A judge has approved the sale of the Las Vegas Monorail to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The elevated train runs on a 4-mile (6-kilometre) route along the Las Vegas Strip, but operations have been suspended since March because of the coronavirus. The rail line was owned and operated by the private Las Vegas Monorail Company.

US Bankruptcy Court Judge Natalie Cox said she will sign the order approving the US $24 million sale. Most of the money generated by the sale will be distributed to creditors, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Tuesday.

“We are pleased the US Bankruptcy Court today approved the sale of the Las Vegas Monorail Company’s assets to the LVCVA and look forward to the close of the transaction in the coming weeks,” LVCVA CEO Steve Hill said in a statement.

Las Vegas Monorail Company CEO Curtis Myles said the sale “ensures the future viability of the system and creates a path forward for the LVCVA and experienced Monorail operators to work together to reopen the system at the appropriate time to once again carry millions of visitors, eliminate vehicle emissions and congestion and aid in the recovery of our tourism economy.”

Executives with the Las Vegas Monorail, including Myles, are expected to be hired through the Western Management Group company to oversee the system because of its familiarity with its operation.

The authority had approved an agreement in October with Western Management Group to manage the monorail through a contract not to exceed $500,000.

The tourism authority expects the system to have a remaining lifespan of about 10 years, KSNV-TV reported.

The system serves about 5 million people a year. It was not immediately clear when it is expected to operate again.