collateral for revenue bonds. That type of financing was used to pay for the Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco, the Metropolitan Transit Authority in Los Angeles and the Regional Transit Authority in Chicago.

THE COST OF FREE TRANSIT

While some people argue that mass transit in Las Vegas would be a public service and therefore should be free, the RTC isn’t considering free light rail because fares could provide important funding for the project, both to back revenue bonds and to entice a private company to invest in the system. That said, if there were a way to build light

rail and provide free rides, Quigley would be open to hear it. “If the community supported free transit and we could find a funding mechanism for it, we certainly could see exploring that conversation,” Quigley said. Denver, Colo., and Trenton, N.J., experimented with fare-free transit in the late 1970s, as did Austin, Texas, in 1989, and

■ PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP Public agencies can form partnerships with private entities to construct, manage or operate projects such as a light rail system. In exchange for an upfront investment, the private entity typically receives a portion of fare revenue.

all were considered unsuccessful. Fare-free systems, however, have succeeded for smaller transit systems in Commerce, Calif., and Amherst, Mass. Because free mass transit hasn’t been attempted many places, it’s difficult to know how much making a Las Vegas system free would cost. Fares typically pay for all or some of the costs of operation and maintenance.

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special issue

rail projects in other cities By J.D. Morris | staff writer

hen Benjamin Ross moved to the Washington, D.C., area years ago, the city felt like one big suburb. Despite its large population, Washington’s walkability and urban vibe paled in comparison with New York’s or Boston’s. ¶ But that changed after the Metro rail system was built. ¶ “It has completely transformed the city,” said Ross, a transit advocate who wrote a book about suburban sprawl. ¶ Ross has seen the impact Metro has had on Washington neighborhoods, increasing development, density and connectivity. And he has fought to continue expanding the transit system by supporting the creation of a light rail line that would run through Washington’s Maryland suburbs, including Bethesda, Md., where Ross lives. Washington is far from the only city that has seen its urban landscape transformed by new transportation options. Consider Denver. Colorado’s most populous city began operating just a few miles of light rail in 1994. Since then, the light rail has grown into a regional transit system that’s still expanding. It wasn’t easy getting there, said Scott Reed, of Denver’s Regional Transportation District. Denver had to overcome a large amount of speculation and uncertainty about whether light rail could be successful in a western city accustomed to cars as the dominant mode of transportation, Reed said. Yet once the first 5.3 miles of light rail was up and running, many opinions were swayed. Officials immediately had to order additional cars. “The argument completely shifted from ‘Would anybody want this?’ to ‘How soon can I get the line in my area?’ ” Reed said. “It was almost overnight.” The impact on neighborhoods has been unmistakable, said Reed, a Denver transportation district employee for more than two decades. Development has followed the spread of the city’s transportation projects, including the recent conversion of Denver’s Union Station into a hub for light rail, buses and trains. The changes created a new epi-

center downtown, Reed said. There are other examples, too. Development along Phoenix’s 20-mile light rail route exceeded $8 billion, officials in the region said. The system, Valley Metro, cost $1.4 billion to build and opened in 2008. Similarly, Orlando, Fla., has tracked dozens of construction projects around its new commuter rail system, SunRail, which opened in 2014. Within a 10-minute walk of its rail stations, 13 projects worth almost $550 million are being built. Another 16 projects worth $1.8 billion have been announced or are under review, SunRail officials say. Las Vegas has toyed with mass-transit projects multiple times. About 10 years ago, the Regional Transportation Commission considered a 30-plus mile light rail system to link Henderson, the Strip, downtown Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. But the idea encountered resistance, particularly from Henderson residents who didn’t want mass transit running through their neighborhoods. The RTC moved forward with bus rapid transit instead. Years later, a state legislator proposed building a similar light rail system to connect the valley’s major areas, but those plans never materialized, either. RTC General Manager Tina Quigley said the most recent light rail proposal may have

a better shot because it is the result of collaboration among many stakeholders, including resort executives, government officials and tourism leaders, whose support is needed to make the project happen. Of course, the process is in its early stages, and there remains plenty of room for critical voices to emerge as details are refined. In addition, Ross said, Las Vegas could struggle because of the width of its thoroughfares, some of which may need to become more pedestrian-friendly to house light rail stations. Yet Las Vegas has plenty of factors in its favor: a consistently high volume of tourists who would ride the system and a steady flow of employees who work nontraditional hours, to name a few. Transportation experts from other regions have taken notice. “From, I think, the first time I went to Vegas, I thought that the Strip was an absolute natural for light rail, just because of the amount of people and the crowds,” said Paul Jablonski, CEO of San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System. “I’ve ridden the bus system a number of times on the Strip. It’s overcrowded; you have problems with too many people at stops waiting to get on; the system is slow. Light rail would have the capacity and the ease of boarding to move people quickly.”

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ORLANDO

phoenix

M e t r o a r e a p o p u l at i o n

cost of sunrail project

cost of project

32 miles = $1.2 billion

20 miles = $1.4 billion

With its iconic theme parks, warm weather and popularity as a convention destination, Orlando is an easy comparison to Las Vegas, and its commuter rail system gives the area a bragging right over the Strip.

While Phoenix may not have as dominant a tourism industry as Las Vegas, it is comparable in other ways, namely because it’s also a sunny Southwestern city with suburban sprawl.

2 .3 m i l li on

SunRail opened in May 2014 as a nearly 32-mile system with 12 stations along a north-south route. The state bought 61 miles of existing tracks that had been owned and used by the CSX Transportation railroad, then “brought them up to daily commuter rail standards,” said Steve Olson, a Florida Department of Transportation spokesman. SunRail cost $1.2 billion, according to the Orlando Sentinel, including $615 million for capital costs. The project was backed by federal, state and local public funds. For the first seven years, the state transportation department will operate the system. After that, local governments will be in charge. For now, the system has a more limited schedule than larger rail lines in other cities. It operates only Monday through Friday, although it could operate on the weekends, Olson said. During its first year, SunRail reported nearly 900,000 farepaying riders, with an average daily ridership of about 3,700, according to media reports. “Our core commuters are just totally sold on it, and they’re really a loyal bunch,” Olson said. “The challenge, though, is you need to keep growing that number and bringing new people into the system. That’s where we’re at right now.” Ridership numbers are expected to grow, thanks to SunRail’s second phase expansion, which is under way. The next phase includes a 17.2-mile southern addition and a 12-mile northern addition. Both are set to be operational by late 2017.

4.5 million

With 4.5 million residents, the Phoenix area is home to more than twice as many residents as Clark County and is one of the nation’s largest metros. Given that, it’s not surprising Phoenix has taken more aggressive steps to move its people around faster. The first installment of the region’s light rail system, a 20-mile line that’s part of the Valley Metro public-transit system, was completed in December 2008. It since has been extended to 23 miles, with plans to add more this year. It serves Phoenix as well as the neighboring cities of Tempe and Mesa. The first 20 miles of light rail cost $1.4 billion to build and was financed by local and federal funds. Phoenix voters in 2000 approved a 0.4 percent sales tax increase to pay for public-transit improvements, including light rail. Voters in Maricopa County in 2004 extended an older half-cent sales tax, agreeing to use some of the money to fund the capital costs of building light rail. The light rail’s operating costs are covered by the cities where the system operates, Valley Metro spokeswoman Susan Tierney said. The light rail has an annual ridership of about 14.3 million and an average weekday ridership of more than 43,000. And the system is poised for growth. Phoenix voters in 2015 approved a major transportation initiative, Proposition 104, that raises the 0.4 percent sales tax to 0.7 percent. It it expected to raise billions of dollars to help fund an ambitious long-term transportation plan that includes tripling the length of the light rail system in the city.

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denver

special issue

san diego

M e t r o a r e a p o p u l at i o n

cost of project

cost of san diego trolley project

48 miles and growing

54 miles (initial phase cost $7 million a mile)

2.7 million

Residents of Denver have used light rail for more than 20 years, and the system continues to grow. Denver’s original 5.3 miles of light rail opened in 1994 to connect a limited portion of the city’s central core. Denver paid for the construction using entirely local money, said Scott Reed, of Denver’s Regional Transportation District. The district has expanded the line since, adding a southwest corridor in 2000, another line in downtown Denver in 2002 and a southeast corridor in 2006. The system got a green light from the public for its largest expansion in 2004, when voters approved FasTracks, which is bringing 122 miles of additional light rail and commuter rail to the Denver area, as well as 18 miles of bus rapid transit and new transit stations. New light rail lines are expected to open this year. While FasTracks was approved by voters at a budget of $4.7 billion, the cost has grown by billions of dollars. The project has its critics, but Reed said it has been a net positive for the Denver region. Even the original 5.3 miles brought noticeable changes, Reed said, as businesses wanted to locate near the line and residents prized living nearby. Upgrades to Denver’s Union Station brought even more development. “As an area native, it has been gratifying to see how investments in commuter rail, light rail and other forms of transit have positively shaped the Denver metro area,” Reed said. “It really becomes an investment for future generations, as well as the current riders. That’s the type of legacy that I’m very proud to leave for my children and beyond.”

3. 3 m illion

San Diego launched its light rail system in 1981, making it something of a pioneer. Known as the San Diego Trolley, the system began as a 15-mile line that ran from the Mexico border into downtown San Diego. It was built for about $7 million a mile, which Metropolitan Transit System CEO Paul Jablonski called “almost unheard of” because it it was built on old freight tracks. As did Denver, San Diego kicked off the project without any federal funds. At one point, the San Diego system had a farebox recovery rate of well over 100 percent, according to Jablonski, meaning it received more than enough revenue from passenger fares to cover the cost of operations. The recovery rate has fallen to about 60 percent because the system expanded, but it’s still a far better margin than many other public-transit systems are able to achieve. Over 25 years, the system grew to cover 54 miles, as operators added more lines. The economic impact of the trolley has been massive, Jablonski said. The trolley moves 110,000 people or more each day. One of the particular benefits for San Diego has been that service workers who may not make enough money to live in more expensive parts of the city can commute using light rail. “San Diego, to some extent, is kind of like a mini-Vegas,” Jablonski said. “(Light rail) has had a huge impact on people getting to these jobs and making downtown San Diego vibrant and productive and successful, because we deliver the workers there that make all that work.” And as in other cities, the footprint of San Diego’s light rail system is growing. An 11-mile trolley extension, expected to begin service in 2021, will run from downtown San Diego to University City.

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

the sunday

Cheaper than cabs

Quick and efficient

jan. 17 - jan. 23

Quicker than buses

on tourists

Greater ease of travel

Practical and experiential

Encourage development north of the Wynn

Greater connectivity

More access to different parts of the valley

Municipalities More on page 40

Higher sales and revenues

Increased economic development

More access to visitors and revenue Increased commercial development

Increased development

on commerce

Reinvigorated neighborhoods

Development of new commercial centers

Increased density in the urban core

Increased options for small business owners

Revitalized blighted areas

Enable the Smith Center for the Performing Arts to continue to develop and expand

Increase pedestrian traffic

Spark increased development of Symphony Park

Encourage expansion of the Arts District

Improve safety

impac light

Expanded housing options

More on pages 36-37

More efficient movement of people

on lifestyle More on pages 32-33

Improved access to retail, dining, gaming and entertainment

on the strip

jan. 17 - jan. 23

Increased personal and professional opportunities

Increased modernity and vibrancy

Reduced vehicle traffic

the sunday

A more accessible public transportation system

More on page 45 Reduced traffic and conjestion

Advantageous for UNLV sports fans Easy access to multiple sporting venues such as Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena

Fewer parking woes

rave

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special issue

Finanical impact

environmental impact

U.S. public transportation use saves on

A two-person household can

Public transportation use in the

average more than 865 million hours

save, on average, more than

United States reduces the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

of travel time and 450 million gallons

$10,175 a year by downsizing

carbon emissions by 37

of fuel, according to the American

to one car, the American Public

metric tons annually, according

Public Transportation Association. A

Transportation Association found.

to the American Public Transportation

single commuter switching his or her

Households near public transit

Association. That is the combined amount

commute to public transportation can

drive an average of 4,400 fewer

that would be saved if New York, Atlanta,

reduce a householdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carbon emissions

miles annually than households

Denver, Los Angeles and Washington,

by 10 percent, the American Public

with no access to public transit.

D.C., all stopped using electricity.

Transportation Association found.

million

the sunday

Illustration by hernan valencia

jan. 17 - jan. 23

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

special issue

light rail las vegas Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

comparing public d il u b e d to ri t d s o an C

f o d e il s a bu e

$25M-$60M/mile street level

$150M/mile below ground

$50M-$150M/mile above ground Cost to ride: No one knows yet. The RTC proposes charging passengers for light rail service, but RTC General Manager Tina Quigley said the agency hasn’t decided how much the fares would be. Others propose a free system. They argue that mass transit is a public service and therefore should be free.

$5M-$20M/mile at street level

20-30 mph

10-25 mph

2,000 people/hour

840 people/hour

$500,000$20 Million/mile Cost to ride: Strip routes cost $6 for a two-hour pass. The RTC’s Strip bus routes operate at a profit and subsidize the rest of the routes in the system. The RTC hopes that the lucrative system can attract a company to enter into a public-private partnership with the agency to provide funding to build a light rail system.

$50M-$150M/mile Cost to ride: Nevada residents — $1;

out-of-state residents — $5

15-25 mph

8-30 mph

480 people/hour

1,800 people/hour

Light rail vehicles are wide and long, providing seating and standing space to accommodate 130 or more passengers per vehicle. The systems run on predictable schedules. Stations typically offer many amenities such as park-andrides, weather shelters, seating and ample lighting.

More involved than modern streetcars or bus rapid transits. Light rail typically is offset from the street by a physical barrier that must be constructed, along with stations. Rails have to be laid and a power system installed. Above- or belowground systems take longer to build.

Like light rail, streetcars have set schedules and stops. The cars are shorter and narrower than light rail cars and carry 35 or more passengers each. Streetcar stops resemble bus stops, with limited seating and fewer overhead shelters.

Easier than light rail, more difficult than bus rapid transit. Before streetcars can operate, rails and a power system must be built into streets, and passenger stations must be constructed.

Riding bus rapid transit is much like riding a bus, only with fewer stops. Although there may be some extra amenities at stations, most look like typical bus stops.

Much easier than light rail or modern streetcar. Many bus rapid transit systems feature platform-level boarding, allowing riders in wheelchairs to embark and disembark more quickly than if the bus had to lower a ramp. Many systems feature designated lanes for the buses. However, no rails or electricity are needed.

To board the monorail, passengers will need to climb a set of stairs or take an escalator or an elevator, which may be difficult for some individuals. However, because monorails have stations above groundlevel traffic, boarding is typically a smooth process. Stops are relatively frequent, and the monorail can travel faster since it does not have to stop for other traffic. Some riders may enjoy the scenery looking down on the city below them while others may feel that the monorail’s track mars the city’s landscape.

More difficult than light rail, modern streetcars and bus rapid transit operating at ground level. Because monorail lines and stations are elevated, they typically take more time and money to build.

