Senate OKs tougher standards for toll lanes

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, April 16, 2009 | 6 p.m.

CARSON CITY – Despite the opposition of the Democratic leadership, the Senate has approved a bill to require private companies to go through more hurdles before building any toll roads in Nevada.

This bill, says Sen. John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, “will show that we are not asking for toll road inquiries in Nevada.”

Senate Bill 206 allows portions of public highways to be converted into toll roads if the public highway will consist of at least the same number of lanes that will not be subject to the toll. Otherwise, the private company would have to build the additional lanes for public use if the firm took over portions of the public highway, he said.

“This sets a higher standard and a bar for these companies” that want to build these toll roads, Lee said. In addition, SB206, which goes to the Assembly, would set up a toll commission to set the fees to be charged rather than letting the private company decide.

All revenue from tolls must be deposited in the state highway fund for use of construction and maintenance on roads in the county in which the money is collected.

A bill to permit the state Transportation Department to move ahead with a toll road demonstration project in Clark County was killed in the Assembly. Lee said “nothing has moved in favor of the project,” referring to the department’s proposal.

The vote in the Senate was 15-6 with Democratic Majority Leader Steve Horsford and Assistant Majority Floor Leader Terry Care in opposition. Other Las Vegas Democrats opposed were Maggie Carlton, Bob Coffin and Valerie Wiener. Sen. Bernice Mathews, D-Reno also voted against the bill.

Lee said, “If you are not a proponent of toll roads this puts additional oversight on any toll road proposal.”

Lee made his statement to a reporter after passage of the bill. There was no debate on the bill.