nevada highway users coalition
February 6, 2008
Message from the Coalition

Dear Highway User,

The pressures Nevada is feeling on funding its highways are not exclusive to the Silver State, and many other governmental entities are looking for creative ways to fill their transportation infrastructure budget shortfalls or to reduce congestion.

While Pennsylvania is looking at privatizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike and tolling existing portions of Interstate 80, others are looking at bonding and privatization. Still others, such as Georgia, are looking to sales taxes.

Georgia lawmakers are working to fill a $7.7 billion budget gap that covers six years. A legislative committee recently released a recommendation, among many, that includes an option which would eliminate the state’s 7.5 cents per gallon excise tax on fuel and replace it with a sales tax on everything but fuel. The state’s existing 4 percent sales tax on gasoline would remain in place.

In another creative solution, New York is considering creating a “congestion zone” for New York City, where motorists would have to pay to enter the busiest and most congested parts of the city. This concept is being championed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and would charge cars $8 and trucks $21 per day to drive in busy Manhattan.

In San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is considering increasing its cash toll from $5 to $6 to make up a looming $91 million deficit over five years. Tolls on multiple axles and heavier vehicles would go up, too.

Governments from coast-to-coast are facing significant budget shortfalls for their transportation infrastructure due to rising construction costs and limited revenue streams. We are not alone.

Sincerely,

Nevada Highway Users Coalition
 
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Questions with Assemblyman Kelvin Atkinson,
Chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee

Question: Is Nevada’s transportation infrastructure prepared for the challenges of tomorrow? Why or why not?

Kelvin Atkinson: NO, we have a lot of work to do. Nevada has a structure that will not hold up with all of the band aids that we are placing on the funding of our roads. The RTC anticipates that Nevada is growing by approximately more than 100 cars per day. With that kind of growth, our road demands will not meet up with the current infrastructure.

Q: Why should the general public be concerned about the state of Nevada’s roads and highways?

KA: Because the funding is not supporting the infrastructure. Currently we are more than $4 billion short in highway funding with that number growing by the day. The traffic will continue to worsen if we do not take serious steps to "plan". More of a concern for the public should be mass transit improvements.


Mid-day traffic on I-15 in Las Vegas.

Q: How do you anticipate transportation infrastructure funding will be addressed during the 2009 Legislative Session?

KA: Obviously this is not a simple answer. During a 120 session in 2007 the legislature attempted to address the needed funding for our anticipated short falls of more than $3.8 billion. Currently we are looking at a lot of options and funding mechanisms that would address the need for additional dollars for transportation. I do anticipate us challenging the users to participate in the financing of additional revenue for the anticipated short fall.

Q: What can the general public do to help you be more successful in your efforts to address the problems facing Nevada’s transportation infrastructure?

KA: The public should contact his or her legislator and impress upon them the importance of not wanting to be stuck in daily traffic as travel times are increasing day by day. Some legislators believe that because there is no public outcry that the issue of improving our infrastructure does not exist. The public can reach out to their representatives to impress upon them the importance of this issue.
Did You Know?

The state gas tax, which is the primary funding source for the Nevada Highway Fund, hasn’t increased since 1992. Since then, the buying power of that revenue stream has declined 42 percent.

Source: The Road Information Program, Making the Grade in Nevada, March 2007
nevada highway users coalition