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transportation L ight ra il

Designed to transport passengers within an urban core, light rail systems typically include stops every half-mile or mile on lines that run 5 to 20 miles long, connecting suburban communities with central business districts. Light rails generally run on their own rights of way, usually a space separate from the road, although some run alongside roads. Most trains include multiple cars and are powered either by electricity overhead or by an electrified third rail on the ground. Rail cars can travel above ground level, at grade or below ground. Light rail has been especially popular in recent years because of its relatively low capital costs and increased reliability compared with heavy rail systems. Cities with light rail: Phoenix, Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles

Modern streetcar

Operated on a shorter circuit than light rail, modern streetcars typically transport passengers within a contained, 5- to 10-mile area â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for instance, up and down Maryland Parkway. The cars are powered by overhead lines or an underground electrified third rail but typically donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have their own right of way, instead sharing the flow of traffic with vehicles and picking up passengers at sidewalk stops that resemble bus stops. Streetcars travel more slowly than light rail and typically run as single cars or shorter trains. Cities with modern streetcars: Dallas, Tuscon, Portland, Atlanta

B u s ra pid transit

Bus rapid transit is a faster, streamlined bus system timed to serve specific high-traffic routes. Buses make fewer stops, are given priority at traffic signals and drive in dedicated lanes, all to speed travel time. Cities with bus rapid transit: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Boston

Monora il

The Las Vegas Monorail is an intra-Strip transportation system that runs on its own elevated track. Monorails typically arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t used for mass transit in major metropolitan areas. The RTC has proposed extending the existing Monorail to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and adding a stop at the Sands Expo Convention Center to make the monorail the easiest way of traveling the Strip for conventioneers. Cities with monorail: Las Vegas, Jacksonville, Seattle So why build light rail when the Strip already has the monorail? Light rail would serve a different purpose than the Monorail. Whereas the Monorail links Strip properties together, light rail would stretch beyond the Strip, south to the airport, north to downtown Las Vegas and possibly into North Las Vegas as well.

special issue

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

can’t find time to exercise? try an active commute The benefits of leading an active lifestyle are innumerable. From decreased rates of obesity and serious disease to increased rates of psychological health, regular exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your body. But finding time for the recommended 20 to 30 minutes daily is difficult for many people. ¶ If setting aside a designated time to work out isn’t possible, repurposing time in your schedule can be a great way to sneak in exercise. ¶ Enter: the active commute. Instead of driving to work, incorporating a physically active mode of transportation can help establish exercise as a core component in your daily routine. ¶ Be patient Pierre Létourneau, a physical therapist at Southern Létourneau stressed Hills Hospital and Medical Center, rides his bicycle the importance of building your commute gradually to work daily and shared his tips for how to have a and taking your time. “Don’t safe and healthy active commute. try to accomplish too much, What is active commuting? The term describes any physically active means of commuting, such as walking, biking or taking public transportation. While riding public transportation isn’t active in itself, the process of traveling to and from stops, and between transfer points, accounts for physical activity.

Health benefits of active commuting Health benefits that can result from a consistent increase in physical activity include lower obesity rates, lower disease rates (such as for cancer, diabetes and heart disease), higher energy levels and longer life expectancy. Beyond being a convenient way to get in a workout, there are other notable benefits of active commuting. The World Health Organization reports that the potential health benefits of walking, biking or taking public transportation to work include reduced respiratory and cardiovascular disease from air pollution, reduced risk of traffic injury and reduced noise stress. Furthermore, a British study published in 2014 by Preventative Medicine found a correlation between active commuting and an increase in a person’s psychological well-being and overall happiness. Létourneau supports the claim. “My bike ride to work allows me to arrive awake, alert and ready to go. ... Biking home allows me to clear my head from work issues. It’s good for stress relief,” he said. The study also reported that well-being increased with travel time for walkers but decreased for drivers, so even if an active commute takes longer, the health benefits continue to accumulate.

too soon,” he said. “Set challenging but reasonable goals and be proud of yourself when you reach your goals.”

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Active commuting in Las Vegas Walking and biking are among the best, and often most practical, methods of active commuting. But because Las Vegas is so spread out, a quick walk to work may not be possible for many of us. While longer commutes may require more consideration, they can still be turned into an active practice. “Walking is a healthy alternative for people who live close enough to their jobs,” Létourneau said. If you live less than 3 miles from your job, walking may be an option. Biking is an excellent mode of transportation for people who live a bit farther, say 3 miles to 12 miles from work, but still are able to take surface streets. For people who must make a cross-town trek, incorporating public transportation can make an active commute possible. The physically active time spent walking or riding to a bus stop, then walking or riding to your destination, will add up.

What if active commuting isn’t for you? There are plenty of other ways to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine and even into your workday. You can walk to your lunch destination, take a brisk lap around the block during a break or do light, muscle-strengthening exercises at your desk.

Have fun “Start by doing something you enjoy or used to enjoy at a younger age,” Létourneau said. If walking or biking doesn’t sound appealing, why not dust off an old skateboard or scooter? It’s your time, and you should enjoy it.

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Other tips for active commuting Plan your route Be sure you’ve chosen a route that has sidewalks and/or bike lanes and convenient crosswalks, and is well lit at night. Time it Do a couple of practice runs on a weekend to be sure you won’t be late come Monday morning, then give yourself an extra five minutes to 10 minutes, just to be safe. Dress appropriately Walking shoes, backpacks or messenger bags, and even a quick change of clothes for once you get to the office, may be necessary. Létourneau recommends light layers for colder months and long-sleeve shirts, sunblock and plenty of water during the summer. Be seen easily Whether you’re biking or walking, be sure to wear bright or lightcolored clothing and reflectors at night or in inclement weather. Bicycles should have both front and rear lights.

www.SunriseHealthInfo.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 • 7:30PM The Symphonic Rockshow is returning to The Smith Center with a powerful tribute to British Rock. It’s the biggest hits from The Who, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Pink Floyd and more performed live by a 21-piece orchestra led by Lon Bronson, and fronted by vocalist Brody Dolyniuk and state of the art visuals.

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361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89106 | 702.749.2000 | TTY: 800.326.6868 or dial 711

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SPECIAL ISSUE

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE

A look into the future: Residents of downtown Las Vegas ride their bikes to the closest light rail station. They dismount, pick up their bikes and store them on the train. There no longer is a need for a car. Getting around town becomes lively — sometimes too lively when the train picks up late-night partiers on the Strip. Co-workers and friends run into each other. Strangers stop for conversations. Light rail connects parts of the city that never before were linked. ¶ Tourists take light rail to the Strip. A UNLV student takes the train from campus to North Las Vegas for a class project. A resident commutes to his job at Town Square. ¶ There is less traffic in the core area of the valley — around the Strip and McCarran International Airport. Mobility is vastly improved. — Daniel Rothberg

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

SPECIAL ISSUE

VIBE Portland has the Pearl District, and Austin has 6th Street. Millennials crowd these areas for their vibe — the hipster bars, chic coffee shops and intimate music venues. Las Vegas has many of the same amenities, but they largely are unconnected. Some are downtown. Some are in the Arts District. Some are on the Strip. So spread out are they that visitors often are surprised so many options exist. A light rail system could connect them and allow visitors and residents more mobility. It’s easy to get trapped in the valley. Visitors don’t have to leave the Strip, let alone their hotel. Residents don’t have to leave their neighborhoods. Light rail would give people more options to move. Visitors seeking out neighborhood bars and coffee shops could take a train downtown, while locals could access the Strip without weaving through congestion and crowds.

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Q U A L I T Y ENVIRONMENT H O U S I N G OF LIFE Las Vegas is ruled by cars. Most people here drive to work, and many find themselves grinding their teeth through traffic. A light rail system could cut down on the miles people drive and the time they spend in their cars. A well-planned transit system could eliminate the frustration of having to navigate some of the city’s densest areas. Moreover, in vehicles, people have little opportunity to interact with others, except perhaps to express their frustration with another driver. Light rail could connect people who otherwise would not interact in a valley that is sprawling and largely stratified into discrete communities. Development of stations also could create clusters and give areas a more discernible identity.

Working in tandem with taxis, Uber and Lyft, a light rail system could take a significant number of cars off the road, reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. In 2014, drivers in Las Vegas traveled about 25 million miles every day on freeways, according to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Light rail could reduce that number. As municipalities and the state rely more on renewable energy and focus on sustainability, an operable light rail system could further cement and enhance Nevada’s commitment to a green future. Light rail also could encourage healthier habits among residents, such as biking to and from a rail station.

In downtown Las Vegas, there is high-end housing in luxury apartment buildings, such as the Juhl and the Ogden, but a dearth of mid-range housing. Proponents of a light rail system say its development could stimulate the creation of more affordable housing. But because rents tend to rise around light rail lines, it would require a concerted effort by city officials. In neighborhoods that have developed new public transportation, the vast majority — 74 percent — saw rising rent, according to a study from the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University. Cities such as Charlotte, N.C., and Denver combated potential problems of pricing out existing residents by buying land around transit stations to ensure affordable housing. In 2015, Los Angeles’ metro agency embarked on a similar course, evaluating land around its rail stations that can be set aside for affordable housing.

THE IMPACT OF LIGHT RAIL

DENSITY Some of the passengers on your train car are wearing work uniforms and are on their way to the job. Some are in casual clothes, running errands. Their common denominator: They walked from home to the station. Welcome to one of the possibilities of a light rail system — that it could improve mobility and might prompt residents to rely less on their cars and instead move to locations along the line. The result is that density would increase along rail corridors. That scenario isn’t inevitable, mind you. A study of Census data from The Atlantic’s Citylab showed that in five of six cities that adopted light rail in the 1980s, the number of regional workers taking the system decreased over time and the city’s proportion of urbanized area did not increase. But that doesn’t mean light rail wouldn’t help contain sprawl and boost density in Las Vegas. The Citylab study said a light rail system combined with efforts by local stakeholders to encourage development and boost ridership could yield results.

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

T E C H I E S & WORKERS ON M I L L E N N I A L S THE STRIP As head of Downtown Project Ventures, Mark Rowland helps shape and execute the longterm vision of Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s $350 million investment in downtown Las Vegas, entering its fifth year. A large part of that goal is creating a tech hub downtown. To do that, the Downtown Project needs to recruit tech talent, which leaders have struggled to do. With a light rail line that provided service to North Las Vegas, the site of the new Faraday Future car plant, Rowland thinks the area could see an infusion of tech talent.

Light rail could be most beneficial to workers on the Strip, especially those with multiple shifts. Strip casinos employ about 100,000. If workers already live near the corridor, light rail could cut down on Strip traffic. — By Daniel Rothberg

“That’s going to be a huge jolt for the injection of talent to Las Vegas,” he said. Millennials born between 1982 and 2003 tend to be multimodal, switching between types of transportation depending on their needs. A light rail system could give them an additional — and welcome — option. University students, many of whom don’t own cars, also could benefit from light rail, living or socializing in diverse parts of the valley, without needing a vehicle.

STIMULATING GROWTH AND CULTURE In 2013, Las Vegas had 94,000 people arrive at and depart from McCarran International Airport every day. By 2035, that number is expected to rise to 131,000, according to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

By 2035, transportation officials predict 93,010 trips will be made between the airport and the resort corridor on an averge day. On a peak day, that number would rise to 112,000. Only about 0.6 percent of those

travelers would take public transportation given the current system, RTC officials say.

That, coupled with the development of new properties along the Strip, T-Mobile Arena and growing entertainment venues such as Las Vegas Fairgrounds, could make traffic unbearable. Getting to and from events such as CES or a professional boxing match could become virtually impossible. Light rail would increase the options. “It stimulates growth, but what it really does is create the cultural shift to give people more options of how they want to move,” said Tom Skancke, former president and CEO of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

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atransportation local’sintake: las vegas By Ray Brewer | Staff writer

here was nothing better as a kid than watching movies at Red Rock Theater. Not the modern cinema at Red Rock Resort, rather Red Rock Theater, on Charleston Boulevard near Decatur Boulevard, one of the original theaters in Las Vegas and the place where most of us local children begged our parents to take us in the 1970s and ’80s. ¶ The drive there from my family’s house, north on Boulder Highway to Charleston, then west to Decatur, seemed to take forever. Part of the wait was the anticipation of watching a new film. Most of the wait was the travel. ¶ Getting across town three decades ago involved taking one of four streets: Charleston, Sahara Avenue, Flamingo Road or Tropicana Avenue. No matter where you were going or coming from, you were halfway there when you passed Las Vegas Boulevard. It was a bonus if the ride was at night so you could see the casino lights. Much has changed since then. Now, we attend movies mostly at casinos, the valley’s population has exploded to more than 2 million, and, of course, there are multiple ways to travel across town. If all goes well, future generations won’t need a car to go to the movies or travel from one part of the valley to the next. A proposed light rail system, similar to those in other major metropolises, is in the works and is desperately needed. Imagine planning an outing on the Strip or downtown without having to worry about traffic. While most people likely still would have a short drive to the rail station, the days of impatiently jockeying with tourist-drivers or battling frustration over freeway traffic would be minimized. Same for the feeling of

constantly navigating through construction zones. Just like in the early 1980s when transportation officials expanded U.S. Highway 95 to include exits on Flamingo and Tropicana in the east part of town where I was raised, a light rail system would enhance flexibility for residents and offer them a more enjoyable lifestyle. When U.S. 95 was under construction, some people opposed the expansion because it forced a block of homes in our development to be torn down. Many of our neighbors feared the sound of cars traveling at high speeds would keep them awake at night. It didn’t. Sometimes, as we learned, there are small sacrifices to be made in a city’s development.

That freeway made trips across town to Meadows Mall or other staples on the west side part of our lives. It shortened bus rides to high school sporting events. Before the freeway addition, Basic High School in Henderson felt like it was in another state. Eventually, the Citizen Area Transit bus system launched as the valley’s population continued to spike and merit more services. That gave teenagers the freedom to get to the Strip to visit the Forum Shops or the arcade at Circus Circus. For those without cars, it was a simpler way to get to work. Light rail is the next step in the progression. It, like past advancements, would take our city to another level. Our home is the best city in the world. It’s time that city had this resource.

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TOURISM

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

AND

BUSINESS A look into the future: You just landed in Las Vegas for the latest installment of the global CES technology convention. After deboarding your plane, you skip the taxi line and passenger pickup and instead make your way to McCarran International Airport’s public transit center, where you buy a ticket for the region’s light rail line. Minutes later, you’re whizzing through the airport area, toward the bright lights of the Strip. You’ve chosen a window seat so you can take in the view. ¶ As the train passes Mandalay Bay, the Tropicana and other big resorts, you note how Las Vegas Boulevard has evolved. It’s far more pedestrian-friendly than you remember. ¶ While at CES over the next few days, you rarely need to take a taxi. Light rail connects your hotel to the convention centers, as well as restaurants and nightly enterainment. ¶ One night, you venture downtown. You hop on the light rail line, and you’re at Fremont Street before you know it; getting back to your hotel is just as easy. You notice that downtown and the north Strip also have been built out. The area is bustling, and pedestrians are everywhere. You make a mental note to come back. — J.D. Morris

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

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THE STRIP

CONVENTIONS

The number of annual visitors to Las Vegas passed the 42 million mark for the first time last year, on the heels of 2014’s record-breaking 41.1 million visitors. Hotel room occupancy on the Strip, meanwhile, was 90 percent through November, up from the previous year.

