Editorial: More lanes are critical for U.S. 95

Monday, Dec. 4, 2000 | 9:28 a.m.

The Sierra Club is fighting government plans to expand high-volume highways, such as U.S. 95 and the Las Vegas Beltway. But the opposition by this prominent environmental group, which recently filed an intent-to-sue notice to stop the planned widening of U.S. 95 in the northwest, doesn't make sense.

The group claims that highway expansions inevitably lead to more people on the roads, which in turn creates more pollution, including adverse health impacts for those who live near the highway. In an ideal world, where mass transportation was abundant, perhaps such an argument could be made to stop more roads from being built. But the fact is that our mass transportation consists of a limited bus system, which today is straining to keep pace with the valley's growth. Cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles, then, will continue to be the primary source of transportation for this valley's residents.

Currently U.S. 95 in the northwest can resemble a parking lot during rush hour, especially if there is a wreck along any point of that stretch of freeway. So unless more lanes are added -- and remember that growth is expected to continue in the valley -- Las Vegans will continue to be stuck in traffic. And cars that are idling in traffic, because there aren't enough lanes to ease the congestion, tend to create more pollution, not less.

The Sierra Club has played an important role in protecting the environment, especially wildlife on the verge of extinction. But in recent years there has been dissension even within the group over its controversial policies, which many believe have strayed beyond conservation. For instance, some Sierra Club members argued that the environment would be helped if immigration into the United States was restricted, a move that fortunately was rejected by the Sierra Club in 1998 after much debate.

Still, the Sierra Club is right that pollution created by autos is an issue that should be addressed. Some solutions include more mass transportation alternatives, and the building of more fuel-efficient vehicles and the creation of cleaner fuels -- but these magically won't appear overnight. So environmental groups need to be cognizant of the realities that government faces in reducing air pollution. In this case, stopping the construction of more roads won't improve the lives of Las Vegans -- it would only make it worse.