Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 31–Senators Neal, Carlton, Titus, Schneider, Rawson, Amodei, Care, Cegavske, Coffin, Hardy, Mathews, McGinness, Nolan, O’Connell, Raggio, Rhoads, Shaffer, Tiffany, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

 

April 30, 2003

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Joint Sponsors: Assemblymen Knecht, Anderson, Beers, Arberry, Giunchigliani, Angle, Atkinson, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Chowning, Christensen, Claborn, Collins, Conklin, Geddes, Gibbons, Goicoechea, Goldwater, Grady, Griffin, Gustavson, Hardy, Hettrick, Horne, Koivisto, Leslie, Mabey, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, McCleary, Mortenson, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Perkins, Pierce, Sherer, Weber and Williams

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Referred to Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations

 

SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Commission to conduct interim study of feasibility of magnetic levitation train connecting various urban and rural communities in Nevada. (BDR R‑1136)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Senate Concurrent RESOLUTION—Directing the Legislative Commission to conduct an interim study of the feasibility of a magnetic levitation train connecting various urban and rural communities in Nevada.

 

1-1  Whereas, With the rapidly increasing population of our state,

1-2  alternative methods of transportation must be considered to deal

1-3  effectively with the problems that arise from such an increase; and

1-4  Whereas, One of the options to be considered to alleviate

1-5  traffic problems is the magnetic levitation (maglev) train, a surface

1-6  mode of transportation in which vehicles glide above their

2-1  guideways, suspended, guided and propelled by magnetic forces;

2-2  and

2-3  Whereas, A maglev train is capable of traveling at speeds of

2-4  300 miles per hour or higher, about three times the top speeds on

2-5  most Amtrak routes, and would offer an attractive alternative to

2-6  travelers on our overcrowded highways and at our congested

2-7  airports; and

2-8  Whereas, The maglev train has high reliability in that the

2-9  maglev is not as susceptible to congestion and to weather conditions

2-10  as other modes of transportation and, based on foreign high-speed

2-11  rail experience, the reliable maglev train is rarely more than one

2-12  minute late if ever it varies from its scheduled arrival times; and

2-13      Whereas, Because the maglev train is electrically powered, it

2-14  is virtually independent of petroleum-based fuels and therefore

2-15  releases less pollutants into the environment; and

2-16      Whereas, The maglev train has a very high safety factor, a

2-17  much higher capacity for passengers than an airplane and allows

2-18  passengers to ride in comfort; now, therefore, be it

2-19      Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the

2-20  Assembly Concurring, That the Legislative Commission is

2-21  hereby directed to appoint a committee to conduct an interim study

2-22  of the feasibility of constructing and operating a maglev train in the

2-23  State of Nevada that operates from Las Vegas to Elko to Reno and

2-24  returning to Las Vegas through Tonopah; and be it further

2-25      Resolved, That the study must include, without limitation:

2-26      1.  The technical and economic feasibility of constructing an

2-27  intercity mass transportation alternative using maglev trains,

2-28  including, without limitation, initial costs of construction and the

2-29  initial purchase of maglev vehicles; and

2-30      2.  The cost of operation and maintenance of the maglev

2-31  system; and be it further

2-32      Resolved, That any recommended legislation proposed by the

2-33  interim committee must be approved by a majority of the members

2-34  of the Senate and a majority of the members of the Assembly

2-35  appointed to the committee; and be it further

2-36      Resolved, That the Legislative Commission shall submit a

2-37  report of the results of the study and any recommendations for

2-38  legislation to the 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature.

 

2-39  H