Las Vegas Public Transit

As of 2 August 2010 the public transit fares are eliminating options and raising prices.

Regional Tranportation Commission of Souther Nevada calls a far All Access if it serves the strip corridor or the special high speed commuter buses. If it is strictly for local routes it is called General Market

(1) A 2 hour All Access pass will be raised to $5 (almost no purpose in buying this fare)
(2) A 24 hour All Access pass will stay at $7 (Why buy 2 hours for $5 when you can get 24 hours for $7)
(3) A 3 day (72 hours) All Access pass will be raised to $20 (save a big $1 whoopee: only point is you don't have to buy three tickets)
(4) The 5 day pass is eliminated
(5) There will be no more up charges for general market for strip corridor bus, but you must show local Nevada identification.

If you are in Vegas for 2 weeks or more buy a month long pass for $65 from Albertson's grocery store. Give the remaining time to someone else.

HAVE EXACT CHANGE OR CREDIT CARD If you only have a $20 bill then you might as well buy a 72 hour pass as you can't get change.


UNCHANGED
The route #108 from the airport is $2 one way (have exact change), but is only good the far north strip (Circus circus, Riviera, Sahara, Stratosphere, and downtown. I do not recommend this route unless you are fiscally challenged.
(Hard Rock can be accessed via a parking lot)

I'm heading to Vegas in three weeks, and will have some extra time on my hands. I'm planning to buy a 3 day transit pass to get to some off-the-strip locations. Town Center, Downtown, and UNLV are on my current list of destinations. I see a route that will take me over to Sam's Town, but as far as I can tell there's no reason to go over there. Any other interesting destinations that are easily reachable from the strip via the bus?

The ACE GOLD line will take you to Downtown and to Town Center. You can also go to the premium outlet malls on this route.

UNLV can be gotten to on the ACEXpress C Line from Sands Avenue by the Palazzo. Otherwise you pretty much have to walk. I think there are special buses if there is a game.

People like to go the vicinity of Sam's Town in pursuit of high free odds (100X) in craps. I would go to Eastside Cannery next door as it is much newer and in better shape. My suggestion is to go to Enterprise Rental Car and take a car for the day and go to Hoover Dam as well.

Quote: pacomartin

My suggestion is to go to Enterprise Rental Car and take a car for the day and go to Hoover Dam as well.

Once you have a rental car, there are about a gazillion interesting things for a visitor to check out away from the strip: Red Rock Canyon, M and Silverton south of town, Red Rock resort to the west, perhaps Lake Las Vegas to the east (don't know what to see there with the recent closures), Valley of Fire, Chinatown, etc. None of these need conflict with evening gaming or show activities on the strip. I no longer even consider a Vegas visit without a car. Just my perspective.

Quote: PapaChubby

Any other interesting destinations that are easily reachable from the strip via the bus?

You can get to the Atomic Testing Museum by catching the bus that runs on Flamingo Rd. The stop is very close to the Strip.

Quote: Nareed

You can get to the Atomic Testing Museum by catching the bus that runs on Flamingo Rd. The stop is very close to the Strip.

That sounds like a good idea. I'll look into it.

I also plan to catch the shuttle from the Fashion Show mall to the M resort. They've got a beer bar there that I want to check out.

There are private shuttle buses and city buses that go far off the strip, but you will find that they average less than 10 mph. It becomes much easier to rent a cheap car from Enterprise for the afternoon. That way you can drive to M Resort and stop at Southpoint Resort which are only 2 miles apart. The public buses only go as far as South Point.
You can also drive up Boulder Highway in search of the $6 steak, and try the huge free odds at Eastpoint. The traffic is still going across the Hoover Dam because the bypass won't be open until November of December. After that point the dam road will be open only for tourists.
Red Rock state park is the nearest nice park. Go early to scramble up the hills before the heat hits you. The Red Rock Casino is the premier locals casino.
======
Town Center, Premier Outlet malls, Atomic Testing Museum and downtown are the only attractions where it is easier to take the ACE GOLD transit.

South Point just opened a $20 million expansion. So far it is the only project to open this year. Cosmopolitan is taking reservations for 15 December.

about getting to Sam's Town, there are free shuttles to/from the Strip and Downtown. Look up the Sam's Town website for more information.

