Traffic Tips

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Back to Las VegasLas Vegas Traffic Tips

"Chopper" Tom Hawley has watched Las Vegas grow since he was a little kid catching lizards in the desert back in the '60s. A self-described "traffic geek," Tom reports from the helicopter and from the studio most mornings and afternoons in Las Vegas on KVBC-TV/Channel 3. For further information on the following projects, tips, and much more, stop by Channel 3's website at www.kvbc.com and click "Traffic."

Monorail Mania: After decades of abandoned plans and false starts, a commuter monorail serving the Strip is finally a reality! This 4-mile system is a larger, faster, and more modern version of the Disney hand-me-down that used to run between the MGM and Bally's. The new Las Vegas Monorail has seven stations sprinkled from the MGM to the Sahara with a one-way fare running $3 per person (discounts are available for multiple trips). You may have heard about the less than glorious opening months of the system (parts falling off, system failures, a 4-month shutdown) but we're happy to report that as of this writing things seem to be in fine working order. The bad news is that the monorail has probably scuttled planned extensions to Downtown and the airport at least for now.

People Movers Galore: Las Vegas has a greater variety of independent people-mover systems than any other city in the world, and they're a great way to get around without having to get into your car. In addition to the people movers at McCarran Airport, a variety of trains will take you from hotel to hotel. The Doppelmayr Cable Liner Shuttle whisks you from the Tropicana Walkways to the Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay hotels. Smaller shuttles operate between The Mirage and TI at the Mirage and between the Circus Circus Big Top and East Tower.

Spaghetti Bowl: The "Spaghetti Bowl" is what locals call the mess where I-15 intersects U.S. 95. The whole thing was reconstructed in 2000, but some studies indicate that it's already carrying more traffic than it was designed for, so don't expect a congestion-free ride.

U.S. 95 Widening: The west leg of U.S. 95 was designed in the early '70s, when growth at the turn of the 21st century was expected to be about one-third of what it actually turned out to be. A massive widening project is underway with a projected 2006 completion. For now, this stretch of U.S. 95 (called the Oran K. Gragson Expwy., after a former Las Vegas mayor) is bulging at the seams. During rush hours, surface streets like Charleston and Lake Mead Boulevard are your best alternate routes.

Keep Your Feet off the Streets: Local engineers have been trying to improve traffic on the Strip by separating the cars from the pedestrians. The first overhead pedestrian walkways opened at Tropicana Avenue in 1995; similar bridges were completed at Flamingo Avenue by 2000. A new set of bridges connects the hotels and shopping mall at Spring Mountain.

Do D.I. Direct: Most visitors seem to get a lot of mileage out of the Strip and I-15. But if you're checking out the local scene, you can bypass both of those using Desert Inn Road, which, after a recent addition, is now one of the longest streets running from one side of the valley to the other. Plus, the 2-mile "Superarterial" section between Valley View and Paradise zips you nonstop over the interstate and under the Strip. The biggest thrill ride this side of the New York-New York roller coaster!

Grin and Bear It: Yes, there are ways to avoid traffic jams on the Strip. But at least these traffic jams are entertaining! If you have the time and patience, go ahead and take a ride along the Strip from Hacienda to Sahara. The 4-mile drive might take an hour, but while you're grinding along, you might see a Sphinx, an active volcano, a water ballet, and some uniquely Vegas architecture.

Rat Pack Back Doors: 2004 saw the opening of Frank Sinatra Drive, a bypass road running parallel to the Strip from Russell Road north to Industrial. It's a great way to avoid the traffic jams and sneak in the back of hotels like Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Monte Carlo, and Bellagio. On the other side of Interstate 15, a bunch of high-end condo developers talked the city into rechristening a big portion of Industrial Road as Dean Martin Drive (hey, where's Sammy's road?). It's still Industrial from near Downtown to Twain, allowing back entrances to Circus Circus, TI at the Mirage, and others, but as it passes under the freeway to the west, it becomes Dean Martin and is still a terrific bypass to the busy Strip and I-15 congestion.

Beltway Bypass: Started in December 2003, a 53-mile beltway (I-215) will eventually wrap around the valley, allowing for easy access to the outskirts and to bypass the city. The "ultimate facility" of six-lane, limited-access divided highway won't be complete for another decade, but the southern section is a full freeway, and a few dozen more miles of interim roads are now open as frontage roads and four-lane highways.

Catch the CAT: Some locals complain about Citizens Area Transit (CAT) bus service in certain neighborhoods. But the Strip routes are frequent and well serviced, running 'round the clock from the South Strip Transfer Terminal to the Downtown Transportation Center in the north. The 301 runs every 10 minutes during busy hours, and there's also a limited-stop express bus (no. 302) every 15 minutes. Other routes go for $1.25, but the 301 and 302 are the CAT's gravy trains and will run you $2. Exact change, please.