After long lull, Monorail rides again

LVCVA pressed for it to be ready for holiday

The Las Vegas Monorail got back to transporting passengers Thursday morning after being shut down by pandemic protocols since March 2020.

The 3.9-mile elevated electric transit system began gliding over the east side of the resort corridor at 7 a.m.

There are a few differences — not many that passengers will see — since the days leading up to its shutdown, ordered as a means of limiting the spread of COVID-19.

The cost of riding and the hours of operation will remain the same, but passengers will be required to observe health and safety policies.

Fees to ride the monorail are $5 for a one-way ride; $13 for a one-day pass; $23 for a two-day pass; and $29 for a three-day pass. Residents with local ID can get a 20-ride pass for $20.

The ownership of the system has been altered since the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority acquired the system out of bankruptcy for $24.3 million in December.

Passengers are required to wear face masks at all times and customers will be encouraged to maintain social distancing whenever possible. Hand sanitizing will be available at the system’s seven stations. The convention authority said passengers may encounter cleaning crews at the stations or on trains.

The monorail will resume its previous operating hours: Mondays, 7 a.m. to midnight; Tuesdays through Thursdays, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.; and Fridays through Sundays, 7 a.m. through 3 a.m.

The LVCVA pushed to have the system reopen in time for Memorial Day weekend. The organization also wanted to make sure it was running when the first major trade show in the country, World of Concrete, opens its doors June 8.