|  Is
Nevada’s transportation infrastructure prepared
for the challenges of tomorrow? Why or why not?
A
- It depends on your definition of “Tomorrow.”
The Urban areas in Washoe and Clark County have adequate
funding through their respective Regional Transportation
Commissions (RTC’s) to maintain and develop their
community road projects for the foreseeable future.
That is providing Congress provides the same funding
through the Transportation funding re-authorization
bill. However, on the State Highway system is a different
story. The 2009 legislature needs to approve an increase
in highway fund revenue which will allow Nevada to bond
for approximately 4.5 to 6 billion dollars over the
next decade in order to maintain and enhance our roads.
It is a moving target right now but that amount would
have to be approximately 300 to 400 million dollars
in new annual revenue.
The
Rural parts of the state will be o.k. if we maintain
the current highway conditions for perhaps the next
five to eight years. After that, there is going to have
to be highway expansions in a number of growing areas
of Lyon, Storey, Nye, Douglas, Clark and Washoe Counties.
Why
should the general public be concerned about the state
of Nevada’s roads and highways?
A
- Of course roads and highways are the “life-blood”
of any community. Failure to maintain or develop the
road system leads to unsafe road conditions and traffic
congestion. Congestion if not relieved, leads to grid-lock.
People can’t get to work on time, kids don’t
get to school on time, deliveries to business are delayed
negatively affecting large and small business’s
alike…you get the picture.
How
do you anticipate transportation infrastructure funding
will be addressed during the 2009 Legislative Session?
A
- Besides Chairing the Senate’s Committee
on Transportation I am also Chairing the interim Committee
on Transportation funding. Our next, and crucial meeting
to this discussion, is April 15th, 1:30 at the Grant
Sawyer building. During the meeting we will begin to
explore the financing alternatives to the legislature.
I anticipate that a number of different revenue sources
are going to be recommended. Everything from enhancements
on fee’s paid by all users or our roads and highways
to public private partnerships (3P’s) and perhaps
authorizing the creation of new toll “lanes”
on existing highways.
What
can the general public do to help you be more successful
in your efforts to address the problems facing Nevada’s
transportation infrastructure?
A
- Citizens need to support increased transportation
funding and be willing to pay a little more or face
the consequences of more congestion and possible gridlock.
Business, Industry and even local government representatives
in Nevada need to participate in the discussion and
be supportive of the recommendations made to the legislature
and Governor which will be advanced this next legislative
session. |