Convention customers are a key component to the health of the Las Vegas tourism industry. They fill hotel rooms, gamble, drink, dine, shop and go to shows during the week, when leisure travelers are less likely to take a vacation.

How much more volume can the Strip handle before it can’t move visitors around effectively? What about a local population of 2.5 million or more? Local tourism and transportation leaders are having a serious discussion about the need to make major infrastructure changes to stave off a traffic armageddon. Light rail can be the solution.

Local leaders have made it a priority to keep Las Vegas at the forefront of attracting convention business. That’s why the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority bought the Riviera last year for $182.5 million, with plans to raze the building and use it for more convention space. It’s part of an effort both to accommodate more convention customers and to prevent other cities from poaching business.

“It’s really hard to even start a conversation about how you move people in the numbers we’re talking about without immediately having a light rail or a mass-transit conversation,” said Tina Quigley, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission. Light rail could move more visitors much faster than expanded roads could. “At some point, you have as many cars on a road as you can physically handle,” Applied Analysis principal analyst Jeremy Aguero said. Moreover, a light rail line could be an experience for visitors, providing them a way to take in the sights, much like the High Roller observation wheel. Key to making such a project happen, of course, is support from the resort industry. At a recent meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, organized by U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., numerous resort executives were interested in hearing more about a light rail project in Charlotte, N.C., where Foxx had served as mayor. And Virginia Valentine, president of the Nevada Resort Association, has said members understand the Strip’s congestion problem and are open to solutions.

But other convention cities have a selling point that Las Vegas doesn’t: fast, high-capacity public transit. Customers who attend a convention in San Francisco, for example, can travel to and from the airport, their hotel and the Moscone Center without ever getting into a car. That can make a big difference. Proposals for a Las Vegas light rail system are in part the product of a process first put in motion more than three years ago by Rossi Ralenkotter, president of the convention authority. He gathered a group of tourism industry stakeholders to start a dialogue about transportation and told them that other places were bragging about their transit. “(Ralenkotter) told us that he’s seeing other destinations start to market themselves as being places that are easy to get around, places that are easy to get from your conventions to the attractions,” the RTC’s Tina Quigley said. “And that is certainly something that we cannot market ourselves on.” Ralenkotter said that being able to get to and around Las Vegas is “critical to the continued success of our tourism industry.”

Other convention cities have a selling point that Las Vegas doesn’t: fast, efficient public transit.

THE IMPACT OF A LIGHT RAIL

NORTH STRIP There’s no doubt about it: The north Strip is in desperate need of an energy boost. For years, the resort corridor’s northernmost end — roughly between Sahara Avenue and Wynn Las Vegas — has been plagued by a lack of development. It’s filled with empty lots and unfinished projects. Aside from Circus Circus and SLS Las Vegas, there’s not much action there. That’s sure to change thanks to a series of planned projects, namely Resorts World Las Vegas on the Stardust site, Alon Las Vegas on the New Frontier site and the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion on the Riviera site. The shuttered Fontainebleau structure on the north Strip also was put up for sale last year. A light rail line would build on that development and help facilitate the flow of customers to the area.

INTERNATIONAL VISITORS Cities around the world have more robust public transportation systems than Las Vegas. Most of the systems connect directly to the airport, even here in the United States — think BART and San Francisco International Airport, and Metro and Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C. If light rail became a reality in Las Vegas, it would give international tourists — and out-of-town visitors in general — something they’re used to finding at other airports around the world. International visitors have accounted for about 20 percent of Las Vegas’ tourists in recent years. “I think a lot of them are surprised that we don’t have a more advanced public transit system connecting the airport to the resorts,” the RTC’s Tina Quigley said. “Certainly, international visitors have a lot of comfort and experience in using light rail systems.”

County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said light rail “absolutely” would help commercial development on the north Strip. Her district includes the area, and she’s a big supporter of light rail both on the Strip and on Maryland Parkway. “It’s what transit brings,” Giunchigliani said. “It’s an economic driver.” A light rail line also could encourage new development and shape future projects. For instance, as workers would be able to take public transit and visitors could move around the Strip more quickly, future developments may need to offer less parking, said Jeremy Aguero of Applied Analysis.

SOLVING TRAFFIC PROBLEMS McCarran International Airport historically has been able to accommodate a growing number of passengers. The dilemma is not so much about how many people can use the airport; it’s about what their journey is like once they step off the plane. Airport officials are expected to report soon that they handled more than 45 million fliers in 2015, the most in years. And while the facility is well-positioned to handle even more people in the future, community leaders thinking about future growth run into

the same concern as resort executives: How large can the annual passenger load grow before fliers encounter trouble getting to their hotel rooms? McCarran spokesman Chris Jones said the airport recognizes the need for a solution to prevent overwhelming traffic in the future. “If it gets to the point that you can’t get from the airport to your hotel and your hotel to the airport, then the business starts to constrain itself,” Jones said.

THE SUNDAY

— J.D. Morris

JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

SPECIAL ISSUE

LIGHT RAIL LAS VEGAS Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

A look into the future of business Light rail stations around the valley have become hubs for retail shops and restaurants. Small businesses have moved into the area surrounding the stations. The value of real estate has risen.

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT Construction jobs morph into permanent retail jobs. Rail stations transform into commercial hubs. These are some of the effects proponents say take place with light rail. In Southern Nevada, that could mean more development in areas such as downtown and North Las Vegas. Other cities have seen light rail stimulate business development in underserved areas. With it comes jobs. Take Minneapolis. The city was able to spark development with its Green Line corridor while avoiding gentrification because the city and state governments helped support development of affordable housing.

SMALL BUSINESS In Minneapolis, small businesses started cropping up along the light rail line. A $30 million brewery opened in part because it found a location close to the rail line and close to a bike trail. A facility for seniors expanded and hired 100 workers because demand increased. Similar changes could take place in Las Vegas. Light rail proponents argue that Las Vegas already loses commerce because of a lack of mobility. “It’s costing us billions by not having light rail,” said Tom Skancke, former head of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance. Skancke recalled a recruiting dinner at New York-New York with businesspeople from Europe. After 45 minutes pitching them on why Las Vegas would be a great city for their company, the executives started complaining about the lack of public transportation connecting McCarran International Airport. “Why should I move my company here when my employees in Vienna don’t have cars?” a representative asked, according to Skancke. It’s a question that could be answered if the city had light rail, Skancke said. As has been the case in other cities, light rail also likely would attract small businesses, especially if the stations encouraged the development of housing or shopping. “Anywhere that creates traffic, businesses spring up,” said Len Krick, a business broker in Las Vegas. “That’s fact.”

REAL ESTATE A light rail system stands to boost values throughout the community. Studies show that a rail line generally leads to higher property values and rent. How much of an increase depends on a number of factors, including the frequency of the transit service. And while some research indicates that property values dip before lines become operational, there’s ample evidence pointing to an overall benefit. A recent study of single-family homes in Charlotte, N.C., from 1997 to 2008, for example, found that after a period of mixed effects during construction periods, values rose after completion. And while there have been concerns that gentrification related to higher property values can displace residents, proponents of light rail say it can help improve substandard housing and lead to beautification if routed through underdeveloped areas.

RIDE-SHARING Even in highly developed public transit systems — in New York or Washington, D.C., for example — trains do not always deliver their riders to the exact point they need to be. Sometimes, the commuters need to go farther. That’s where ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft play a role. Both companies already operate in several markets with public transportation, including in cities with light-rail systems. Lyft, for instance, operates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Boston and Dallas, where the startup has a partnership with the area’s public transit agency. Riders of Dallas Area Rapid Transit can access Lyft through a mobile ticketing application and receive $5 off their first 10 Lyft rides. “If we’re going to stay relevant as a transportation provider, we have to offer options so they can make a complete trip, whether it’s for work or fun,” DART director Gary Thomas said. “Lyft is a great way to help them begin or end their trip if they’re not right next to a DART stop or station.” Lyft officials say 33 percent of rides in Boston originate or end near a public transit station. The rate is about 25 percent in Chicago and 20 percent in San Francisco. Given Las Vegas’ sprawl, it’s likely there would be a similar impact here. — Daniel Rothberg

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

special issue

light rail las vegas Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

The impact

on north las vegas By Megan Messerly | Staff writer

orth Las Vegas could become the “breadbasket” of the valley, the city’s mayor has said. ¶ The city took a step toward that future in 2015 when Faraday Future announced plans to build a $1 billion auto manufacturing plant in North Las Vegas’ 18,000-acre Apex Industrial Park, opening the door for further development of the park and broader economic diversification for the entire community. ¶ Would light rail help the city shed its status as a bedroom community and become an economic driver for the entire valley? ¶ At the least, light rail running to North Las Vegas City Hall on Las Vegas Boulevard is likely to spur economic development in that area, said Rob Lang, executive director of Brookings Mountain West, a nonprofit think tank. Rail would cut mainly through commercial zones, like strip malls, instead of residential areas, making it less likely to displace existing residents.

Light rail also would create more of a traditional downtown feel for North Las Vegas with more vertical, mixed-use development including housing and commercial, said UNLV civil engineering professor Hualiang Teng. “Their city hall is right there on Las Vegas Boulevard,” Teng said. “They could naturally build a downtown, and that could connect in the future, if they are planning their industries, to the north.” The Regional Transportation Commission’s current proposal for light rail doesn’t include a route to North Las Vegas. It proposes a line stretching from the airport to downtown Las Vegas with an extension to Cashman Center, putting light rail very close to but not quite inside North Las Vegas city limits. In the mid-2000s, the RTC put forward a 35-mile light rail plan, which would have spanned from Nevada State College in Henderson, up the Strip and up North Fifth Street in North Las Vegas. In an alternatives analysis of the plan, the RTC identified three other options for where

light rail could run in North Las Vegas — a line north on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, northeast following the existing Union Pacific Railroad right of way, or northeast following Las Vegas Boulevard North. With so many options on the table, light rail’s benefits for North Las Vegas are all about which route is chosen, said Assistant City Manager Ryann Juden. “Obviously light rail’s impact on North Las Vegas would depend on where it stops and starts,” he said. So where should the system go? The city has been making a strong push over the past few months to spur development. Bills passed during a special session of the Nevada Legislature in December provide the financial means to make infrastructure improvements at Apex — in the short term, to allow electric car startup Faraday Future to open its factory and, in the long term, to pave the path for further industrial growth. A light rail system connecting Apex with the rest of the valley could add ap-

peal to the site and catalyze further development. But Apex has long faced the chicken-and-egg problem: “You don’t build a train to nowhere,” Juden said. Light rail all the way to Apex would be costly. Lang said light rail “belongs in the valley,” and that workers at Apex may still need cars to commute to their jobs. “We don’t need commuter rail,” Lang said. “Apex is always going to be auto dependent.” Indeed, many North Las Vegas residents probably would have to drive their cars to a park-and-ride lot and then hop on light rail to utilize the system, though some housing likely would spring up around stations on the light rail’s route. If light rail to Apex did happen, it likely would be as a future phase of the project after a core section is built — a line to Apex, a line to Summerlin and a line to Henderson, Teng said. “It’s very difficult for people to give up the auto,” Teng said. “But my personal feeling is as long as you provide a system that is reliable, people will follow.”

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SPECIAL ISSUE

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

DOWNTOWN AND

SPORTS A look into the future: It’s 7 p.m. on the Strip. You and a few co-workers are standing on the sidewalk staring at your phones. You’re all in town a few days for a convention, and now that you have some time off, you decide to explore the city. ¶ As you scroll through reviews of bars and restaurants, you find one downtown that catches your eye. It’s got a good happy hour, and it looks like you can catch the tail end of it if you leave right away. ¶ Your co-worker suggests taking a bus, while another mentions Uber. Then you realize Las Vegas has a light rail line that runs right into the heart of downtown. You walk to the nearest station and, a couple minutes later, a train arrives and whisks you away. After another few minutes, you arrive at Fremont Street and step out under its glittering canopy. — Ian Whitaker

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

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SMITH CENTER & SYMPHONY PARK Downtown is relatively easy to get around by car, but for a pedestrian, it may as well be two islands separated by a vast ocean. A Union Pacific railroad line separates the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and other tenants at Symphony Park from Fremont Street. If you want to walk from Binion’s to the Smith Center, for instance, you must walk almost five blocks to Clark Avenue, which has the only pedestrian bridge to Symphony Park. “There are a lot of good downtown restaurants, and many of them base their staffing levels on whether or not the Smith Center has a show,” said Myron Martin, president of the Smith Center. “But people have to drive there, park, drive to the Smith Center and park again.” Along with its light rail plan, Regional Transportation Commission officials plan to build three pedestrian bridges over the railroad. And while the RTC’s light rail proposal wouldn’t help get locals to the Smith Center straight off the bat, transportation officials say light rail could be relatively easy to expand into residential neighborhoods in the future. “If we can start with what they’re proposing, it can be built upon and expanded,” Martin said. “It’s one of the last items that we as a community need to check off to make this a great city.”

CITY OF LAS VEGAS Light rail long has been a goal of city officials, who see it as a way to connect tourism attractions with existing and proposed economic centers, such as UNLV and the proposed medical district on Charleston Boulevard. To do that, the RTC also is proposing a light rail line down Maryland Parkway, to run from McCarran International Airport to downtown, to link UNLV students and medical professionals moving between the university, Sunrise Hospital and University Medical Center. Officials hope developers will see improved transit as a sign the city is on the rise. Empty lots downtown could be replaced by high-density apartments and retail, drawing more people into living in the neighborhood and making it a more attractive place to visit. “It’s not just important for transit, it’s important for development,” said Bill Arent, director of urban redevelopment for the city of Las Vegas. “You start to see a lot more interest for urban residential and retail, which are two big focuses that we have right now.”

Along with its light rail plan, Regional Transportation Commission officials plan to build three pedestrian bridges over the railroad.

THE IMPACT OF LIGHT RAIL

FREMONT STREET

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

THE ARTS DISTRICT

While the economics of downtown are dwarfed by the Strip, the neighborhood still rakes in about $977 million in gaming, food and drink sales a year. The number of visitors there continues to rise, and proponents say a light rail line would only increase that. “We have very strong ridership on our buses today,” said David Swallow, director of engineering services at the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. “Try to imagine how much quicker that service could be, how much more capacity we would have to move people with light rail.” The main hub of a light rail line downtown would be the Bonneville Transit Hub, which combined with the RTC’s plan for a circulator, would be able to move people to locations all throughout the neighborhood. Visitors could hop on the light rail line, get off and immediately board a circulator trolley, a small streetcar that would connect to major attractions downtown. The proposed line has the streetcar stopping by the Arts District, Smith Center and Fremont Street, down to Maryland Parkway, which includes trendy bars and restaurants away from the main tourist attractions.

