State looks at turning road maintenance over to counties

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000 | 11:42 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- It may not be long before Nevada relinquishes control of the Las Vegas Strip roadway to Clark County for maintenance.

The state Transportation Board on Wednesday notified all counties that they may have to assume ownership of many streets for which the state has been responsible.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, board chairman, said all the streets the state now controls are being reviewed.

The issue arose when the board voted to start turning over Paradise Road to Clark County for maintenance. The transfer is aimed at helping construction of the $615 million monorail system from Bally's to the Sahara.

The monorail will run along Paradise Road part way. Susan Martinovich, Transportation Department assistant director, said her department has been working with Clark County and monorail officials to clear the way for the project.

There were legal questions about the state granting easements to Clark County, which will assume control from Tropicana to Sahara avenues. The department will also relinquish to the county ownership and maintenance of a section of Flamingo Road for the project.

Guinn said the Paradise Road relinquishment needs to go forward. And he used the Strip as an illustration of roadways that may be turned over to the counties as a way of saving the state money.

Clark County spokesman Bobby Shelton said the county is interested in repossessing roads such as the Las Vegas Strip. Having local control means developers have less bureaucracy for some projects.