LAS VEGAS TRANSIT: Future by way of past - News

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Nov. 28, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

CORRECTION: This story Saturday incorrectly stated the meaning of the Regional Transportation Commission’s 18b sign on Casino Center Drive. The sign represents the 18 blocks that make up the Arts District.

LAS VEGAS TRANSIT: Future by way of past

Old-school signs to help draw attention to RTC's new bus line

By ADRIENNE PACKER
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

The Regional Transportation Commission is sprucing up stops for its new ACE transit line with neon signs, both old and new. Across from the Las Vegas Convention Center, the sign from the old Landmark marks one bus stop, located at the site of the former hotel-casino. Along with the Landmark, the RTC pulled the 5th Street Liquor store sign from the neon boneyard. The agency crafted the 18b Arts District sign, located on Casino Center Drive between Hoover Avenue and Charleston Boulevard.
Photos by Duane Prokop

Downtown Las Vegas has developed into a hip place to hang out and now the Regional Transportation Commission is hoping to play off the newly chic neighborhoods.

Like downtown, the transit agency aims to reinvent itself; it's working to shake the stigma attached to hopping on a public bus. The latest effort comes in the form of neon signs -- some dug out from the old neon boneyard and others newly built. They adorn three stops along the agency's trendy new ACE transit line.

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In the Arts District, a massive sign reading "18b" shadows the transit stop. For those of us who aren't as cool as we think we are, 18b means 1800 block, which is how the artsy crowd refers to that area. Down the street is the retro sign from the 5th Street Liquor store and, across from the Las Vegas Convention Center, stands the original Landmark casino sign -- reborn on the same spot of the old establishment.

"It's an interpretive, artistic way to illuminate the route for the ACE," said Jacob Snow, general manager of the commission. "We want to make it cool looking and make it a positive experience."

Downtown once had a reputation for prostitution, cheap shrimp cocktails, homeless people and cheesy casino giveaways. It has re-emerged as a gathering spot for the younger crowd with trendy bars that offer no gambling.

The redevelopment has even surprised Las Vegas natives such as Snow. Now, Snow is doing the same with the bus system.

Over the years, the agency has gradually faded out its purple and green, exhaust-billowing Citizens Area Transit buses, replacing them with the gold single and double-deck RTC vehicles. In March, the transportation agency will unveil the new ACE system.

Passengers purchase their tickets at the stops, which, combined with the bus-level curbs, will allow a more convenient and quicker boarding process. The new vehicles are the closest Las Vegas will have to light-rail.

And the vehicles themselves?

"This is not your grandfather's bus; this is not a toaster on wheels," Snow said.

So in introducing this new line that will primarily serve downtown and the Strip, why not draw more attention to it with the old-school signs?

"They add native history," Snow said. "We don't have a lot in terms of keeping our history."

In addition to the neon bus stop demarcations, the agency has chosen a handful of artists to create pieces that will be installed on each bus shelter's eight panels.

The idea to install cool signs was actually born years before downtown became popular again.

Snow credits former Clark County Parks and Recreation Director Pat Marchese, who suggested raiding the boneyard for signs that could be erected in the rights of way of a planned light-rail system. The light-rail fell to the wayside, but that didn't mean the RTC should do the same with the signs, Snow said.

The ACE project is still under its $60 million budget, which means Snow and his associates may head back down to the boneyard, a Las Vegas Boulevard property where the signs are stored. He figures he might be able to afford three more signs that would be installed on the Grand Central Parkway stretch of the ACE route.

"This is going to be a lot of fun," Snow said.

And if his strategy works, Las Vegans might think the same about riding the bus.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. paco wrote on November 29, 2009 01:09 AM: The ACE "rapid transit bus" will make Fremont Street only 15 minutes from the LVCC. That should help with the people going to conventions on limited budget. It will also make the World Market and the outlet mall within easy reach. It will also get tourist to FSE much faster. -- The Deuce will go from Man. Bay to Palace Station which should help that hotel. -- There should be four more of these systems going in on Boulder Hwy, Charleston, Ave, up route 95., and another route. Proud Native & Downtowner wrote on November 28, 2009 03:06 PM: In defence of my good friend Todd. 18b in Las Vegas stands for the original 18 blocks of the designated Arts District; hence the name. A little advice to the person who insulted my friend Karma will get you. 18b is 1800 block wrote on November 28, 2009 02:02 PM: Hi dumb Todd, I guess you really enjoy making a public boob of yourself. 18b does mean 1800 block. 18 is also your I.Q. YOU look it up. (When you get a brain) And in the future, shut your stupid mouth, Todd VonBastiaans wrote on November 28, 2009 01:51 PM: Hi Adrienne 18b does not stand for 1800 block....and that doesn't even make sense because there isn't any address with 1800 near there....there were 18 blocks in the original development plan...and it only took me five seconds to verify what 18b means on the internetz...if you write about 18b in the future maybe look it up first. The Man wrote on November 28, 2009 10:02 AM: to "Proud Native & Downtowner" here is a civics lesson for you. Economic Development to a liberal is giving a hand out to people with no incentive to pay it back in any way or form other than to create more dependants on the "stimulus" The Conservatives you mention, see economic development as something to stimulate the economy. Create an action that will develop into something larger and pay back the community in more ways than a one time hand out does. Much like the monorail, this is another transportation "option" that does not go where the jobs/people were/are. Proud Native & Downtowner wrote on November 28, 2009 09:26 AM: As a Las Vegas native and a Downtowner I am not nearly as cynical like the idiocracy that tends to read the pages of the Las Vegas Review Journal but I digress. This type of development is a strong sign that Las Vegas and its residents are interested in the future of its community. These projects enrich the lives of the community and give it a sense of pride. In addition it brings positive economic development. Even most of you conservatives cannot argue against economic development. When locals and visitors alike see these types of projects they will understand that Las Vegas actually does have a community and a soul. In addition it allows for creative business people like myself to come and put roots in these areas. The redevelopment of Downtown and surrounding areas is the future and the future is now. In either case these are the beginnings, like in many other Downtown's across the nation, of an optimistic future. Las Vegas will thrive beautifully and will take its place in the league of other great cities around the world. Trust me, for all you negative pessimistic people out there she (Las Vegas) will simply leave you behind… sam wrote on November 28, 2009 08:27 AM: the rtc is a joke. On west patrick they service opportunity village daily. There are always 3 buses parked on the street with only a driver in eatting donuts. What a waste of money. Lazy state workers and supervisors. guns4hire wrote on November 28, 2009 08:02 AM: such a dream - the only thing the neon will attract is pigeons - the feathered ones - the other pigeons will remain on the strip Hmmmm wrote on November 28, 2009 06:29 AM: Just Precious! Very Funny Story wrote on November 28, 2009 05:13 AM: Wow, this is hysterical! Downtown is a "hip place to hang out". You've got to be kidding? What's funnier is the suggestion that there is a market for a bus line that serves "primarily downtown and the strip". News flash to the RTC. Even if they go downtown, they don't work downtown let alone live downtown. There might be a few yuppies that go to the artsy but they dont share the bus with bums and thugs. Ace...pffft..Please.