Another month, another drop in Monorailship. And we don't just mean objects physically dropping from our favorite Vegas train.

November 2005 was another declining month for the $650 million Las Vegas Monorail, bringing in an average $76,000 per day and a daily average of fewer than 26,000 people. This is down from the $123,000 per day that needs to be brought in to break even. An average of 52,000 riders was expected when the monorail first opened in July 2004. It peaked in July 2005 and has been dropping ever since.

What could kill off ridership completely is a price increase of almost 67 percent. Currently at $3 per trip, each trip will now be $5 beginning Dec. 29. A one-day (24-hour) unlimited pass will be $15 (was $10) and a 10-ride pass will be $35 (was $20).

If you're a local, you're in luck: the gouging is just for tourists. Locals can purchase one-way rides for $1 each, but they can't be purchased at monorail stations. Don't want those tourists catching wise, y'know.

Beginning in 2006, locals can purchase $1 tickets at:

• The Downtown Transportation Center, 300 N. Casino Center Blvd.
  
• The South Strip Transfer Terminal, 6675 Gillespie St.
  
• The Regional Transportation Commission offices, 600 Grand Central Pkwy.

'Course, none of these locations are within walking distance of a monorail stop. Which means you need a car to pick up the tickets. And if you have a car...

Perhaps the Las Vegas Monorail should expand to include stops to strip clubs and nightclubs. Then, like the cabbies, the clubs could pay the monorail for each customer it brings them. We're not telling administrators how to run their rail business, we're just sayin'...