Letter: Surplus funds should be used to improve U.S. 95

Friday, Dec. 17, 2004 | 9:12 a.m.

I see by a recent report that the state of Nevada may have a $320 million surplus. Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, proposes a $100 vehicle registration refund.

A far better use of this surplus would be to use it as seed money with federal funds to upgrade our state highway U.S. 95 to a freeway. Browse any atlas and you will find very few states that do not have a north/south freeway, especially connecting two or more major cities within their state.

Anyone who has traveled by car in those states with major freeways will recognize that our state highway U.S. 95 is little more that a paved wagon trail. Using the new Boulder Bridge bypass as an anchor, the new freeway would connect our two largest cities, Reno and Las Vegas, with connections to our capital, Carson City -- not to mention the increase of tourism for the smaller cities en route with the easier access.

The money wisely invested would bring returns many times over the initial investment.

GEORGE F MARIE

archive