Dear Highway User,
Last week was a very busy one for transportation in Nevada.
Several events took place on Thursday and Friday that could
have a long lasting impact on transportation funding.
On May 15, the
Nevada State Board of Transportation, Chaired by Gov. Jim
Gibbons, approved the recommendation from the Governor’s
Public-Private Partnership Advisory Committee that NDOT create
a public-private partnership that will improve capacity along
the Interstate 15 corridor through Las Vegas. The proposed
demonstration project will convert high-occupancy vehicle
and emergency lanes into managed lanes with electronic toll
collection and video enforcement.
The 19-mile
pilot will require legislative approval in 2009 to commence.
Click
here for the press release from the Governor’s office.
Here is
media coverage from the Las Vegas Review Journal:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/19003604.html
Also, here is a
map outlining where the project will be located:
http://media.lvrj.com/images/2693590.jpg
The Regional
Transportation Commission of Washoe County was also busy last
week in an effort to address a projected $5.2 billion shortfall
for the region’s highway system and a $1.1 billion shortfall
for mass transit between 2010 and 2040.
On Friday,
the RTC approved an increase in building fees for those implementing
new construction. It should be noted that these fee increases
will still need to be ratified by each local governing body.
Fees for
single-family homes will go up $541.50 per year — from
$3,186 per home to $5,894 over the five years, the RTC decided.
The increase is expected to more than $621 million over a
decade. Here
is media coverage:
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880516009
Perhaps, even more
importantly, the RTC also decided Friday to put two ballot
questions before voters next November.
One would
adjust local, state and federal gasoline taxes at a rate equal
to construction inflation, which is responsible for the bulk
of the deficit now facing the RTC. This would raise an anticipated
$1.8 billion between 2010 and 2040 and would likely increase
the pump price by around 2 cents a gallon each year depending
on the rate of inflation.
The other
question would raise the sales tax in Washoe County by one-eighth
of a cent, which would go to mass transit and raise approximately
$280 million per year.
For more
news coverage, please click here:
http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080516/NEWS18/80516067
Down south,
on Thursday, the Regional Transportation Commission approved
a $633 million budget Thursday that is 1% below the current
spending levels. The reason for the spending level is the
constant increase in fuel and related material costs.
Despite
the amount, over $329 million will be used for highway improvement
projects to local and state government for the fiscal year
beginning July 1 among which such projects as the conversion
of the 53-mile Las Vegas Beltway into a freeway and the new
Galleria interchange with U.S. Highway 95 in Henderson made
the cut.
Several
transit projects will move forward as well. More information
can be found here:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/19003614.html.
Sincerely,
Nevada Highway Users Coalition |