RTC and city officials say a light rail will make downtown a more navigable area. While it’s easy to navigate places such as Fremont Street, it’s not easy to get from Fremont Street to the Arts District, which has a thriving scene of galleries, bars and restaurants. The district is a mile away from downtown casinos, and if visitors want to get there, they either must ride a bus or walk past dingy homes and empty lots. “We want to create an environment where people feel comfortable walking around,” Swallow said. “As you have more activity on the street, it feels more vibrant and people feel more comfortable.” — Ian Whitaker

“Light rail would really be a game changer,” said Bill Arent, director of urban redevelopment for the city of Las Vegas. “It gives certainty to developers that there’s going to be high speed rapid transit in the corridor for a long period of time.”

GROWING UP WITH MASS TRANSIT BY SCOTT LUCAS | STAFF WRITER

The middle-aged woman squints at the two college students standing next to her. It’s the day of the LGBT pride march in San Francisco, and we are packed together hurtling west toward the city. The two young women wear plastic beads and rainbow-striped socks, party wear for the parade. The train lurches, and the women bump into each other. They pass wary glares.

“Do you know what the march is about?” the older woman asks the younger ones. They shake their heads no. “Stonewall? Harvey Milk?” No. No. The older woman pauses then smiles. “Well, let me tell you,” she says, jumping into an impromptu seminar on the history of gay rights. Her lesson is informative, it’s personal, and it never would have happened if we were driving cars. Mass transit is a funny thing. When driving, bumping into someone means a crash. On a train, it means a conversation. I should know. Until moving to Las Vegas last year, I never owned a car for more than a few months, instead getting around by train, bus and Uber. Light rail isn’t perfect. It doesn’t always function smoothly. There can be delays, crowding, transit strikes. For the most part, though, to ride the train is to encounter the ordinary transcendence of everyday life. Light rail is like a combination coffee shop,

sports stadium and Tinder app that also gets you to work on time. You can throw spare change to a punk rocker singing Johnny Cash or violinists playing hooky from the symphony, awkwardly dodge a person you broke up with six months ago, debug code on your laptop, furtively work up a buzz from mini bottles of booze, watch excited kids swing from the handholds on the way to a baseball game, gaze on old couples holding hands, spy future couples meeting, eavesdrop on important phone calls while pretending to take a nap or take a nap for real. You’re also likely to miss the train, miss your stop, be jostled, get bumped. But so what? Most of the time, people are awesome, and it is nice to be with them. Even more than change how people commute, a mass transit system in the valley would transform how people interact with one another. There’s no better chance to meet neighbors — or perfect strangers. I’ll be there. Say hi if you see me..

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

special issue

light rail las vegas Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

The first generation of light rail cars was made by Boeing, but they were plagued by problems and most were retired by the 1990s. Today, one of the leading streetcar manufacturers is Italian firm Breda.

Illustration by chris morris

IMPACT OF LIGHT RAIL

THE SUNDAY JAN. 17 - JAN. 23

A look into the future of sports Hockey fans dressed in black and gold chant, “Let’s go, Black Knights, Let’s go, Black Knights,” as the light rail car they’re packed into races toward the Strip. Crowds of tourists and locals file out of the transit station and make the short walk to the T-Mobile Arena for a night of National Hockey League action. There are families catching their first game of the season, community groups celebrating with an outing and tourists who decided last-minute to take in a game. Street vendors line the sidewalks selling nonlicensed merchandise, and ticket scalpers are out in full force. The game doesn’t start until 7 p.m., but the party already has begun. Fans passionate about cheering on the home team strike up conversations about the night’s matchup. They complain about the coaching, argue about the lineup and remain optimistic for a win. All make it to and from the arena quickly and safely.

LAS VEGAS ARENA

HOCKEY

In Chicago, the Red Line train leaves Cubs fans within steps of Wrigley Field. In Washington, D.C., the Metrorail stops a block away from Nationals Park. The rail systems offer more than just an organized way to bring people to the stadiums. The trains are part of the fan experience. Game-day hype starts in the transit cars.

Las Vegas is on the verge of landing an NHL expansion team, the city’s first major league franchise. The team would play at the privately funded, $375 million T-Mobile Arena on the Strip. The general consensus from locals is excitement — with one concern. How will fans navigate arena traffic on game nights? And where will they park?

With the upcoming opening of the T-Mobile Arena behind New York-New York, and other future arena projects at UNLV or Symphony Park a distinct possibility, Las Vegas’ best bet for moving fans to and from events — including UFC fights, hockey games and concerts — is light rail.

Light rail is a necessity for hockey — or any professional sport — to survive here. It would give Las Vegans a painless way to get to and from the arena. Without it, it’s virtually impossible to bring 18,000 people in during rush hour — or any other hour, for that matter.

Fans in other cities already are intimately familiar with commuting on game day. It’s part of their DNA. And it easily can be a part of ours, too.

Most major sports franchises encourage fans to use public transportation, posting travel pointers and information about which exits to take online. They understand the simple formula: If you are stuck in traffic, you don’t enjoy the game-day experience. And if you don’t enjoy the experience, you won’t come back.

RACING

(AND THE LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY)

There’s no easy way to get to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on NASCAR Sundays. Either you wait in traffic on Interstate 15 or Las Vegas Boulevard, or pay to park an RV at the speedway overnight to avoid race-day traffic altogether. Now imagine taking light rail and disembarking hasslefree a few miles from the speedway, then hopping into a shuttle bus, taxi or Lyft car to complete your journey. It’s an organized, safe and costeffective solution. Las Vegas needs to take a page from the playbook of the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., near Los Angeles. The track encourages fans to use the city’s Metrolink to travel to the track, and the ride is free on race days. Thousands of fans use the system.

THE RODEO The National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center sells out most nights, bringing 100,000 people to Las Vegas and pumping millions into the economy. But getting those people from the Strip, where they typically stay and spend their money, a few miles east on Tropicana Avenue to UNLV is easier said than done. Rodeo traffic going in and out of the arena can test anyone’s patience. With a rail system, fans wouldn’t need cars. They simply could leave their hotel rooms, hop on a train and enjoy the ride to the arena. Without having to worry about drinking and driving, and with extra time saved by avoiding traffic, the cowboys could throw back a few extra drinks, stop in a restaurant or take in a show. Light rail also would ease congestion for fans heading to UNLV basketball games. A scenic ride in a train car would be far more cost-effective and relaxing than battling traffic on the I-15 for a 7 p.m. Rebel start. — Ray Brewer

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

special issue

light rail las vegas Send your news information to news@thesunday.com

opinion

we need this W

e have never been shy about envisioning and building our future; the time is now to launch a light rail system befitting Las Vegas. ¶ One of the great things about the valley, the youngest among America’s big metropolitan areas, is that it has never stopped trying to be the best it can. ¶ If a casino no longer could hold its own along the increasingly competitive Strip, it would be demolished and a better one would be built in its place — bigger, sexier and more productive. When downtown’s Fremont Street lost its luster, it was reinvented as a pedestrian promenade covered by a huge, digitized canopy. ¶ To bring even more people to town to do business, and recognizing that conventiongoers are a huge segment of our tourism market, meeting and exhibition facilities were expanded, securing our title as the most accommodating convention city in the country. When gambling was losing favor among younger visitors, casino bosses gave up gambling space in favor of night clubs, ultra lounges and other swanky spaces where a new generation of Vegas visitors could hang out, and fine dining, shopping and entertainment reached new heights of sophistication. To give UNLV greater credibility, the region lobbied hard for the Legislature to fund a medical school to help address our shortage of physicians. When McCarran International Airport — the seventh-busiest in the country in terms of takeoffs and landings — got crowded, a new terminal was added. Because of concerns that Las Vegas lacked a dedicated venue for fine arts, philanthropists funded the construction of the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Space for outdoor music festivals was identified and, to accommodate more concerts and sports, MGM Resorts International built an arena. Las Vegas always has moved forward in ways that improved the quality of life for residents and burnished our attractiveness to visitors. And now it’s time to tackle a problem that long has irritated us and for which there seems to be a virtually painless solution. We’re talking about how to relieve traffic congestion along the Strip with a street-level light rail system. It would do more than just be a carrier of people; it would itself become part of the Strip experience. For a nominal fare, or possibly even for free, passengers could get on and off and back on the next set of cars, be comfortably seated, camera in hand, while soaking in the Strip’s signature sights without worrying about rear-ending a car or dodging a vehicle changing lanes. This light rail system would take visitors deplaning at McCarran to their hotels, move

visitors from one resort to another (tourists on average visit six resorts during their stay) and allow locals to park their cars at large lots near Town Square and hop aboard the train to have a day or evening of fun. They wouldn’t have to worry, for instance, about where to park if going to an event at the T-Mobile Arena. And, of course, the transit system could be used to get to work. This system would take riders not just to the downtown area, with connections to the Arts District and the Smith Center, but would extend to Cashman Center and, ideally, to North Las Vegas. It would connect entertainment districts, encourage visitors to explore more of the city and broadly expand the number of customers who visit stores and restaurants along Las Vegas Boulevard. Paying for the system could be accomplished in various ways, including tapping room tax revenue and proceeds from the sale of surplus federal BLM land. In any event, a goal is for locals to feel little if any financial impact. There is little doubt that such a system would be accepted wildly by visitors and locals alike. Cities across the United States that have built light rail transit systems say their ridership estimates were reached much sooner than expected, and businesses along the route say they became busier than ever with customers who previously hadn’t ventured onto their block. If we don’t move forward and improve our

transportation system, we risk becoming a victim of our own success, with families and entire conventions grousing about our increasing congestion and lack of modern, urban transit, the kind seen in Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and the list goes on. It’s time for us to get on board as well. Indeed, the Regional Transportation Commission has begun the dialog for light rail transit, and we support its goals. This is the time to embrace that plan — and to boldly build upon it. We are at the start of an idea that needs to be adopted and emboldened to reach rich payoffs at the end. With creative funding will come tantalizing results: A light rail system more experiential, fulfilling and rider-friendly than any in the nation. No, we’ve never stopped trying to be the best we can. We’re not a city that loses momentum by stopping to reflect on all that we’ve done; we look ahead at what still needs to be done. That opportunity now is staring us in the face. It’s the right time, for the right reasons, with the right ways to pay for it, for us to not just embrace the proposal by the Regional Transportation Commission but to enrich it. There is too much at stake for us to hesitate and question. Las Vegas has never disappointed. We are a community built on keen vision and expert execution. We can and we must develop a light rail system, not just to remain the great city we are but to build on that success — for our visitors, our businesses and ourselves.

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the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

life

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Content Created and presented By Southern Wine & Spirits

Spanish Inquisition

CALENDAR OF EVENTS sunday, January 17 Dr. King Peace Week Celebration: Celebrate the life, legacy and contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. Events include a performance by the Trinity Dance Academy. 2 p.m., free, Doolittle Senior Center, 1930 N. J. St., 702-229-6125. Distracted Driving and Accident Prevention Community Safety Forum: Metro Police officers will discuss distracted driving and how crashes can be prevented. People who attend the safety forum will receive free admission to the Mob Museum after the program. 2-3 p.m., free, Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave., themobmuseum.org.

Tuesday, January 19 Ward 2 Walkers: Join Las Vegas Councilman Bob Beers for exercise and conversation. 8 a.m., free, Hualapai Trailhead Park, just north of Alta Drive on Hualapai Way, 702-229-2144. *Also: Every Tuesday and Thursday Ingredients 2 oz Torres 10 Gran Reserva Spanish brandy 1/2 oz Fernet Vittone Menta 1/2 oz Yellow Chartreuse Dried fig for garnish

Method

Combine the ingredients in a mixing glass and stir with ice. Strain into a Nick and Nora cocktail glass and garnish with a dried fig.

In just three ounces, this rich, nectar-like cocktail packs a flavorful punch — smooth and warm from the brandy, with notes of cinnamon and vanilla; herbal, minty and distinctive from the Fernet; and sweetly aromatic, with notes of honey from the Chartreuse. While it may fall under the digestif category, a drink like this can be enjoyed anytime. Cocktail created by Francesco Lafranconi, Executive Director of Mixology and Spirits Education at Southern Wine & Spirits.

Cleveland Museum of Art series: Compare Japanese and Western works during a videoconferencing session. 11 a.m.-noon, free, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Ave., 702-483-6055. Whitey Bulger and the Boston Mob: Author Phyllis Karas will discuss her encounters with Whitey Bulger’s former right-hand man, Kevin Weeks, and other Winter Hill Gang members, and update the status of Boston’s organized crime scene today. 7 p.m., free, Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-507-3458.

Wednesday, January 20 Senior Safety: Learn how to increase your situational awareness and how to avoid confrontation. Advance registration required. 9 a.m., free with Las Vegas Active Adult/Senior Programs membership, Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive, 702-229-1702. Being Prepared to Enroll in a Research Study: Learn how to prepare for enrollment in a research study, including how research differs from clinical treatment, the consent process and participants’

A hot air balloon festival will launch Saturday from the Casablanca resort in Mesquite. (steve marcus/staff file)

role in the research process. Noon-1 p.m., free, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 W. Bonneville Ave., 702-4836055.

Thursday, January 21 Self-defense workshop: Learn the basics of self-defense. For ages 50 and older. 12:30 p.m., free, Derfelt Senior Center in Lorenzi Park, 3343 W. Washington Ave., 702-229-6601. Neighborhood health series: Learn the “ABC’s of Medicare,” including information about supplemental health insurance and prescription Part D drug plans. 4:30-6 p.m., free, Roseman University of Health Sciences, 11 Sunset Way, 702-802-2872. *Also: Every third Thursday of the month “Latino Americans” screening: Watch the award-winning PBS documentary, then take part in a scholarly discussion about Latino American settlement and history with UNLV adjunct art history instructor Emmanuel Ortega Rodriguez. 5-7:30 p.m., free, UNLV, Barrick Museum, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, nlvld.org. Neighborhood crime meeting: Assemblywoman Victoria Seaman and Las Vegas City Councilmen Stavros Anthony and Bob Beers will discuss neighborhood crime problems and prevention. Representatives from the state Attorney General’s office and Metro Police also are expected to attend. 6-7 p.m., free, Durango Hills YMCA,

3521 N. Durango Drive, victoriaseaman.com. An Evening with Kim MacQuarrie: Adventures in South America: Explorer and author Kim MacQuarrie will discuss his travels, his adventures with preserved Inca mummies and Amazonian tribes, and the exploits of Che Guevara, Pablo Escobar and others. A book signing and reception will follow. 7 p.m., free, Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-5073459. Sammy’s Social Club: Enjoy a four-course meal and cocktails. 7 p.m., $50, Sammy’s Restaurant and Bar Green Valley, 1501 N. Green Valley Parkway, 702-564-7007. “Shen Yun”: More than 20 Chinese stories will be told through music and dance, with performances by 60 dancers and a 40-piece orchestra. 7:30 p.m., $60-$300, Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Ave., shenyun.com. *Also: 8 p.m. Jan. 22; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23; 1 p.m. Jan. 24

Friday, January 22 Tree care: Best practices seminar: Learn best practices for tree care in an urban environment. Registration required. 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $25 in advance, $30 at the door, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road, 702-257-5536. *Also: The seminar will be conducted in Spanish on Jan. 29.

