Las Vegans should pay close attention to today's election in Seattle -- as should local transportation officials intent on pushing a multibillion-dollar light rail project on Southern Nevada taxpayers.

According to The Associated Press, two months ago a citywide monorail plan in the progressive Washington city was all set to move forward. Voters had approved the route and the taxes they thought would be needed to pay for it.

Then came the cold water.

Turned out the project was going to cost $11.4 billion -- yes, with a "b." That's more than four times the original estimate. The mayor and City Council threatened to pull the plug on the monorail unless supporters scaled back the cost and let voters have another say.

Thus today's ballot question, which asks Seattle residents whether they'd be willing to pay $4.9 billion for a shorter route.

Regardless of how they answer, the exercise is instructive. The Seattle experience is not atypical. These types of massive public transportation projects are almost always budgetary disasters that end up hauling far fewer riders than supporters project.

Southern Nevadans should keep the Seattle experience in mind as local officials try to build support for a 30-mile light rail line through the heart of the Las Vegas metropolitan area and an expansion of the existing Monorail.