(Blue Diamond Road) Corridor Study - Regional Transportation ...

6. SR-160 Corridor Improvement Plan RTC SR-160 Corridor Study
$8.85M in March of 2005. All are zoned H-2 (general highway frontage). Immediately to
the north of the 200-foot highway corridor and the Federally-owned parcel that contains the
UPRR ROW is the Westchester Hills development.
As of April, 2005, there were no obstructions on these parcels. The land that continues to
parallel SR-160 to Fort Apache Rd. after the UPRR ROW turns north is owned by the Federal
Government.
EXHIBIT 6-13: Right-of-Way with Westchester Hills Behind
6.7.3 Conclusions
Technically, there are no “show stoppers” that would prevent usage of the Union Pacific
Railroad right-of-way for transit purposes. The portion of the ROW that was studied is
essentially intact, and no structures of any significance have been built along the corridor.
The geometry of the ROW would allow bus or rail operation at normal speeds, except
possibly just east of S. Buffalo Dr. where the ROW turns to cross SR-160. At this same
location, the UPRR ROW is within the highway corridor for a short length, although this is
not a significant issue.
Many of the parcels have recently been sold to investment companies and developers, and
will likely be developed soon. The cost of these parcels will undoubtedly continue to
escalate as development flourishes in this area. The economic feasibility of acquisition of
these parcels for transit purposes has not been studied.
A light rail or BRT corridor along the Union Pacific Railroad mainline between Arden and
downtown Las Vegas could be accessed either via the segment of the railroad right-of-way
between SR-160 and Arden, or via SR-160 itself east of the right-of-way’s crossing of SR-
160. SR-160 will cross the UPRR mainline on a new aerial structure 1.7 miles east of where
the UPRR’s Blue Diamond ROW crosses SR-160, and the highway right-of-way is 200 feet
wide for the entire distance.
6-15