First Free Public Monorail Funded By Private Sector

The Las Vegas Monorail is the world's first free public transportation system to be funded entirely by the private sector.

1 minute read

August 30, 2001, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Ground was broken earlier this month on the Las Vegas monorail, described asthe first public transportation system in the world to be funded entirely by the private sector. Financing was generated through tax-exemptnon-recourserevenue bonds tied to the farebox and advertising revenues. The $650millionLas Vegas Monorail Project is scheduled to enter revenue service inearly2004. The system could carry as many as 19 million passengers in itsfirstyear of operation. Starting from Tropicana Avenue the monorail will movepassengers along the Strip to Sahara Avenue. The monorail, which willuse adriverless version of the monorail cars that serve Disney World, willlinkeight hotels with the convention center. A trip will cost $2.50.

Thanks to Dateline APA

Friday, August 17, 2001 in Las Vegas Sun

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 20, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A yellow, two-story building named Ferns with two American flags.

This MA town is drowning in its own sewage — and residents like it that way

Susan Murcott, a waste water expert, said if Carlisle didn't address their leaking sewage, the problem could turn “deadly.”

October 22, 2026 - Boston Globe

A pig poking its snout between the bars.

Iowa taxpayers are paying thousands to clean manure out of their water

While the Clean Water Act makes states responsible for regulating factory farms that discharge pollutants, Iowa has turned a blind eye to the polluting farms.

October 27 - Inside Climate News

Amtrak officials cut the ribbon at the new Seattle facility.

Amtrak cuts ribbon on Seattle Airo maintenance facility

The $250 million, nearly 100,000-square-foot building can house an entire Cascades Airo trainset.

October 27 - Railway Supply

One of Google's power plants pumping pollution into the air.

To power data centers, Google seeks autonomous control of thousands of homes’ electricity

The tech company has signed a deal to indirectly pay Mid-Atlantic residents to reduce their power demand when the grid is strained.

October 27 - New York Times