A Transit-Oriented Future For North Las Vegas?

Away from the tourist-dominated areas of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, development in the Las Vegas valley has long been dominated by car-oriented transportation. Few other options are currently available, but things are about to change in a dramatic way.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is exploring options for the development of a Regional Fixed Guideway (RFG) system to server major portions of the Las Vegas valley. As a stakeholder in the RFG project, the City of North Las Vegas is considering the adoption of an innovative transit-supportive land use plan to guide development within its portion of the transit corridor. The goal is the creation of pedestrian-friendly transit villages that will be far more than bus or commuter rail stops.

"Where that concept is concerned," said North Las Vegas urban designer Ned Thomas, "the primary question is: How can we adopt advanced zoning for mixed-use that will create vibrant neighborhood centers within an emerging sea of typical suburban sprawl?"

With rapid population growth in the City (13% in 2005) and relatively large expanses of available land, there is lots of room for innovation and intense development that will reflect the concept of transit-oriented development (TOD). Changing demographics and rapidly escalating land costs are other trends in the Las Vegas area that support this approach.