9/18/08-Nearly a half of a billion dollars has been approved for Nevada roads. The state’s Transportation Board voted to allot $450 million for the state road budget for the current year.
The seven board members voted unanimously to approve the budget, which includes an estimated $240 million – more than half of the overall budget – for a single freeway-widening project in southern Nevada. The infusion of funds will pay for a design-build project on four miles of Interstate 15 near Las Vegas, from Tropicana Avenue to state Route 160.
The design-build process allows contractors to submit plans to design and construct each project. Typically, one firm designs a highway and another builds it, with the two tasks bid separately.
With a start date of summer 2009, the project is slated to use room tax revenues approved for road work during the 2007 legislative session, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The project includes widening, improved on-ramps and off-ramps, and other improvements.
Another new project in the state’s fiscal year 2008-2009 road budget, which includes $230 million in federal funding, is resurfacing of 52 miles of Interstate 80 in Pershing County. The price tag for the work in northern Nevada is $52 million.

8/26/08-A legislative panel in Nevada is musing over potential solutions for how to pay to build highways throughout the state.
At a recent gathering of the Legislature’s Subcommittee Studying Transportation members voted on proposals that could be introduced during the 2009 regular session to help the state cope with growing traffic. Among the options considered include increasing the state’s fuel tax rates, authorizing public-private partnerships for highways and charging more for driver’s licenses.
Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, the chairman of the committee, decided against taking a vote on a proposal to allow toll roads that would be operated by the state or private groups. He cited a lack of support for the concept, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Also struck down was an effort to tie the state’s fuel tax rate to the consumer price index. Indexing would allow for regular changes in the tax applied to gas and diesel purchases.
Gov. Jim Gibbons has threatened to veto any bills that include tax increases.
The committee agreed to draft a bill that would add an extra $100 to the fines for persons convicted of reckless driving, drunken driving, driving with a suspended or revoked license or being in a wreck. Revenue would be used solely for road work.
Legislators opted against pursuing a phone hot line that would allow residents to tattle on others who don’t put Nevada license plates on their vehicles after moving to the state.
Nevada law requires new residents to switch their license plates within 60 days of moving to the state, or after obtaining a Nevada driver’s license. Violators face fines up to $500.
Advocates said the state’s transportation system could get another $5 million a year if new residents paid registration fees and put on Nevada plates. Critics said that people could abuse the hot line.
Also rejected was a proposal to increase the cost of driver’s licenses by $20.
Proposals that failed to get backing from the special panel can still be introduced during the session that begins Feb. 2, 2009.