APPENDIX 1 PLANNING CONTEXT
LAND USE
TRANSPORTATION
Low density subdivisions and masterplanned communities dominate the Valley’s grid, constrained by topography and federal land holdings. Downtown serves as a major employment center for the region, providing significant governmental, professional, and medical office functions. Commercial land use tends to follow the region’s major corridors, highlighted by the extraordinary concentration of activity along The Strip, bridging Downtown and McCarran Airport. As city and regional policies pursue a jobs-housing balance, and the limits of outward growth are reached due to environmental and ownership constraints, it is expected that economic diversification, infill opportunities and higher density development in the Downtown will become more attractive.
Two major freeways serve the Las Vegas region, crossing in Downtown Las Vegas – Interstate 15 and Interstate 515/U.S. Route 95. I-15 connects Las Vegas to Southern California and travels northeast to Salt Lake City and beyond; I-515/US 95 connects the city to northwestern Nevada, including Carson City and Reno, and joins with Henderson in the southeast. A partial beltway has been constructed, comprised of Interstate 215 to the south of Las Vegas, and Clark County 215 to the west and north. McCarran International Airport (LAS) is the main commercial airport for the Valley; located about 5 miles south of Downtown, it offers domestic, international and cargo service, and in terms of passenger traffic ranks as one of the twenty-five busiest airports in the world.
FIG 13.2: REGIONAL LAND USE
FIG 13.3: REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION VISION 2045 DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS MASTERPLAN |
313