Editorial: Audit of road funds is needed

Friday, April 13, 2001 | 9:30 a.m.

Legislators from both ends of the state have expressed frustration that many Nevada Department of Transportation highway construction projects take far too long to complete. During a state Senate Transportation Committee hearing Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, complained that Southern Nevada freeways reach traffic capacity as soon as they are opened. State Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, spoke of one small Northern Nevada project that took four years to complete, far longer than necessary.

The time is right for the state to audit the transportation department. That is why we support Senate Bill 415, which would order the department to transfer $10,000 to the Audit Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau. We need to take a fresh look at the planning process used to determine the criteria for building highways and the timetables for completion. That is because some transportation priorities do not make sense.

An ongoing situation in Northern Nevada is a good example. While a much-needed Carson City bypass is being needlessly delayed, the transportation department is proceeding with plans to build a freeway segment south of Reno that would serve few vehicles.

We are also disturbed by a remark from state Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, who said department employees have been discouraged from making complaints to lawmakers. When one considers that the department spends $750 million a year, legislators should demand full access to information, including concerns from state employees, to ensure taxpayers that their highway money is well spent.