Editorial: Hear those cars a-honkin’

Sunday, March 18, 2007 | 7:24 a.m.

To experience our major roads and highways at rush hour is to know they are failing in many ways.

This was confirmed in a report released last week by a national nonprofit group specializing in road analysis. Congestion was given a D grade and road safety and funding were given F's.

The report comes at a time when the Nevada Transportation Department faces a $3.8 billion shortfall over the next decade in its budget for vital roadwork.

It also comes at a time when the state has a newly elected governor, Republican Jim Gibbons. He has said he will not approve any increases in the state gas tax or any other modest fee and tax increases recommended last year by a state task force on transportation.

We have pointed out previously how perilous it would be for state elected officials to blind themselves to the transportation crisis. If a funding plan for upgrading our roads is not adopted this legislative session, Nevadans will have to reconcile themselves to far worse traffic tie-ups and dangerous driving conditions than are currently being experienced.

The state task force made that point clear and the report issued last week seconds that projection. The report was prepared by The Road Information Program, or TRIP, a Washington-based organization founded in 1971.

Support for the TRIP report came from an unexpected, but welcome , source Thursday - the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

The group generally opposes new taxes and fees, but on this issue it sees the need for increased spending. Tim Cashman, past chairman of the chamber and now a member of its government affairs committee, said, "The Legislature and governor need to put this together this session."

Cashman, who was a member of the state task force on transportation, understands that commerce depends on efficient transportation, and that the state depends on commerce. "We have a lot of pressing needs in our community. But none will be met if we hamper or slow down commerce, because commerce creates the revenue that addresses the other needs in this state," he said.

Gibbons should heed Cashman's words and work together with the Legislature on a long-term transportation financing plan. If Gibbons doesn't, he will not need to ask at whom the horns are honking.