Editorial: Getting ahead of the curve

Monday, Oct. 17, 2005 | 7:54 a.m.

Last week the Nevada Transportation Board approved a record $1 billion road construction program for the next year, with $510.7 million earmarked for projects in Clark County.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, chairman of the board, said the state's gas tax, which helps pay for road construction, may have to be increased to keep up with the demand for more roads. Guinn said the tax, unchanged since 1992, might have to be linked to the rate of inflation.

The problem with the existing tax -- 18.44 cents a gallon -- is that it isn't keeping up with the needs of a growing state, a situation compounded by the fact that the cost of road construction materials has been rising, too. As the Sun's Cy Ryan noted in a story on Friday, transportation officials are concerned that within three years the state won't have sufficient funding to build and maintain state roads.

We're glad to see Guinn get this discussion going on revenue options to pay for our future transportation needs. Now is the time -- not later, when gridlock worsens -- to deal with some tough choices that lay ahead.