LIFE An Evening of Russian Folk Music, Dance and Stories: Moscow Nights, a three-musician ensemble, will perform with the Golden Gates. 7 p.m., free, Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, 702-5073459. Chili cook-off luncheon: Make a batch of chili for 8 to 10 people to enter the chili cook-off. Lunch includes salad, drinks, dessert and chili. For ages 50 and older. 11:30 a.m., free for cook-off entrants, $6 for lunch, Lieburn Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Ave., 702-229-1600. Couples in the Kitchen workshop: Learn how to prepare a four-course meal, including Spanish tapas, French salads, Italian risottos and Portuguese desserts. Registration required. 6:30-9:30 p.m, $160.20 per couple for Springs Preserve members, $178 per couple for nonmembers, Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., springspreserve.org.

Saturday, January 23 Hot Air Balloon Festival: Brilliant displays of colored hot air balloons will fill the Mesquite skies. Get an up-close view of the balloons and talk with the pilots. 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m., free, Casablanca, 950 W. Mesquite Blvd., Mesquite, casablancaresort.com. *Also: Jan.24 Garden series class: Receive

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

hands-on experience assessing, visualizing, designing, planting, caring for and maintaining a garden in this eight-week course. 8-11 a.m., $300 for the series or $37.50 for a single class, Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., springspreserve. org. *Also: Every Saturday through March 12 Healthy cooking workshop: Learn from a chef, athlete and physiologist how to use nutrition fundamentals to turn classic dishes into healthy meals. Demonstrations and tastings include French toast, candied nuts, parfait, roasted vegetables, grains, stocks and cookies. Reservations required. 9-11 a.m., $35.10 for Springs Preserve members, $39 for nonmembers, Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., springspreserve. org. Star Wars Day at the Museum: Learn about Star Wars mythology, make alien masks and duel with lightsabers. Visitors are encouraged to dress as their favorite Star Wars character. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $14.50 (general admission to the museum), Discovery Children’s Museum, 360 Promenade Place, discoverkidslv. org. The Sound Collage: Four performers bring a unique sound to classic and modern songs using only their voices. 4 p.m., free, Windmill Library, 7060 W. Windmill Lane, 702-507-6036.

AnSWers to puzzles on Page 66 KEN KEN

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celebrity cipher “Take a chance. Take a risk. Find that passion and rekindle it. Fall in love all over again. It’s really worth it.” — Bryan Cranston

Free kids entrée from kids menu with purchase of adult entrée. Ask your server for details about additional Kids Eat Free nights. Restrictions may apply. © 2015 DFO, LLC. At participating restaurants for a limited time only. Offer not valid for the Las Vegas Strip locations. Selection and prices may vary. *See server for details.

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LOOKING FOR A NEW BEST FRIEND?

life

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

The Animal Foundation and the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are shelters dedicated to finding homes for dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles and more. Each week, we feature a selection of animals available for adoption.

Big Boy (A877322)

Macy (A876131)

Lulu

Rover

Age: 6-year-old neutered male Breed: Domestic shorthair Description: Big Boy is outgoing and has plenty of energy and spunk. Adoption fee: $25

Age: 3-year-old spayed female Breed: Pit bull terrier Description: Macy is friendly and loves playtime and belly rubs. She needs some training but will be happy to learn. Adoption fee: $25

Age: 4-year-old spayed female Breed: Agouti bunny Description: Lulu’s physical and emotional recovery has been remarkable. Found in poor, neglected condition, she has since thrived with loving care and fresh daily salads. Adoption fee: $25

Age: 5-year-old neutered male Breed: Heinz 57 Description: Rover delights in crawling into your lap. A kind touch and nice words are important to him because he is mostly blind. He loves people, cats and dogs. Adoption fee: $40

Scottie (A876667)

Luna (A877933)

Leonard

Ozzy

Age: 1-year-old neutered male Breed: Chihuahua Description: Little Scottie has a big personality. Pick him up, and he will give you lots of doggy kisses. Adoption fee: $155

Age: 7-year-old spayed female Breed: Domestic mediumhair Description: Luna may play hard to get at first, but once she warms up, she is friendly and affectionate. Adoption fee: $25

Age: 1-year-old neutered male Breed: Tuxedo shorthair, declawed by previous owner Description: Leonard kisses your wrist and hand as you pet him. He adores kind people and gets along well with cats. Adoption fee: $20

Age: 6-year-old neutered male Breed: Chihuahua Description: Ozzy relishes playing fetch and understands the phrase “Go get your toy!” He is housetrained and good with other dogs. Adoption fee: $40

Freedom (A877311)

Spotty (A876690)

Patrick

Angus

Age: 10-year-old neutered male Breed: Domestic shorthair Description: Freedom is smart and laid-back. He loves to relax, and hopes he’ll have someone to curl up with soon. Adoption fee: $25

Age: 3-year-old neutered male Breed: Chihuahua Description: Spotty is outgoing and social, and he loves to play with toys and curl up in a soft blanket. Adoption fee: $155

Age: 3-year-old neutered male Breed: Shorthair tabby Description: Patrick is happiest resting on your lap. He likes gentle cats and dogs, and has adjusted well to life with one eye. Adoption fee: $40

Age: 10-year-old neutered male Breed: Heinz 57 with Dutch shepherd and retriever Description: Tell Angus it’s time to go for a walk, and he beams with enthusiasm. He loves leaning on you when he sits at your side. Adoption fee: $30

Animal foundation 702-384-3333 x131 | animalfoundation.com/adopt Animals are assigned a color next to their names indicating location: 655 N. Mojave Road, Las Vegas 286 W. Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson

Nevada SPCA 4800 W. Dewey Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-873-SPCA | www.nevadaspca.org

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

Gaming

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CASINO PROMOTIONS SLS

Double Your Luck drawings Date: Saturdays and Sundays Time: 7 p.m. Information: Fifteen names will be selected at each drawing. Earn 50 slot points, 100 video poker points or have an average bet of $5 for 30 minutes on a table game to earn one drawing entry. The top prize is $5,000. Players can earn double their entries every Monday and Tuesday. $25,000 Ring in the New Year slot tournament Date: Fridays Time: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Information: Loyalty card members can win up to $2,000 in free play. Play all five Fridays for entry into a bonus tournament Feb. 4, with a grand prize of $2,500 in free play. Point multipliers Date: Jan. 18 and 28 Information: Earn 3x points on video poker and 10x points on slot machines. Gift giveaway Date: Thursday Information: Mail recipients and players who earn 250 slot points or 500 video poker points can receive a gift.

PALMS

$50,000 Lucky 7 drawings Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 7:15 p.m. Information: Earn 2x entries 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Ten winners will be selected each week, with a maximum prize of $3,000. Play for Prizes-Warehouse Blitz Date: Jan. 18-29 Information: Redeem points for McDonald’s or Costco gift cards. Gift days Date: Saturdays and Sundays Information: Earn 100 base points on video slots or 500 base points on video poker. Swipe your card at any promotional kiosk. Jan. 17 – milk bottles; Jan. 23 – mason jars; Jan. 24 – flatware set; Jan. 30 – floor mat; Jan. 31 – flashlight set. Point multiplier Date: Jan. 20 Information: Swipe your loyalty card at a kiosk and receive a multiplier of up to 15x points.

HARD ROCK HOTEL New Year’s resolution fitness giveaway Date: Mondays

Information: Earn 250 base slot points or a $25 table theoretical and receive fitness equipment. Different gifts will be available each week. Palooza point multiplier Date: Tuesdays Information: Receive 10x points on slots and 5x points on video poker Carnival of Cruises giveaway Date: Jan. 29 Information: Sixteen people will win a 14-day cruise for two to the Caribbean, Mexico, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada or Europe. Receive 10 entries for signing up for a loyalty card. Receive one entry for 200 base slot points or a $10 table theoretical. Swipe your loyalty card at a kiosk for additional entries. Receive 10x entries on Jan. 22.

SILVERTON

Senior Mondays Date: Mondays Time: Drawings at 4 p.m. Information: Random names will be drawn for a chance to win cash and free play. Players 50 and older will receive dining discounts. January drawing Date: Jan. 30 Times: 7 and 9 p.m. Information: Ten winners will win up to $5,000 at the 7 p.m. drawing and up to $2,500 at the 9 p.m. drawing. Earn 200 points to participate. Earn 10x entries on Saturdays. Earn & Win jackets Date: Sundays-Tuesdays Time: 2 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Information: Earn 2,500 points to receive a double-layer jacket. Earn & Win faux mink blanket Date: Jan. 20 and 27 Time: 2 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Information: Earn 1,000 points to receive a blanket. Mystery multiplier Date: Tuesday Information: Swipe your loyalty card at a kiosk to receive up to 10x points on slot machines.

guaranteed points and for the chance to find a pharaoh and move up the pyramid. Players who make their way to the top of the pyramid win 1 million points. Guests must earn 5 points to play the kiosk game. Room of Riches cash drawings Date: Through Jan. 31 Time: Drawings at 6:15 p.m. Information: Players can earn 10 free drawing entries every day for a chance to participate in the Jan. 31 drawings. Win up to $10,000. Earn 5x entries on Wednesdays. Each property will have 10 drawing winners. The top two slot and the top two video poker basepoint earners from each property through Jan. 30 will win an additional spot in the drawing. Gift day Date: Jan. 18 Time: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Information: Earn 500 base points to receive a fleece jacket.

GREEN VALLEY RANCH

$90,000 Jump Into a Jeep giveaway Date: Thursdays Time: 6:15 p.m. Information: Win a 2016 Jeep Renegade every Thursday. Earn 2x entries on Mondays and Tuesdays.

SANTA FE STATION

$90,000 Key to Luxury car giveaway Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 8:15 p.m. Information: Win up to $1,000 or a key for the Lexus car giveaway. The grandprize drawing will be Jan. 30. Earn 5x entries from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The top two slot and top two video poker base point earners, as well table games players with the top two scores, also will qualify for a spot in the giveaway. Point multiplier Date: Thursdays Information: Earn 10x points on slots and 6x points on video poker.

BOULDER AND Texas STATIONs

Monthly 60,000 point drawing. Smith Center Sundays Date: January Information: Earn 500 points playing slots and receive two tickets to a performance in January at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Mystery Free Play Mondays Date: January Information: Earn five points to participate; win up to $500 in slot play. Midweek point multipliers Date: Tuesdays through Thursdays Information: Receive up to 5x points. $10,000 gift card giveaway Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 7 a.m.-noon Information: Guests can win $100 gift cards. One grand prize winner will win a $500 gift card at midnight. Must be present to win. Earn one entry in the hourly drawing for every 25 base points earned.

EL CORTEZ

Free Play Frenzy Date: January Information: Loyalty card players who win a $200 or higher jackpot on a slot machine, 5-cent or lower video poker machine or live keno will receive free play. Players who win a $300 or more jackpot on a 10-cent or higher video poker machine will receive free play. Saturday Point Fever Date: January Information: Ten Club Cortez members will be selected randomly for a chance to win 100,000 points. Players will receive one virtual drawing ticket for every 200 points earned each day during the week.

ARIZONA CHARLIE’S

$80,000 Snowstorm of Cash Date: Saturdays through Jan. 30 Time: 6:15 and 8:15 p.m. Information: Players who earn 500 base points will receive entries into weekly cash drawings. The top prize is $3,000.

Lucky 8 Ball kiosk game Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 2 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Information: Earn 300 points to play. Win up to $1,000.

Point multiplier Date: Monday Information: Earn 10x points on slots and 6x points on video poker.

Warm Up & Win Giveaway Date: Jan. 19-28 Information: Earn 1,000 base points to participate in the kiosk game. The top prize is $1,000.

STATION CASINOS

DOWNTOWN GRAND

Golden gate and the d

Pharaoh’s Billion-Point Pyramid Date: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Information: Play the kiosk game each weekend. Pick a tile on the pyramid for

Grand Seniors Date: Tuesdays Information: For players 60 and older. Receive 6x points from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Reelin’ Your Way to Mexico Date: Through April 30 Information: Loyalty card members can earn drawing entries playing

We want to hear from you Send your gaming information to gamingguide@thesunday.com

blackjack, keno, slots or video poker. Drawings at the D will be at 8 p.m. Jan. 31 and March 31. Drawings at the Golden Gate will be at 8 p.m. Feb. 29 and April 30. The grand prize is a cruise July 17-21 to Mexico.

M Resort

Two Ticket Touchdown drawing Date: Jan. 23 Information: The grand prize is two tickets to the Super Bowl and a $2,500 Visa gift card. Receive one entry for every natural four-of-a-kind combination hit during a max-bet on any 25-cent or higher bar-top video poker machine at the M Bar, casino bar or 32 Degree Draft Bar.

SOUTH POINT

$400,000 Spin 2 Win Date: Sundays through Wednesdays Information: Earn 500 same-day points on slots or 2,000 same-day points on video poker to spin the wheel, up to four spins. Win up to $100 in slot play. Point multipliers Date: Jan. 18 Information: Earn 5x points on slots; receive 1,000 base points and get $15. Earn 2x points on video poker; receive 1,000 base points and get $6. Jersey giveaway Date: Jan. 24 Information: One poker player will win a professional football team jersey after each game.

SUNCOAST

Spin and win kiosk game Date: Tuesdays Time: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Information: Earn 25 points to play. Win up to 1 million points, dining credits and more. Swipe and win up to 1 million points Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Information: Earn 10 base points to play. The top prizes are 1 million points or $1,000. Saturday cash drawing Date: Jan. 30 Time: 8:15 p.m. Information: Earn 10 base points to participate. Win up to $10,000. $20,000 Bonus Tourney Date: Thursdays Information: Loyalty card members playing select penny slots are eligible to win up to $1,000 in play. Point multipliers Date: January Information: Receive 15x points on penny machines, 11x points on slots

and 7x points on video poker on Jan. 18. Receive 15x points on Buffalo slot games on Sundays. Players 50 and older will receive up to 50x points on Wednesdays. Win up to $2,500 Date: Thursdays Time: 5-9 p.m. Information: For loyalty card members playing table games. If your name is called, everyone at the table wins. Each rated player receives $100. At the craps table, any rated player on the same side of the table from the stickman to the dealer will receive $100.

GOLD COAST

selected every 30 minutes.

Rolling for Dough Date: Fridays Time: Hourly, 2-9:30 p.m. Information: Earn entries through table or slot play. Roll the dice and win 10x the amount.

Swipe and win up to 1 million points Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Information: Earn 10 base points to play. The top prizes are 1 million points or $1,000.

GOLDEN NUGGET

Saturday cash drawing Date: Jan. 30 Time: 6:15 p.m. Information: Earn 10 base points to participate. Win up to $10,000.

Luggage giveaway Date: Jan. 18-20 Information: Receive a set of carry-on luggage for earning 1,500 points on your loyalty card. Duffel bag giveaway Date: Jan. 25-27 Information: Receive a rolling duffel bag for earning 1,500 points on your loyalty card.

Swipe and win up to 1 million points Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Information: Earn 10 base points to play. The top prizes are 1 million points or $1,000.

World Series of Slots Date: Jan. 22-24 Information: First place wins $30,000. With an entry fee of $150, players will compete in a two-day tournament with options for re-buys.

