Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Has Las Vegas outgrown McCarran Airport?
KVBC-TV Ch 3 (NBC),
Las Vegas (NV)
McCarran Airport is one of the crucial pipelines for
our city's biggest industry. But the government says McCarran is running out of
room fast, and if something's not done soon, we'll all suffer, even if we're not
on a flight.
At least four million passengers passed through McCarran
during the month of March, and already this year's count exceeds 11 million,
which is an increase from last year. Currently, McCarran handles 46 million
passengers per year, and that number's growing.
Authorities say 53
million is the maximum. According to a report just released from the US
Secretary of Transportation, Las Vegas will likely suffer a loss in revenue, and
appeal, if a new airport isn't built by 2025. Expansion has actually been a
topic of concern for a while.
"We've been working on this about 10 years.
We set forward to try and find another location to try and build a 2nd airport
in the event that the community needed it," said McCarran Airport Director Randy
Walker.
The Ivanpah site just north of Jean, Nevada has been designated
as a possible location, and is currently a year and a half into a projected five
year environmental study. If all goes as planned, the Ivanpah facility will be
up and running by 2017.
Another possible help could be a monorail
expansion to McCarran; that would help alleviate traffic at the
airport.
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