Effective December 12 the "Westcliff Airport Express" begins operation. This may be the answer that visitors flying in are looking for, as the stop is right at the heart of the Strip.

http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/transit/servicechange/index.cfml#westcliff

Route service begins on Sunday, December 12, 2010
New express route designed to connect the central west area to Downtown, the Resort Corridor and McCarran International Airport; stops along the route:
Eastbound / Southbound bus stops:
On Suncoast Casino property
Eastbound Charleston at Fort Apache
Northbound Durango at Charleston
Northbound Durango at Alta
Westcliff Transit Center, Bay 1
Southbound Casino Center at Fremont
Southbound 3rd at Lewis (Regional Justice Center)
Southbound Casino Center in northern half of turnout (adjacent to the Bonneville Transit Center (BTC))
Southbound Grand Central at the Las Vegas Premium Outlets
Eastbound Tropicana at Las Vegas Blvd.
Eastbound Tropicana at Koval
McCarran International Airport
Northbound / Westbound bus stops:
McCarran International Airport
Westbound Tropicana at Koval
Westbound Tropicana at Las Vegas Blvd.
Northbound Grand Central Pkwy. at Clark County Government Center
Eastbound Bonneville at First (adjacent to the Bonneville Transit Center (BTC))
Northbound 4th between Lewis and Bridger
Northbound 4th at Carson
Southbound Durango at Westcliff (adjacent to Westcliff Transit Center)
Southbound Durango at Alta
Westbound Charleston at Durango
Northbound Rampart at Charleston
On Suncoast Casino property
Route will operate approximately every 20 minutes during a brief a.m. peak period, approximately every 30 minutes during the p.m. peak period, and hourly during all other hours
Span of service will be approximately 5:30 a.m. or 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week

The Westcliff Airport Express is aimed at Westside Commuters to try and get middle class people off the road. It will provide access to Suncoast Casino (which currently has no bus service), and will provide people with an inexpensive way to get to the airport.

It will also provide a way for tourists to get to the end of the Monorail (at the back of MGM Grand). If you have limited luggage it may be an inexpensive way to get to the strip without having to use a shuttle bus or a taxi. It will drop you off by the NY/NY hotel and pick up across Tropicana Blvd.

The headway is 30 minutes so it will be of limited use. It will make it easy and cheap to get to Tropicana, Hooters, NY NY, Excalibur and MGM Grand.

McCarran International Airport
Westbound Tropicana at Koval
Westbound Tropicana at Las Vegas Blvd.
== The bus probably will take Interstate 15 north for this segment
Northbound Grand Central Pkwy. at Clark County Government Center
Eastbound Bonneville at First (adjacent to the Bonneville Transit Center (BTC))

Quote: pacomartin

It will also provide a way for tourists to get to the end of the Monorail

I have seen durned little discussion of the monorail, maybe just missed it... it is still somewhat limited and a bit pricey, eh? Still, I would plan to use it plenty, or is that dumb? Havent been to Vegas in some time.

The monorail is very fun, and underutilized, in my opinion.
Big advantage: access to most strip casinos, without having to worry about designated drivers. You can cruise from place-to-place while remaining intoxicated, and not having to pay for cabs.

It does require more walking than it should, as it brings you in through the back entrances (except the Hilton). So if you want to get from the monorail to the strip, you have to walk past all the restaurants, shops, and casino floor.

I wouldn't use it on my first trip, because you would want to see a lot.
Usually we will rent a car for 1 or 2 days on the trip (to get to downtown or other sites), and use the monorail for the rest.

I've found the Ace bus is good for getting TO downtown. But late at night, everyone is waiting in a big line to get on the bus back to the strip.

Quote: dudestupid

I've found the Ace bus is good for getting TO downtown. But late at night, everyone is waiting in a big line to get on the bus back to the strip.

A trick is to get on the ACE at the Downtown Transit Center (bus station to the north of downtown about two blocks behind Binion's Casino. It is very innercity, but the bus actually starts there. It is completely empty before it goes to Las Vegas Blvd and Fremont and picks up the hoards of tourists.


Regarding Westcliff Airport Express
A bus that makes it's first stop after the airport as the end of the monorail should make the monorail a lot more appealing. The name of the bus does not promote the idea that it is an inexpensive way to get to the strip. That use will no doubt not be highlighted because of the Taxi union. Besides, the 30 minute headway will discourage regular use as many people will not want to wait.