Smog threat to federal road funds

Tuesday, March 4, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

State Transportation Director Tom Stephens said Monday that about $70 million a year in federal highway funds could be in jeopardy starting in 2000 unless officials can devise a plan to meet attainment levels within 20 years.

Nevada was in this same predicament last year, but the state requested and got a one-year extension by Environmental Protection Agency officials, he said. But that year is up.

Finance Chairman Bill Raggio, R-Reno, and Sen. Jack Regan, D-Las Vegas, complained that residents are unfairly penalized for high smog levels when some of the problem comes from tourist and interstate traffic.

"There are regulations and controls we have to put on our own population when there is traffic in and out of the state," Raggio said. "We're a tourist destination."

But Stephens said EPA officials "don't give us any consideration for our growth or for our tourist traffic."

Regan asked what would happen if the state simply refused to send in money collected from fuel taxes in protest over the air quality regulations.

"Well, if you could get by without the federal highway dollars, they could take you to court and probably shut off all private construction," Stephens said.

NDOT has already begun work on an implementation plan in response to the expected nonattainment designation, he added. Some measures include:

* Spending $12 million to modernize and centrally control traffic signals in the Las Vegas Valley.

* Providing "high occupancy" vehicle lanes in the widening of U.S. 95.

* Participating in "park and ride" lots and supporting public transit.

"We're not ignoring the problem of air quality," Stephens said.