Gift giveaways Date: Tuesdays Time: 2-9 p.m. Information: Earn 300 points to receive a gift. Jan. 19 — hat; Jan. 26 — shoulder bag. Point multiplier Date: Sundays Information: Receive 11x points on penny reels. Martin Luther King Jr. Day point multiplier Date: Jan. 18 Information: Receive 15x points on penny reels, 11x points on reels and 7x points on video poker.

Eldorado

Cash for Play Date: Sunday Information: Get $10 cash for earning 600 base points; valid one time only each Sunday. Cash Grab Date: Jan. 24 Time: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Information: Earn entries via mailed advertisement or by earning 300 base points on Jan. 24. Take it or Trade it Date: Saturdays Time: Hourly, 4:30-10:30 p.m. Information: Cash giveaway. The top prize is $1,000. Earn entries through

jan. 17 - jan. 23

slot or table play.

Kiosk game Date: Mondays Information: Earn 25 points to play. Win up to 1 million points.

Saturday cash drawing Date: Jan. 30 Time: 8:15 p.m. Information: Earn 10 base points to participate. Win up to $10,000.

Gaming

the sunday

ORLEANS

Point multiplier Date: Sundays Information: Earn 11x points on penny reels. Swipe and win up to 1 million points Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Information: Earn 10 base points to play. The top prizes are 1 million points or $1,000. Cash grab Date: Tuesdays Information: Earn 300 base points to win up to $500. Gift days Date: Thursdays Information: Earn 300 base points and receive a gift. Jan. 21 — blanket, Jan. 28 — robe. Martin Luther King Jr. Day point multipliers Date: Jan. 18 Information: Receive 15x points on penny slots, 11x points on other slots and 7x points on video poker.

SAM’S TOWN

Bonus play Date: Mondays and Tuesdays Information: Play slots and earn up to $50 in play that can be redeemed the following day. Hot seat drawings Date: Thursdays Time: 3-7:30 p.m. Information: Three players will be

Earn and Win — polar fleece Date: Through Jan. 31 Information: Earn 12,000 base points to receive a fleece jacket. Maximum of two per loyalty card. Point multipliers Date: Fridays and Sundays Information: Receive 15x points on Buffalo machines, 11x points on slots and 7x points on video poker.

Jokers Wild

Take it or Trade it Date: Saturdays Time: Hourly, 6-10 p.m. Information: Cash giveaway. The top prize is $1,000. Earn entries through slot or table play. Hot Seat Date: Sundays Time: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Information: Players selected at random will win cash. Earn up to $30 in play Date: Sundays Information: Receive $10 in play for every 600 base points; up to $30. Saturday Early Rewards Date: Saturdays Time: Hourly, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Information: Earn entries through table or slot play. The top prize is $100 or $120 in slot play. Rolling for Dough Date: Fridays Time: Hourly, 1-9 p.m. Information: Earn entries through table or slot play. Roll the dice and win 10x the amount.

BOYD GAMING

It’s on the House Date: Fridays and Saturdays Time: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Information: Earn 10 points to play. Prizes include 1 million points, up to $1,000, dining credits and more. Grand prize drawings for a chance to win $10,000 will be Jan. 30 at the Orleans, Suncoast, Gold Coast and Sam’s Town. The drawings will be at 7:15 p.m. at the Orleans; at 8:15 p.m. at Suncoast and Gold Coast; and at 6:15 p.m. at Sam’s Town.

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Calendar of events Wednesday, Jan. 20 Southern Nevada CCIM Chapter luncheon Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Cost: $60 Location: Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas Information: Visit snccim.org Exchange business cards with professionals in the commercial and investment real estate industries and plan for the new year.

State of Economic Development breakfast Time: 7-8:30 a.m. Cost: $50 for early bird registration, $60 on the day of the event Location: Four Seasons, 3960 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas Information: Email veronicat@lvgea.org Steve Hill of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Jonas Peterson of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance will speak about Nevada’s economy and what to expect in 2016.

Thursday, Jan. 21

Saturday, Jan. 23

Clark County Bar Association luncheon Time: Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. Cost: Free Location: Place on 7th, 115 N. Seventh St., Las Vegas Information: Visit clarkcountybar.org Mark Rowland, CEO of DTP Ventures, will speak about changes to downtown Las Vegas. There also will be a welcoming presentation for incoming bar association president Cathy M. Mazzeo.

Women’s Club of Summerlin installation luncheon Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $35 Location: Canyon Gate Country Club, 2001 Canyon Gate Drive, Las Vegas Information: Email sylvia.dechandt@gmail.com Get to know the members of the Women’s Club of Summerlin and welcome new officers for 2016.

NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Southern Nevada Chapter: Forecast 2016 - Finding a Way Back Time: 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Cost: $60 for early registration, free for president’s circle sponsors, $80 for registration without RSVP Location: Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas Information: Visit naiopsouthernevada.wildapricot.org Local experts will give a short-term future market analysis and economic forecast, as well as discuss national commercial real estate trends.

TUESDAY, JAN. 26 BOMA Nevada breakfast meeting Time: Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Cost: $35 for members with advance registration, $40 for nonmembers with advance registration, $45 for members without advance registration, $40 for nonmembers without advance registration Location: Las Vegas Country Club, 3000 Joe W. Brown Drive, Las Vegas Information: Visit bomanevada.org Christopher Hoye of the U.S. Marshals Service will discuss precautions people can take in light of recent terror attacks.

Thursday, Jan. 28 North Las Vegas State of the City Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $45 Location: Texas Station, 2101 Texas Star Lane, North Las Vegas Information: Visit cityofnorthlasvegas.com Mayor John Lee will discuss North Las Vegas’ economic outlook, while Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kristin McMillan will provide a business outlook. Asian Chamber of Commerce luncheon Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers Location: Gold Coast, 4000 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas Information: Visit lvacc.org Rick Arpin of MGM Resorts International will speak about T-Mobile Arena, the AEG/MGM project being built between the Monte Carlo and New York-New York.

Friday, Jan. 29 Preview Las Vegas 2016 Time: 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Cost: $65 for members and trustees, $85 for nonmembers Location: UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas Information: Visit PreviewLasVegas.com Network with almost 2,000 business professionals and learn about key business indicators from experts during the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce’s largest business forecasting and networking event of the year.

Conventions

expected Show Location Dates attendance

Kitchen and Bath Industry Show

Las Vegas Convention Center

Jan. 19-21

33,000

International Builders Show

Las Vegas Convention Center

Jan. 19-21

60,000

Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show

Sands Expo and Convention Center

Jan. 19-22

62,000

Surfaces 2016

Mandalay Bay

Jan. 20-22

25,000

AVN Adult Entertainment Expo

Hard Rock Hotel

Jan. 20-23

25,000

Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show

Las Vegas Convention Center

Jan. 24-26

4,000

Las Vegas Market – Winter

World Market Center

Jan. 24-28

50,000

Bick International - Coin, Currency, Jewelry and Stamp Expo

Las Vegas Convention Center

Jan. 28-30

1,000

Vacuum Dealers Trade Association VDTA 2016 Annual Tradeshow

Las Vegas Convention Center

Jan. 28-30

2,600

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Records and Transactions BANKRUPTCIES CHAPTER 7 RLP-Comstock DR LLC 316 Lingering Lane Henderson, NV 89102 Attorney: RLP-Comstock DR LLC

CHAPTER 11 Elm Uptown Acquisition LLC 4325 Dean Martin Drive, Unit 340 Las Vegas, NV 89103 Attorney: Samuel A. Schwartz at sam@nvfirm.com Mohave Agrarian Group LLC 8912 Spanish Ridge Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89148 Attorney: Brett A. Axelrod at baxelrod@foxrothschild.com

BID OPPORTUNITIES TUESDAY, JAN. 19 3 p.m. ARC for fasteners Clark County, 603815 Chetan Champaneri at chetanc@ clarkcountynv.gov

THURSDAY, JAN. 21 2:15 p.m. Fire Station No. 22: Fuel station installation Clark County, 603931 Ashley Blanco at ashley.blanco@ clarkcountynv.gov 2:15 p.m. Eastern Avenue: Wigwam to Warm Springs, Serene to I-215 and I-215 ramps Clark County, 603879 Ashley Blanco at ashley.blanco@ clarkcountynv.gov 3 p.m. Legal service to obtain permanent guardianships for children in countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s custody Clark County, 603933 Sherry Wimmer at sherryw@ clarkcountynv.gov

FRIDAY, JAN. 22 2:15 p.m. Traffic safety and roadway improvements: Buffalo Drive, Gomer Road to Richmar Avenue Clark County, 603903 Tom Boldt at tboldt@clarkcountynv.gov

BROKERED TRANSACTIONS SALES $2,002,600 for 16,864 square feet, office/industrial 7115 Bermuda Road, Las Vegas 89119 Seller: Silver State Gateway Ltd.

Seller agent: Did not disclose Buyer: McBeath Holdings LLC Series TT Buyer agent: Greg Pancirov and Mike DeLew of Colliers International $1,510,000 for 113 units, motel 704 Nevada Highway, Boulder City 89005 Seller: US Bankruptcy Trustee Seller agent: Charles Connors Buyer: Bal Gosal Buyer agent: Did not disclose $1,147,825 for 6,559 square feet, office 6690 Montecito Parkway, Las Vegas 89149 Seller: 6630 Grand Montecito LLC Seller agent: Stacy Scheer, Grant Traub and Chris Connell of Colliers International Buyer: MTM Investment LLC Buyer agent: Did not disclose $1,400,000 for 91 spaces, mobile home park 1501 Nevada Highway, Boulder City 89005 Seller: US Bankruptcy Trustee Seller agent: Charles Connors of Colliers International Buyer: RPS Homes Buyer agent: Did not disclose $1,000,000 for 1.4 acres, land Southwest corner of Craig and Revere Street, Las Vegas Seller: RREF II - K1 Promenada LLC Seller agent: Lauren Tabeek of Voit Buyer: Upper Image Services Buyer agent: Tony Amato of Avison Young

LEASES $701,400 for 14,028 square feet for 62 months, retail 6525 S. Fort Apache Road, Las Vegas 89148 Landlord: Montery Vista Village Shopping Center Landlord agent: Liz Clare and Jackie Young of Avison Young Tenant: Dollar Tree Stores Tenant agent: Lisa Callahan of Sage Commercial Advisors $272,640 for 3,200 square feet for 63 months, 1 retail, NNN investment 213 N. Stephanie St., Suites H and I, Henderson 89074 Landlord: Roxbury Advisors LLC Landlord agent: Nelson Tressler and Michael Zobrist of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Tenant: Pacific Fitness Inc. Tenant agent: Martin M. Toumaian of Keller Williams Realty $154,800 for 1,600 square feet for 60 months, 1 retail, NNN investment 237 N. Stephanie St., Suite J, Henderson 89074 Landlord: Roxbury Advisors LLC Landlord agent: Nelson Tressler and Michael Zobrist of Newmark

Grubb Knight Frank Tenant: Jin Kuk You Tenant agent: Celine Kim of United Realty Group $82,343 for 1,185 square feet for 60 months, office 2675 S. Jones Blvd., Suite 103, Las Vegas 89146 Landlord: 12KP Family Trust Landlord agent: Soozi Jones Walker and Bobbi Miracle of Commercial Executives Real Estate Services Tenant: Custom Fit Franchise Solutions LLC Tenant agent: Did not disclose

BUSINESS LICENSES

Owner: Ramiro Ruiz Quiroz RJK Asset Management Inc. License type: Business support Address: 10501 W. Gowan Road, Suite 260, Las Vegas 89129 Owner: Robert J. Keyes Jr. Robert John Bartholomew License type: Photography Address: Did not disclose Owner: Robert J. Bartholomew Sam Auctions License type: Auction and auctioneers Address: 7530 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas 89128 Owner: Surplus Asset Management Inc.

Office Works License type: Business support Address: 1717 S. Decatur Blvd., Suite B28, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Elizabeth Donner

Santa Ana Tire License type: Automotive garage Address: 1961 E. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Jose Hernan Soilis

On the Edge Promotions Inc. License type: Professional promoter Address: 2360 Corporate Circle, Suite 400, Las Vegas 89074 Owner: Paul Smith

Save-A-Lot License type: Grocery Address: 6100 Vegas Drive, Las Vegas 89108 Owner: Moran Foods LLC

Pampered by Penne License type: Independent massage therapist Address: Did not disclose Owner: Penelope Lohr

Seda License type: Janitorial service Address: 3701 Bordley Way, North Las Vegas 89030 Owner: Jose Garza

Paper King LLC License type: General services Address: Did not disclose Owner: Mark Giarratana

Sheri A. Ayres License type: Real estate sales Address: 706 S. Eighth St., Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Sheri A. Ayres

Patricia E. Gaither License type: Real estate sales Address: 1820 E. Sahara Ave., Suite 101, Las Vegas 89104 Owner: Patricia E. Gaither Planet Fitness License type: Fitness center Address: 260 E. Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson 89015 Owner: Planet Fitness Pool Masters License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Clarity Services LLC Power Play Sportscards License type: Sales - sports card Address: 1300 W. Sunset Road, Henderson 89014 Owner: Power Play Sportscards Premier Medical Billing Services Inc. License type: Business support Address: 5715 W. Alexander Road, Suite 155, Las Vegas 89130 Owner: Mechelle Patton Professional Tree Service License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose

Smog Be Gone License type: Automotive garage Address: 2401 N. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas 89108 Owner: Alterdo Investments LLC Smoke and Mini Mart License type: Sales - tobacco Address: 2249 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson 89014 Owner: Smoke and Mini Mart Sposato Staffing LLC License type: Employment agency Address: 6455 Dean Martin Drive, Suite E, Las Vegas 89118 Owner: Perlita Iniguez Stephen Newman Authorized Dealer of Snap License type: Sales Address: 127 Sterling Drive, Henderson 89015 Owner: Stephen Newman Authorized Dealer of Snap Steve Arrington Agency License type: Insurance agency Address: 4530 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite D-3, Las Vegas 89110 Owner: William Arrington Stoned N Baked

License type: Food services or cafe Address: 707 Fremont St., Suite 2310, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Tomorrow People LLC Sushi Bar Sage License type: Restaurant Address: 4408 N. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas 89130 Owner: Hazel LLC Telrite Corp. License type: Professional services Address: 4113 Monticello St., Las Vegas 30014 Owner: Kelly Jessel Terramind LLC License type: Hypnotherapy Address: 8987 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas 89147 Owner: Anita Babinszki-Saldana The Genesis of Hair & Beyond License type: Cosmetics Address: 1815 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 2, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: JDW Corp. The Hammer Co. LLC License type: Management or consulting service Address: Did not disclose Owner: Ian Hammer The Lucky Little Chapel Downtown License type: Photography Address: 707 Fremont St., Suite 3330, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Jaxon Enterprises Inc. The UPS Store License type: UPS store franchise Address: 2657 Windmill Parkway and 4616 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 1, Henderson 89074 Owner: The UPS Store Three Rs Trust Co. LLC License type: Trust company Address: 2300 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 800, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Lewis Linn Toro Tax Services License type: Business support Address: 4532 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas 89107 Owner: Maria Galindo Travel Associates License type: Travel or ticket agency Address: 516 Holick Ave., Henderson 89011 Owner: Travel Associates Twenty47Atm Inc. License type: Automated teller operator Address: 3851 Pennwood Ave., Suite 165, and 8251 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Joshua R. Works U Star Mobile Taxes License type: Business support Address: 800 N. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 140, Las Vegas 89107

