Stimulus will net state $200 million for transportation

By David McGrath Schwartz (contact)

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009 | 8:30 p.m.

Nevada will get $200 million for state transportation projects from the federal economic stimulus signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday.

Clark County will get $40 million for highway construction, Washoe County will get $9.2 million and areas with populations below 5,000 will get $11.5 million, according to Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas.

Nevada Department of Transportation Director Susan Martinovich said the state agency will distribute about $140 million for projects throughout the state. Money will have to be allocated within 120 days.

Buckley again repeated that the federal stimulus money will help in some areas, but will not come close to solving the state's huge budget deficit.

"It's a little help," she said.

Assemblyman Kelvin Atkinson, D-North Las Vegas and chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, said, "The $200 million will not solve our transportation needs. It's a drop in the bucket. But we are thankful."