Snow: Valley development must change to ease traffic

Jennifer Shubinski

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005 | 10:50 a.m.

The Las Vegas Valley needs to start thinking, and allowing, for different types of development and building, the region's top transportation official told builders Tuesday.

Without changes, traffic and pollution problems will only continue to get worse, said Jacob Snow, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

The future of mass transportation in the valley will be centered around neighborhoods with high densities and a mix of residential and commercial uses, he said.

The way in which Southern Nevada has developed has led to neighborhoods with streets that have turned into speedways and with residences that aren't within walking distance to anything -- even the park, Snow said.

The communities are isolated and generate more traffic, he said, noting that each day another 100 cars are added to the valley's streets.

"The way that they make you develop means that people can't walk or take the bus, so they drive and that's killing us," Snow said.

Snow spoke to about 60 homebuilding professionals during a Tuesday meeting of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association.

The community needs to start thinking, and allowing, for different types of development and building than has been normally seen in Southern Nevada; otherwise traffic and pollution problems will only continue to get worse, he said.

"We want to look for common ground, increase density and reduce the width of the streets," Snow said to a smattering of applause. The wide widths of residential streets have long been a sore spot with builders, who would prefer to use the extra space to construct additional homes.

Snow said reducing the width of resident streets by about 10 feet can lower vehicle speeds and increase the worth of homes.

Irene Porter, executive director of the homebuilders' association, said the group has been trying to work with city planners of various municipalities for nearly two decades to try to change the mindset about development, but it has been slow going.

"These are issues we've been talking to planners about for 20 years," she said. "Jacob made a very valid presentation. We do have to start rethinking some of this."

The future of mass transit in the valley will be centered in those neighborhoods that are built to be pedestrian friendly and have higher density. Snow said in some communities that have such developments, there are even location-efficient mortgages available.

That type of mortgage rewards businesses and homeowners for purchasing property in pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use developments on the premise that they will not have to incur vehicle expenses because of the layout of the community, Snow said.

"We want to be part of the solution," he said.

Porter said transportation issues and how the valley continues to develop will be very important for here on out. She said some municipalities have taken a big step by incorporating mixed-use ordinances into their plans.

"We need to make sure that we're looking at the whole issue," Porter said. "I think that all of these things are going to be an extremely important element in developing our city of the future."