Las Vegas' Transportation Plan Hits The Jackpot

"In the interests of meeting a January deadline for federal funding, the Regional Transportation Commission approved Thursday without comment three-year and 25-year plans expected to slow the increase of traffic congestion in the Las Vegas Valley. RTC planners project that the two plans will cost $3.5 billion over the next three years and $21 billion over the next 25 years in federal, state and local funds. As required by federal law, the plans claim to achieve a net reduction in the air pollution caused by dust from dirt roads and carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles. But even with the billions spent for additional and expanded roadways and improvements to mass transit, planners expect more commuters to be idled over more miles by 2025."