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Records and Transactions Owner: U Star Communications LLC Ultra Express LLC Shuttle Co. License type: Travel and ticket agency Address: 3001 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite H, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Ultra Express LLC V Squad Productions License type: Professional promoter Address: 5645 Wedgefield St., Las Vegas 89081 Owner: Vegas Squad Productions LLC Vigilante Photography Inc. License type: Photography Address: Did not disclose Owner: James Vigilante Vogl Construction LLC License type: Contractor Address: 35 N. Mojave Road, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Jeffrey Vogl Wafa Abu-Hashish License type: Real estate sales Address: 6628 Sky Pointe Drive, Suite 200, Las Vegas 89131 Owner: Wafa Abu-Hashish LLC Weiliang Ping License type: Reflexologist Address: 9480 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 175, Henderson 89074 Owner: Weiliang Ping Women’s Health Associates of Southern NV License type: Medical office Address: 861 Coronado Center Drive, Suite 131, Henderson 89052 Owner: Women’s Health Associates of Southern NV Zen Me LLC License type: Healing spa Address: 80 N. Pecos Road, Suite A, Henderson 89074 Owner: Zen Me LLC A Travel Desk License type: Travel or ticket agency Address: 89 Day Trade St., Suite 3, Henderson 89074 Owner: A Travel Desk ABC ATM License type: Automated teller operator Address: 2307 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas 89104 Owner: Abcatm LLC Abebe Courier & Delivery License type: Sales/service Address: 3417 Conterra Park Ave., North Las Vegas 89081 Owner: Solomon Bereket AFW Cleaning LLC License type: Janitorial service Address: 4107 W. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas 89030 Owner: AFW Cleaning LLC

AGC Design LLC License type: General retail sales Address: 2620 Regatta Drive, Suite 102, Las Vegas 89128 Owner: Cheryline Phillip Ameripro Home Loans License type: Mortgage lending Address: 1489 W. Warm Springs Road, Suite 110, Henderson 89014 Owner: Ameripro Home Loans

License type: Cosmetics Address: 725 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 240, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Body Spa Inc. Bombshell LV LLC License type: Cosmetics Address: 150 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Suite 140, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Bombshell Enterprises LLC

Anniys Massage Spa License type: Massage establishment Address: 8000 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 140, Las Vegas 89117 Owner: Qinqi Lu

Breakthru Beverage Nevada LLC License type: Interjurisdictional business Address: 1849 Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas 89032 Owner: Breakthru Beverage Nevada LLC

Arias Music Co. License type: Phonograph store Address: 2021 E. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Richard Garcia

Brenda Chavez License type: Real estate sales Address: 7495 W. Azure Drive, Suite 206, Las Vegas 89130 Owner: Brenda Chavez

Artistic Powder Coating and Plasma Cutting License type: Manufacturing, light assembly and fabrication Address: 105 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas 89102 Owner: American Powder Coating and Plasma Cutting LLC

Brush Boutique Salon License type: Cosmetics Address: 1501 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas 89109 Owner: Titojimy LLC

Azteca Services License type: Business support Address: 1705 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas 89104 Owner: Azteca Services Corp. Barspout License type: General retail sales Address: Did not disclose Owner: Barspout LLC Battle Born Landscape Architecture LLC License type: Residential property maintenance Address: 2052 Vegas Valley Drive, Las Vegas 89169 Owner: Kenon Burns BKS Group LLC License type: Rental property Address: 3434 Aristos Ave., North Las Vegas 89030 Owner: BKS Group LLC BKS Vape N Smoke LLC License type: Sales - vapes Address: 5725 Losee Road, North Las Vegas 89081 Owner: BKS Vape N Smoke LLC Black Ecco License type: General retail sales Address: Did not disclose Owner: Black Ecco LLC Bob’s Smoke Shop License type: Sales/service Address: 150 E. Centennial Parkway, North Las Vegas 89084 Owner: Platinum Management Group 3 LLC Body Spa Downtown

BSR Plumbing Inc. License type: Contractor Address: Did not disclose Owner: Andrean Borisov BST LLC License type: Management or consulting service Address: Did not disclose Owner: BST Conference Event Management LLC Camila Wireless License type: General retail sales Address: 4421 E. Bonanza Road, Las Vegas 89110 Owner: Diana Cabrera Casa Blanca License type: Banquet or event establishment Address: 1401 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Daniel Leon Certified Pools & Spas License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Charles Mccally Claymore Development LLC License type: Consulting service Address: 72 John Stuart Mill St., Henderson 89002 Owner: Claymore Development LLC Clearinghouse CDFI License type: Finance company Address: 2300 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 1110, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Clearinghouse Community Development Financial Institute Clinical Research Advantage License type: Clinic Address: 6301 Mountain Vista St.,

Suite 109, Henderson 89014 Owner: Clinical Research Advantage Contreras Landscape License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Gerardo Contreras-Lemus Copper Hills License type: Apartment Address: 981 Whitney Ranch Drive, Henderson 89014 Owner: Copper Hills Cozy Air LLC License type: Contractor Address: 3717 Rose Canyon Drive, North Las Vegas 89030 Owner: Cozy Air LLC Creative Behavioral Connections License type: Professional services Address: 5803 W. Craig Road, Suite 106, Las Vegas 89130 Owner: Creative Behavioral Connections LLC Credit Repair Doctor License type: Business support Address: 3228 N. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas 89130 Owner: Zyzzyx De Etta L. Ewing Architecture Design Planning License type: Professional services Address: 3030 S. Durango Drive, Las Vegas 89117 Owner: De Etta L. Ewing, Architecture Design Planning PLLC DF Desert Inn LLC License type: Sales/service Address: 810 E. Lake Mead Blvd., North Las Vegas 89030 Owner: Neo Nevada Desert Inn LLC DK Juhl LLC License type: Apartment house Address: 353 E. Bonneville Ave., Las Vegas 89101 Owner: DK LV Mezz LLC DK Ogden LLC License type: Apartment house Address: 150 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: DK LV Mezz LLC Dollar Tree License type: General retail sales Address: 3489 E. Owens Ave., Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Dollar Tree Stores Inc. Dusty Ritter Gymnastics LLC License type: Multivendor Address: 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Craig Ritter Elemental Flow Props Ltd. License type: Manufacturing, light assembly and fabrication Address: 9595 Gatesville Ave., Las Vegas 89148 Owner: Cody Phillips-Turner

Erin Brewer License type: Real estate sales Address: 10000 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas 89145 Owner: Erin Brewer Escape Salon & Spa License type: Salon and spa Address: 1450 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite A506, Henderson 89012 Owner: Escape Salon & Spa Evergreen Designer Lawns License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Roger E. Guinn Evergreen Lawn Services License type: Property maintenance Address: 2509 Jubilance Point Court, North Las Vegas 89032 Owner: Evergreen Lawn Services Evergreen Organix License type: Medical marijuana cultivation facility Address: 3480 W. Hacienda Ave., Las Vegas 89118 Owner: NV 3480 Partners LLC EvoLVe Family Life Coaching License type: Instruction services Address: Did not disclose Owner: Anette Kleeberg-Heske Expo Nails License type: Cosmetics Address: 3872 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Thuy Trang Thi Nguyen Exquisite Granite & Gems License type: General retail sales Address: 1717 S. Decatur Blvd., Suite H28, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Rabina Rosequist Eye Tactics License type: School Address: 8661 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas 89117 Owner: Leridz Enterprises LLC EyeQ-MGM Inc. License type: General retail sales Address: 3021 S. Valley View Blvd., Suite 108, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Kuang-Hua Lai Falcon Healthcare Systems License type: General retail sales Address: 10501 W. Gowan Road, Suite 160, Las Vegas 89129 Owner: Falcontek Inc. Felipes Tacos & Restaurant License type: Restaurant Address: 1002 N. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas 89106 Owner: Felipe’s Inc. Fernando Banuelos License type: Real estate sales Address: 581 Fork Mesa Court, Las Vegas 89015 Owner: Fernando Banuelos

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Records and Transactions Fernando Vargas License type: Bail agent/enforcement agent Address: 1600 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 140, Las Vegas 89104 Owner: Fernando Vargas FFA Group LLC License type: Professional services Address: 1810 E. Sahara Ave., Suite 100, Las Vegas 89104 Owner: Verenice Flores Fisher Artistry License type: General retail sales Address: 8751 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 190, Las Vegas 89117 Owner: Fisher Artistry LLC Frank Rosenthal License type: Real estate sales Address: 8400 W. Sahara Ave., Suite B, Las Vegas 89117 Owner: Frank Rosenthal

BUILDING PERMITS

$195,904, residential - production 2819 Candelaria Drive, Henderson Ryland Homes Nevada LLC $194,401, single-family residential - production 9974 Rams Leap Ave., Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC $181,244, single-family residential - production 12125 Hermesa Colina Ave., Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC $179,693, single-family residential - production 9643 Ashlynn Peak Court, Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada $178,060, residential - new 2405 Gala Haven Court, North Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada

$3,007,164, commercial - addition 3040 Simmons St., North Las Vegas Burr Computer Environments Inc.

$174,675, residential - new 5717 Tideview St., North Las Vegas D.R. Horton Inc.

$500,003, office 314 S. Water St., Henderson Blue Skye Development LLC

$174,040, wall/fence 212 Antelope Ridge Drive, Las Vegas Cedco Inc.

$499,991, tenant improvement offices 314 S. Water St., Henderson Blue Skye Development LLC

$170,509, residential - new 5721 Tideview St., North Las Vegas D.R. Horton Inc.

$314,997, electrical 3901 Donna St., North Las Vegas T&M Controls Inc. $310,000, commercial - addition 7451 Eastgate Road, Henderson Albrecht LV LLC $300,623, roof-mounted photovoltaic system 402 Estella Ave., Las Vegas SolarCity Corp. $250,000, tenant improvement offices 1111 N. Town Center Drive, Las Vegas LF Harris and Co. Inc. $229,452, residential - production 2795 Richmar Ave., Henderson Ryland Homes Nevada LLC $206,700, HVAC exact change out 8109 Sunset Cove Drive, Las Vegas Yes Air Conditioning & Plumbing $203,258, single-family residential - production 12121 Hermesa Colina Ave., Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC $203,258, single-family residential - production 12113 Paseo Terraza Lane, Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC

$161,914, residential - production 147 Littlestone St., Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc. $159,714, rehabilitation 329 Duchess Ave., North Las Vegas HP Enterprises Inc. $158,479, residential - new 4013 Celebration Cove St., North Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada $156,202, residential - production 148 Littlestone St., Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc. $147,164, residential - production 683 Narissa Ave., Henderson Hacienda Trails LLC $147,164, residential - production 2476 Dragon Fire Lane, Henderson Hacienda Trails LLC $142,839, residential - production 2158 County Down Lane, Henderson Toll Henderson LLC $142,395, residential - production 2131 Emyvale Court, Henderson KB Home Inspirada LLC $142,050, residential - new 5036 Alejandro Way, North Las Vegas William Lyon Homes Inc.

$142,050, residential - new 5040 Alejandro Way, North Las Vegas William Lyon Homes Inc.

$115,303, residential - new 119 Heathrow Lake Ave., North Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC

$142,050, residential - new 5041 Alejandro Way, North Las Vegas William Lyon Homes Inc.

$114,802, single-family residential - production 9936 Wildhorse Canyon Ave., Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC

$141,802, single-family residential - production 10016 Wildhorse Canyon Ave., Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC

$114,171, residential - production 489 Cadence View Way, Henderson Richmond American Homes of Nevada

$139,900, residential - production 1322 Reef Point Ave., Henderson Ryland Homes Nevada LLC

$113,617, residential - production 1126 N. Water St., Henderson Richard Austin White

$139,734, residential - production 681 Narissa Ave., Henderson Hacienda Trails LLC

$113,617, residential - production 517 Cadence Way, Henderson Richmond American Homes of Nevada

$137,294, residential - production 694 Tidal Flats St., Henderson KB Home LV Pearl Creek LLC $132,359, residential - production 679 Narissa Ave., Henderson Hacienda Trails LLC $129,475, residential - production 149 Littlestone St., Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc. $129,039, residential - new 3644 Fuselier Drive, North Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada $128,644, residential - production 916 Tasker Pass Ave., Henderson Ryland Homes Nevada LLC $125,553, residential - new 5037 Alejandro Way, North Las Vegas William Lyon Homes Inc. $122,721, residential - production 2112 Emyvale Court, Henderson KB Home Inspirada LLC $119,872, residential - new 5725 Tideview St., North Las Vegas D.R. Horton Inc. $118,103, residential - new 115 Heathrow Lake Ave., North Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC $117,368, residential - new 5044 Alejandro Way, North Las Vegas William Lyon Homes Inc.

$110,125, residential - new 5729 Tideview St., North Las Vegas D.R. Horton Inc. $107,961, residential - production 143 Littlestone St., Henderson KB Home Nevada Inc. $107,298, perimeter retaining wall 1221 Lake Heights Court, Henderson D.R. Horton Inc. $106,890, mechanical 1111 N. Town Center Drive, Las Vegas Hansen mechanical Contract Inc.

Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC $94,242, single-family residential - production 10107 Mayflower Bay Ave., Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC $94,242, single-family residential - production 10159 Ruggles Mansion Ave., Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC $93,848, residential - new 5657 Sagamore Canyon St., North Las Vegas J.F. Shea Co. Inc. $86,662, residential - new 5940 Radiance Park St., North Las Vegas J.F. Shea Co. Inc. $85,997, commercial - remodel 949 Empire Mesa Way, Henderson 949 Empire Mesa LLC $85,942, single-family residential - production 7572 Moose River Court, Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC $85,942, single-family residential - production 7518 Whitman Colonial St., Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC

$103,192, residential - production 463 Fortissimo St., Henderson Richmond American Homes of Nevada

$81,161, sign 333 N. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas Yesco LLC

$102,859, residential - production 915 Harbor Ave., Henderson KB Home LV Pearl Creek LLC

$76,196, commercial - roofing 2401 Western Ave., Las Vegas DRI Tech Corp.

$102,527, residential - production 716 Sea Coast Drive, Henderson KB Home LV Pearl Creek LLC

$75,000, sign 800 W. Mesquite Ave., Las Vegas Jones Media Inc.

$100,475, residential - production 2128 Via Firenze, Henderson KB Home Inspirada LLC

$75,000, sign 800 W. Mesquite Ave., Las Vegas Jones Media Inc.

$100,475, residential - production 3156 Del Terra Ave., Henderson KB Home Inspirada LLC

$74,980, commercial - remodel 10271 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 121, Henderson Siena I Holding LP

$100,000, water/sewer 7100 W. Craig Road, Las Vegas Master Built Construction LLC $98,260, residential - new 5733 Tideview St., North Las Vegas D.R. Horton Inc.

