LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The next Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix is about five months away and many valley residents voiced concerns about it being a repeat of the first year.
Snarled traffic, businesses choked off from their customers and tickets that are out of reach to many valley families.
Wednesday night, our FOX5 expert is Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick who says all those involved need to do better.
See FOX5 anchor John Huck and Kirkpatrick’s discussion below:
Huck: I’ve seen this traffic study that was conducted and what changes the F1 people are proposing. What’s your take on it? I know it’s still under review.
Kirkpatrick: We don’t have a choice but to do better than last time. That includes everybody. That’s visitors being able to move around. That’s our constituents who have to work on the Strip to get around.
There’s an expectation, at least from me, that there’s going to be a lot more buy-in from the community.
There’s got to be an expectation that our employees will be able to get to and from very easily. There’s an expectation that businesses can survive and stay open and know how to navigate. What I will tell you is, yes, we do have the traffic plan, it is under review. Already, I think that it looks much better. It takes a little while longer to go through it because we want to be thorough on our first review so we can get comments back.
I’m hopeful.
Huck: Now, there’s a lot of concern over that bridge that choked off businesses in the area that are now suing F1.
Kirkpatrick: Here’s what I would tell you, due to litigation, there’s not a lot I can say. I would tell you that in the next few weeks, everybody will see all of their reap initial review from our staff. It won’t be perfect, but it’s got to go out for public comment.
In the next few weeks, I’m sure that you’ll hear something because we can’t wait until July, August, September to to define all that that has to be done for people today.
Huck: Do you think the Grand Prix was worth it for Las Vegas?
Kirkpatrick: Anytime we can get marketing for whatever we do, it’s always worth it. We got to be a better. We got to have better partners when they come to town.
We know what’s best. We do a lot of events. We do over 9,000 events, over 25,000 people. So trust us. We want to help make it better.
I think that we have to get much better than we were last year before the jury’s still out for me.
Huck: Do you think the F1 people get that now?
Kirkpatrick: I’m hopeful that they do. But we’ll see. Proof is in the pudding. They got to do their part now.
Huck: Does the county have any choice? Do they have any options to back out of this contract if the improvements aren’t there?
Kirkpatrick: I think we’re pretty steadfast. The commission has been very clear, “you will do it a certain way, or there won’t be a third time.” But at the same time, they will hold up your permits and make it very uncomfortable for your guests. So I think that they’re actually working hard.
Huck: Does the Grand Prix get the sense that this is a “do-or-die” year for them here?
Kirkpatrick: They have to. We’ve endured a lot of events, and they’re always tough the first year. We improved tremendously over time. This is not one, this is a unique event because it’s in the core of our community where 120,000 people go to work every day.
We have to ensure that it is the best possible.
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