Guinn critical of beautification project cost

Wednesday, July 28, 1999 | 10:56 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn says he likes beautification projects, but he thinks Las Vegas may have gone a little overboard.

"I have never seen so many palm trees," the governor said Tuesday, talking of the tree-lined portion of Las Vegas Boulevard that connects the Strip and downtown Las Vegas. Palm trees are expensive, Guinn said.

The governor, at a meeting of the state Transportation Board, which he chairs, said he appreciates beautification projects but called this "extreme."

State Transportation Director Tom Stephens told Guinn there was no state money involved. The $1.4 million was financed from federal and city funds. But Guinn noted it was still taxpayer money.

The beautification project down the middle of the Strip cost $18 million, but Stephens said that was paid for by the casinos.

The subject came up during consideration of the transportation enhancement program that sends federal funds to projects such as street lighting, landscaping and trails. The state receives about $4 million a year from the federal government for these projects.

Of the estimated $11.8 million available from 1998 to 2001, $3.8 million is earmarked for six projects in Clark County and the money goes to the Regional Transportation Commission.

The biggest, $1.8 million, will go to the Lewis Street Corridor Streetscape in Las Vegas; $541,500 to North Las Vegas for landscaping on Las Vegas Boulevard; $475,000 for the Boulder Strip beautification; $435,300 for the River Mountain Trail in Henderson; $350,800 for the River Mountains Trail in Boulder City; and $239,500 for a non-motorized trail at Summerlin in Clark County.

Rural Nevada will receive $2.4 million; Washoe County gets $2.3 million; Lake Tahoe should receive $1 million; and state and federal agencies will share $2 million for various projects which include $244,400 for Valley of Fire Visitor Center parking.