Editorial: Don’t make congestion even worse

Monday, Feb. 23, 2004 | 9:15 a.m.

Last week the results of a national survey found that Las Vegas has the 22nd-worst traffic bottleneck in the United States. Any Las Vegan who commutes to work won't be surprised that the "honors" went to that stretch of U.S. 95 that leads into the Interstate 15 interchange, a section of highway called the "Spaghetti Bowl." Some relief is in sight as the state Transportation Department expedites work to reduce gridlock, principally by adding more lanes to U.S. 95. Despite the progress, however, the work could be in jeopardy if the Sierra Club gets its way.

A federal judge is expected to rule by April on the environmental group's lawsuit, which seeks to halt construction on the highway widening project. The Sierra Club alleges that the federal government's environmental impact statement for the road project didn't factor in health risks it believes are created, such as increased risk for cancer, from pollution caused by the extra vehicles that would result from the additional lanes. The Sierra Club also contends that the Federal Highway Administration rejected too quickly alternatives to widening U.S. 95, such as building a light-rail system that would link the fast-growing northwest to downtown.

This is a situation where the Sierra Club can't see the forest for the trees. More traffic lanes actually have the potential to cut down on emissions because there is less idling if drivers aren't tied up in traffic, a situation that can reduce pollution. Less time spent on the highway also results in greater productivity for those who use vehicles as part of their jobs. And on a personal level, less traffic means you can get home faster and spend more time with your family.

We do believe that there need to be more mass transit alternatives in the Las Vegas Valley -- and a light-rail system could be part of the mix. But we don't have the time to stop road construction while a light-rail system would be built. As long as residents have cars, and people continue to move into the Las Vegas Valley, we will have to build more traffic lanes. Fortunately, the road project hasn't been delayed by the lawsuit. But rather than waiting for the judge's decision, or, worse, for a drawn-out appeal if the judge rules against the Sierra Club, we wish the environmental group would withdraw its lawsuit. It's a waste of time that is completely at odds with the needs of the Las Vegas Valley.