Parallel route plan backers find going slow

Mtick away the minutes and miles it takes to reach the driver’s destination in taxicabs across Las Vegas. That function of time and distance is calculated, resulting in the passenger’s fare.

It’s a concept used for decades by cab companies, but there appears to be some confusion on the part of Ronald Grogan, administrator of the Nevada Taxicab Authority.

Grogan is pumping the brakes on an idea that would allow cab drivers to use “parallel routes” along Frank Sinatra Drive, Koval Lane and Interstate 15 whenever Las Vegas Boulevard is congested.

Local taxi companies and their regulators have worked for at least a year to develop this plan for dealing with the fact that taking longer routes than necessary — a practice known as long-hauling — is illegal.

The hang-up comes from the definition of Nevada laws that haven’t been updated in more than 40 years, stating that drivers must take the “most direct” route from Point A to Point B.

Grogan interprets “most direct”

WARRIOR

to solely mean distance — a narrow view that mostly confines cabbies to using the traffic-clogged Strip when ferrying tourists between casinos and other venues.

All five voting members of the Taxicab Authority and cab company operators appear to believe both distance and time to reach a destination should be factored when considering the “most direct” route.

“In this case, I think there is clear evidence the legislators wanted to write a bill to give advantage to the passenger, and distance doesn’t always do that,” Taxi Authority board member Roger Thompson said during a board meeting Thursday.

Currently, taxicab drivers are required to take the shortest possible route to avoid accusations of long-hauling. Cabbies can only use alternate routes if passengers approve.

The Taxicab Authority issued

615 citations to drivers accused of long-hauling last year, down from 636 in 2016.

Grogan said he’s waiting on Attorney General Adam Laxalt’s office to issue an opinion on how to define the “most direct route.”

The office confirmed to the Road Warrior that Grogan’s request was received, and work is underway to formalize it.

Waiting for Laxalt’s opinion isn’t necessary, according to Kimberly Maxson-rushton, executive director and general counsel for the Livery Operators Association.

Maxson-rushton urged the authority to draw up a plan outlining alternate routes that the Legislative Counsel Bureau could review to determine legality.

Authority members agreed Thursday to hold yet another behindthe-scenes workshop with the cab companies.

“We’re still plodding along, year after year, accomplishing nothing,”

authority Chairman Stan Olsen said in an exasperated tone.

Progress sometimes comes slowly. Expect to see another lively debate at the next meeting Feb. 22.

No change on Charleston

Some new speed limit signs popped up along Charleston Boulevard after crews paved a road section between Rainbow Boulevard and Town Center Drive. Charlie from Las Vegas believes the speed limit was reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph and wanted to know whether this is a permanent change.

The speed limit has not changed, but the signs are permanently in place, Nevada Department of Transportation spokesman Tony Illia said.

The speed limit along that stretch is 45 mph, he said. The only exception is a small section of westbound Charleston just east of Buffalo Drive, where signs indicate a drop to 35 mph because of narrow lanes.

Eye of the beholder

Susan from Las Vegas said she isn’t a fan of the head-shaped metal sculptures on the divider at Eastern Avenue and the 215 Beltway.

“They are just awful,” Susan said. “Is there a meaning to them I missed?”

Art is in the eye of the beholder, Susan.

The roadside artwork by Las Vegas artist Luis Varela-rico is called “Norte y Sur,” meaning north and south — the directions these giant, black metallic heads face at each end of the intersection.

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