$117,368, residential - new 5045 Alejandro Way, North Las Vegas William Lyon Homes Inc.

$95,500, tenant improvement banquet hall 4437 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas Showcase Contracting LLC

$117,276, residential - production 910 Harbor Ave., Henderson KB Home LV Pearl Creek LLC

$94,242, single-family residential - production 7522 Whitman Colonial St., Las

$71,840, commercial - addition 725 W. Washburn Road, North Las Vegas Overland Contracting Inc. $71,840, commercial - addition 4853 E. Tropical Parkway, North Las Vegas Overland Contracting Inc.

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the sunday

your Business-to-business news

jan. 17 - jan. 23

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

The List

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Category: taxicab operators (Ranked by first 11 months of 2015 revenue

Company

Revenue

Trips

Revenue/ trip

Medallion plates Companies

Top executive

Frias Transportation Management 5010 S. Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-798-3400 • lvcabs.com

$102.2 million

7 million

$14.60

1,101

ANLV Cab, Ace Cab, Union Cab, Vegas Western Cab, Virgin Valley Cab

John Marushok, CEO

Yellow Checker Star Transportation 5225 W. Post Road Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-873-2000 • ycstrans.com

$101.9 million

6.8 million

$14.98

1,181

Checker Cab Co., Star Cab Co., Yellow Cab Co.

Bill Shranko, CEO

Bell Trans 1900 S. Industrial Road Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-739-7990 • belllimousine.com

$59.4 million

3.9 million

$15.24

451

Henderson Taxi, Whittlesea Blue Cab Co.

Brent Bell, CEO

Desert Cab 4675 Wynn Road Las Vegas, NV 89103 702-386-9102 • desertcabinc.com

$36.9 million

2.1 million

$17.56

199

Desert Cab

George Balaban, owner

Nellis Cab Co. 5490 S. Cameron St. Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-248-1111 • nelliscab.com

$32 million

1.9 million

$16.84

194

Nellis Cab Co.

Michelle Langille, CEO

Western Cab Co. 801 S. Main St. Las Vegas, NV 89101 702-736-8000 • westerncabcompany.com

$24.5 million

1.6 million

$15.32

198

Western Cab Co.

Did not disclose

Lucky Cab Co. 4195 W. Diablo Drive Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-477-7555 • luckylimolv.com/luckycab

$23.9 million

1.5 million

$15.95

154

Lucky Cab Co.

Did not disclose

A-Cab Co. 1500 E. Searles Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89101 702-365-1900 • acablv.com

$11.8 million

699,666

$16.88

115

A-Cab Co.

John Gathright, general manager

Deluxe Cab Co. 6055 Emerald Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89122 702-568-7700 • deluxetaxicabservice.com

$7 million

373,452

$18.89

106

Deluxe Cab Co.

Did not disclose

Source: The Nevada Taxicab Authority and Vegas INC research. It is not the intent of this list to endorse the participants or to imply that the listing of a company indicates its quality. Although every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of VEGAS INC charts, omissions sometimes occur and some businesses do not respond. Please send corrections or additions on company letterhead to Julie Ann Formoso, research associate, VEGAS INC, 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor, Henderson, NV 89074.

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FREE Bloody Mary or Mimosa

FREE Drink On Us at House of Blues Crossroads Bar

and $5 OFF adult ticket to Gospel Brunch at House of Blues.

Buy one drink and get the second FREE.

*Subject to availability. Must present coupon when booking Gospel Brunch ticket; to get a drink ticket for free Bloody Mary or Mimosa. Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid with any other offers. Offer is non-transferable and has no cash value. Not valid on holidays. Management reserves all rights. Expires 02/29/16.

*Good for one domestic beer, well drink or house wine, valid at the bar only. Must present this coupon when ordering drink. Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid with any other offers. Offifer is non-transferable and has no cash value. Must be 21+ with valid ID. Management reserves all rights. Expires 02/29/16.

HOUSE OF BLUES INSIDE MANDALAY BAY RESORT 3950 LAS VEGAS BLVD. S, LAS VEGAS, NV 89119

(702) 632-7600 www.houseofblues.com/lasvegas

Steel Panther Friday, Jan 22

Buy 1 Get 1 Free Draft Beer

Buy 1, Get 1 Free - GA Entry Ticket *Present coupon by 7pm day of show. Some exclusions apply. Management reserves all rights. Expires 1/22/16.

*Must be at least 21 with valid photo ID. Cannot be combined with any other offer. No cash value. Management reserves all rights. Not valid on holidays or during special events. Expires 1/31/2016.

(702) 632-7600 HOUSE OF BLUES INSIDE MANDALAY BAY RESORT 3950 S LAS VEGAS BLVD, LAS VEGAS, NV 89119

www.houseofblues.com/lasvegas

Buy One Get One FREE Buffet or 50% OFF One Buffet at S7 Buffet

Must be at least 21 with valid photo ID and A-Play Card. Membership into the A-Play Club is free. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Complimentary buffet value up to $12.99, additional fees apply on specialty, brunch and holiday buffets. Tax and Gratuity not included. One coupon per person, per table, per week. Dine in only. No cash value. Void if copied. Management reserves all rights. Expires 2/2/16. Settle to: 535.

4100 PARADISE ROAD, LAS VEGAS, NV 89169

(702) 733-7000 www.SilverSevensCasino.com

LOCATED CENTER STRIP AT THE LINQ UNDER THE WHEEL

(702) 862-BOWL www.BrooklynBowl.com

20% OFF Entire Guest Check *One coupon, per table, per visit. Not valid with any other coupons or promotional offers. Coupon has no cash value. No change returned. Taxes and gratuity not included. Valid at participating Denny’s restaurants. Selection and prices may vary. Only original coupon accepted. Photocopied and Internet printed or purchased coupons are not valid. No substitutions. © 2014 DFO, LLC. Printed in the U.S.A. Offer valid on your next visit 1.24.16-2.6.16.

Buy One Get One FREE Drink at Sean Patrick’s

FREE Appetizer at Sean Patrick’s Buy one appetizer and get the second FREE

Wine, well or domestic beer *Expires 1/31/16. Please present coupon at time of order. No cash value. Management reserves all rights. May not be combined with any other offer. See bar host for details. VALID AT 3290 W. ANN ROAD and 6788 NORTH 5TH STREET. Settle to 1581.

*Expires 1/31/16. Please present coupon at time of order. No cash value. Maximum value at $9.99 on free appetizer. Management reserves all rights. See bar host for details. VALID AT 3290 W. ANN ROAD and 6788 NORTH 5TH STREET ONLY. Settle to 1580.

3290 W. ANN ROAD NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89031

6788 NORTH 5TH STREET NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89084

3290 W. ANN ROAD NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89031

6788 NORTH 5TH STREET NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89084

(702) 395-0492 www.pteglv.com

(702) 633-0901 www.pteglv.com

(702) 395-0492 www.pteglv.com

(702) 633-0901 www.pteglv.com

Buy One Get One FREE Drink at Sean Patrick’s Wine, well or domestic beer *Expires 1/31/16. Please present coupon at time of order. No cash value. Management reserves all rights. May not be combined with any other offer. See bar host for details. VALID AT 11930 SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS PKWY. and 8255 W. FLAMINGO ROAD ONLY. Settle to 1581.

FREE Appetizer at Sean Patrick’s Buy one appetizer and get the second FREE *Expires 1/31/16. Please present coupon at time of order. No cash value. Maximum value at $9.99 on free appetizer. Management reserves all rights. See bar host for details. VALID AT 11930 SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS PKWY and 8255 W. FLAMINGO ROAD. Settle to 1580.

11930 SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS PKWY. LAS VEGAS, NV 89141

8255 W. FLAMINGO ROAD LAS VEGAS, NV 89147

11930 SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS PKWY. LAS VEGAS, NV 89141

8255 W. FLAMINGO ROAD LAS VEGAS, NV 89147

(702) 837-0213 www.pteglv.com

(702) 227-9793 www.pteglv.com

(702) 837-0213 www.pteglv.com

(702) 227-9793 www.pteglv.com

1/2 OFF Range Fee For First Time Shooters Only Sundays Only Enjoy our climate-controlled 14-lane shooting range, eye and ear protection, and you can even bring your own ammo! Don’t worry about those time limits other ranges have, $5 gets you a lane for as long as you want to pull the trigger! Come see why hundreds of thousands of locals have found our range to be the best in Las Vegas.

$5 FREE Slot Play for New Members

*Simply bring in this coupon to redeem the offer.

Must become a Player Rewards Card member to redeem. Existing Player Rewards Card Members do not qualify. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other free slot play offer. Management reserves all rights. Limit of one (1) New Member free slot play offer per person and Player Rewards card. Group #5502. Valid 1/17/16 — 1/23/16.

3084 HIGHLAND DRIVE. LAS VEGAS, NV 89109

725 S RACETRACK RD. HENDERSON, NV 89015

(702) 567-1158 www.DiscountFirearmsLV.com

(702) 566-5555 www.clubfortunecasino.com

$.99 for a Muffin

Use PLU#2601 if barcode fails to scan.

*(Plus appl. tax). Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Coupon and barcode must be presented at time of purchase. Shop must retain coupon. No substitutions allowed. No cash refunds. Void if copied or transferred and where prohibited or restricted by law. Consumer must pay applicable tax. May not be combined with any other coupon, discount, promotion combo or value meal. Coupon may not be reproduced, copied, purchased, traded or sold. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. Cash redemption value: 1/20 of 1 cent. © 2014 DD IP Holder LLC. All rights reserved. Expires: 2/6/2016

SERVING LAS VEGAS SINCE 1978 THE ONLY TRIBAL SMOKE SHOP IN LV

2 OFF per Carton* (Cigarettes only)

Flamingo Bugsy’s Cabaret 3555 LAS VEGAS BLVD. SOUTH LAS VEGAS, NV 89109

SAVE $10 on General Admission Seating One coupon per person. Cannot be combined with any other coupon. Coupon must be present. Management reserves all rights. Expires 1/31/16.

*Must be 18 years of age or older. NO LIMIT on any brand of carton purchased. Excludes fifiltered cigars. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Limit one discount given per customer per day. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies accepted. EXPIRES 1/31/2016. TS

Las Vegas Smoke Shop 1225 N. MAIN STREET, LV, NV 89101

Snow Mountain Smoke Shop 11525 NU-WAV KAIV BLVD, LV, NV 89124

(702) 366-1101 (702) 645-2957 www.LVPaiuteSmokeShop.com

Buy One Entrée Get the Second FREE

Player Special at Both Locations. Daily 8:00am - 2:30pm

or come in by yourself and get 50% OFF! — Catering Available —

FREE Lunch

*Valid only at participating locations. Not valid with any other offer. Not valid on Mondays. One coupon per order. “Buy One, Get One” offers valid on item of equal or lesser value only. Customer pays sales tax. Not for sale or resale. Void where prohibited. Cash value 1/100¢. No cash back. Additional exclusions may apply. Expires 1/24/16. Code: TSD © 2016 Moe’s Franchisor LLC

RAINBOW BLVD. 6910 S. RAINBOW BLVD. #100, LV NV 89118

DOWNTOWN SUMMERLIN 10965 LAVENDER HILL DR. #120, LV NV 89135

(702) 778-4770 (702) 724-0400 www.moes.com

Free $10 gift card to Bravo! Larsen’s or GEN* *must present this coupon to guest services located on the upper level near Macy’s. One gift card per person while supplies last. Offer expires 1/31/16.

with $20 Max Coin Play *Must be a player to redeem. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Management reserves all rights. Limit of one (1) free offer per person. Expires 1/31/16.

1350 E TROPICANA AVE LAS VEGAS NV 89119

4755 SPRING MOUNTAIN RD LAS VEGAS NV 89102

(702) 739-8676 (702) 876-4733 www.crownandanchorlv.com

BEER • WINE • CIGARS

BUDWEISER / BUD LIGHT 12pk Bottle or Can $9.99 One coupon per person. Cannot be combined with any other coupon. Coupon must be present. Management reserves all rights. Exp. 1/23/16.

GALLERIA AT SUNSET 1300 W SUNSET RD, HENDERSON, NV 89014

6030 W. WINDMILL LN., LAS VEGAS, NV 89139

8544 BLUE DIAMOND, LAS VEGAS, NV 89178 “Largest Cold Craft Beer Selection”

(702) 222-3030

(702) 629-2992

the sunday jan. 17 - jan. 23

life

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PREMIER CROSSWORD

“9 B.C.” By frank longo

 top downloads of the week (as of jan. 14) albums on itunes

1 2 3 4 5

1/17/2016

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free apps

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102 Writer Haley 103 Long to look at a periodic table? 107 Feng — 108 Poetry Muse 109 White-haired 110 Library cubicle in which Chablis is served? 116 Jackie O.’s “O” 117 New York state prison 120 Is wild for 121 Writes hacky computer programs? 124 Chemist’s “I” 125 Nursing school subj. 126 Bit of help 127 In awe 128 Naval units 129 Car-lot sticker abbr. 130 Barley brews 131 Guru’s discipline DOWN 1 Essentials 2 “Fame” star Irene 3 Very loud 4 Alternatively 5 — -chef 6 Unruly kid 7 Fit for sailing Ready to be driven 8 9 Pugilist Muhammad 10 Harmony 11 1942 role for Ingrid 12 “The Dick Van Dyke Show” surname 13 Ballet dancer Nureyev 14 “Sitting on — ...” (“Mrs. Robinson” lyric) 15 Blood bank fluids 16 Nero’s 404 17 Quintillionth: Prefix 18 “Crazy” bird 24 Aristide’s land 25 Eagles’ nests 30 Female deer 32 Is sporting 33 Hoagie shop 35 Its capital is Accra 36 Is very angry 37 Co. kahuna 38 — Tin Tin 39 Tatty cloths 40 Exclusively

41 Ran across 42 In the future 43 Harsh-toned 46 Top gun 50 Spicy cuisine 51 Stop moving 52 Pixieish 54 Stone 55 — pro nobis 57 Amigo of Fidel 61 Sedative drug, informally 63 Berg stuff 64 Stout of mysteries 65 Seer’s skill 67 This, to Pedro 69 Dying rebuke 70 “Me neither” 71 Sponge up 72 Scarf down 73 Coffee flavor 74 Auditory 75 Rubberneck 79 West Coast coll. in La Jolla 80 Hen’s perch 81 Swirly letters 83 Suffix with 90-Down 84 Being aired, in a way 86 Like religious dissenters 87 Writer Calvino 90 Gender 91 Tip of a sock 92 Suffix with major 93 Azadi Tower locale 95 Holy Fr. woman 100 Ham it up 101 City-circling route 103 Goes after 104 1921 Karel Capek play 105 Stability-improving auto part 106 Vocalist Kitt 107 Hound’s trail 110 Homeless kid 111 Sacred cow 112 Center point 113 The “E” of HOMES 114 Practically forever 115 Jet name 117 Gets the total 118 Stop up 119 Kelp, e.g. 122 Brand of motor oil 123 A single

without repeating. Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging)

The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the

target numbers in the top-left corners. Freebies: Fill in singlebox cages with the number in the top-left corner

For answers to this week’s puzzles, go to Page 49

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