Fed cuts put state transport projects in limbo

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002 | 9:53 a.m.

A proposed federal funding cut of nearly $49 million a year for transportation projects in Nevada could spell big trouble for the state and local economy, officials warned.

The White House's proposed budget trims transportation support across the board, and local and state transportation officials said they are still trying to establish which local projects will feel the bite of the funding cuts.

One effect looks likely: Amtrak, the federally subsidized passenger rail service, could largely shut down by Sept. 30 unless Congress appropriates at least $1.2 billion.

President Bush, calling for sweeping changes to Amtrak, has proposed $512 million for the coming year.

The immediate effect to Southern Nevada could be limited. Amtrak now brings about 2,600 passengers a year to the region through Kingman, Ariz., about 95 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

Transportation planners are more concerned about the potential impact on planned rail service between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Regional Transportation Commission and Nevada Department of Transportation officials had hoped to have the route open by the end of the year.

A previous Amtrak link between the cities ended in 1997. Amtrak, state and local officials had planned to reopen the route with new, higher speed service that would keep the travel time to about five hours.

Although the highway commuting time between Las Vegas and its biggest tourist market can be four hours, at peak travel periods that commuting time can double.

"We were planning a service," said Jim Mallery, planning manager for the Nevada Department of Transportation's aviation, transit and rail programs. "We're not sure if that's even on the burner anymore."

Amtrak itself sent mixed messages regarding the future of passenger rail traffic in the Silver State. Amtrak President George Warrington said capital funding for projects other than safety, environmental or reliability needs would be deferred indefinitely.

That would spell trouble for needed rail improvements on the Las Vegas-Los Angeles line.

But Vernae Graham, Amtrak West public affairs director, said the carrier is going forward with a required environmental assessment along the route, although that plan could change.

"We are still 100 percent committed to that route," Graham said. "Once we get the green light, then we are 11 months out."

The environmental assessment could come back any day now, she said.

Another route serving Nevada's northern route could face the budget ax. The California Zephyr shuttles thousands between Chicago and Los Angeles, and serves the northern cities of Reno, Elko, Sparks and Winnemuca.

Collectively, about 106,000 passengers boarded or exited the Zephyr at the Nevada stations last year, Amtrak spokesman Kevin Johnson said.

The Zephyr is one of 18 money-losing routes nationwide targeted for elimination if Congress does not renew the $1.2 billion subsidy.

The final decision on the future of Amtrak locally and nationally rests with Congress, which is now discussing what subsidy -- if any -- the rail service should get.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said service to Nevada is critical. Visitors to the area that once hopped aboard flights now face waits of three hours or more before getting onto a plane.

That means more people, especially from Southern California, are taking surface transportation or simply not visiting, she said.

"Las Vegas is a spontaneous destination," she said. "People choose to come over a weekend. Now they are choosing not to come."

Berkley said she and the rest of the Nevada congressional delegation will work to keep funding for local transportation programs, not just for Amtrak, but for a host of projects that the local and state governments hope will receive federal dollars.

Those projects include $650 million in federal matching funds for the downtown to Sahara Avenue route of the monorail, already under construction; a hoped-for high-tech, high-speed "mag-lev" demonstration project that could one day connect Southern Nevada and Orange County, Calif.; a planned new bridge across the Hoover Dam; and miles of highway and roads throughout the state.

Tom Skancke, a transportation consultant to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said the "next 24 months" of negotiations in Congress will be critical to Southern Nevada.

The negotiations will be important not just for the coming year, but for the next six, he said.

Congress is scheduled to fund a six-year, multibillion-dollar extension of the Transportation Efficiency Act beginning next year. Funding levels will be largely locked in over that entire period, Skancke and local officials warn.

He said Sen. Harry Reid's ascension to the post of Majority Whip in the Senate bodes well for Nevada. Reid, a Democrat, is a member of the Appropriations Committee and Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee.

"Congress will be the one to decide," Skancke said. "Congress appropriates. We will need to work with our delegation to make sure that funding stays in the budget for transportation.

"The president's budget will have an effect now on short-term budget, but the big money comes in 2003," he said.

Kent Cooper, NDOT assistant planning manager, agreed that the six-year funding package could have a huge impact on Southern Nevada's rapidly growing population.

But the impact could be less than in other states, where most highway and road funding comes from the federal government.

In Nevada, about one-third, or $180 million, comes from Washington. The rest is funded locally or by the state.

Still, the funding shortfall could delay or terminate long-term projects, Cooper said.

"All that needs to be taken with a huge grain of salt," he said. "We're at the very preliminary stages of a long process."com