Editorial: There’s a solution to road jams

Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002 | 8:58 a.m.

Southern Nevada drivers do not need a study by a special-interest group out of Washington to understand the scope of the traffic crisis here. If they drive almost anywhere in the Las Vegas Valley during rush hours, they already understand. Nevertheless, the study released Wednesday by the Road Information Program -- a private group whose members profit from road-building -- reinforces the findings of our own Regional Transportation Commission. The new study states the obvious -- that the clogged condition of our primary roads costs drivers time and money and contributes to air pollution. It also states a more subtle truism -- that the situation will get exceedingly worse very quickly if a comprehensive and massive road-improvement program is not soon undertaken.

We view this latest report as reflecting the same conclusions that have been repeatedly drawn by other studies, and which would be drawn by anyone inclined to analyze Southern Nevada's traffic. Of particular note in all the studies is the conclusion that improvements cannot be limited to road building and road widening. The future will be no better than the present unless there's an aggressive plan to simultaneously expand our options for mass transit. Bicycle lanes, better technology for managing traffic and more attention to sidewalks are also key to a comprehensive plan.

Twelve years ago Southern Nevada voters approved Question 10, whose tax increases brought us a redesigned Spaghetti Bowl, the Desert Inn Super Arterial, improvements in the Strip area, development of the Las Vegas Beltway and dozens of other improvements. Getting around by car would be nearly impossible today had those improvements not been made. Voters in the coming general election will have the chance to vote on another Question 10, whose modest tax increases would enable the comprehensive plan so desperately needed. We hope voters today have the same regard for the future as did the voters in 1990.