Strategic Plan to Address Growth in Southern Nevada

Critical Issue: Transportation

The results of all community surveys and polls indicate that the public perceives that traffic is the Number One problem in Southern Nevada. The 1991 voter approved Question 10 initiative established six funding measures for transportation system improvements. The SNSPA finds that sufficient revenues will be available to accommodate growth needs of Southern Nevada’s street and highway system, yet substantial challenges remain.

While there are adequate projected revenue sources for street and highway construction on a long term basis, short term lags in bringing facilities local government on line are apparent. Construction lags can occur in several ways. Local entities must have all funds in place before design, bid, contract, and construction procedures can be commenced. Also, bonds cannot presently be sold in synchronization with project construction phases. Legislative changes to permit “design/build” construction practices for projects that have stable revenue sources and address the timing of bond sales could substantially reduce lag time.

Other factors must be considered when assessing long term transportation system needs. These are mass transit and air quality. For mass transit, currently available funding sources will not support expansion of the CAT bus system at rates that have occurred since start up. Private sector efforts are underway to establish a fixed guide way people movement system in parts of the resort corridor. The Authority has expressed concern in regard to a publicly funded fixed guide way system, integrated with the private system, given the absence of revenue sources and the level of investment needed. Further study of a fixed guide way system from a benefit/cost perspective through open, participatory processes involving all stakeholders is recommended in order to achieve community consensus.

Southern Nevada also faces uncertainties and potential transportation system expansion constraints resulting from federal air quality regulations.

At the same time, given planned and underway resort construction, we need to anticipate visitor volume increases from the current 30 million per year to well above 40 million per year while adding over one million new residents. Ease of movement within the resort corridor will be crucial to maintaining Southern Nevada’s attractiveness as a resort destination. If there is one factor that can contribute toward addressing the need for people movement while achieving air quality compliance, it is mass transit. We must find ways to strike appropriate balances between transportation systems, development patterns and air quality considerations.

Transportation Recommendations

Immediate Local Action
Improve regional transportation planning, including study of the feasibility, methods and structure of regional planning, prioritization and construction of road projects.

Conduct an independent reassessment of proposed public fixed guide way system.

Implement short term financing when prudent, permitted and advisable to fund construction of highways and streets in the early years of the 10-year Capital Improvements Plan.

Immediate State Legislation
Remove impediments to allow bonds to be sold in synchronization with project construction phases.

Allow “design-build” methods of road construction.

Immediate Local Study - Potential Future Legislation
Study issues regarding the flexibility and optimization of existing revenue sources from a regional perspective.