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Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 | 7:15 p.m.
More than 22 percent of Nevada's highways are in poor condition and those in Las Vegas and Reno are congested.
But 22.5 percent of the roads are in excellent condition and the bridges in Nevada are tops in the nation.
These statistics were included in the Preservation of Highway Report presented to the state Board of Transportation Monday, and some members were not happy.
Tom Fransway of Winnemucca called the statistics "vague" and said the report needs to be revised before it is presented to the Legislature. Although this report has been required to be delivered previously to the Legislature, this is the first time it has been presented to the board that oversees the highway system.
Board Chairman Gov. Brian Sandoval said the view presented by Transportation Assistant Director Bill Hoffman suggests the state is doing a pretty good job but the figures don't reflect that.
Hoffman told the board 4,664 lane miles of the 13,000 miles need to be restored. He said that would take $1.9 billion.
The department does not have any plans to ask the Legislature for more money.
Hoffman said, however, that Nevada roads were safe and that "we are not falling off the cliff."
It would take an extra $285 million annually over the next 12 years to restore the roads.
Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki said it looks like Nevada is going backward in road preservation in the next decade.
"It's not an attractive picture," said Krolicki. "We are going to throw this in the lap of the Legislature and they are not going to be pleased."
"We're giving them a problem but not a remedy," he said. And he questioned how the department would come up with the $285 million a year.
Hoffman said the department has a goal of cutting back its budget by 5 percent and it could also pick up federal highway funds not used by other states.
The report said the increasing backlog of roads that need repair "is primarily due to highway construction inflation not being matched by revenue increases from fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees over the years."
The report says $233.8 million is needed for maintenance on the interstate highways, mostly in the Las Vegas and Reno areas. Contributing factors include a growing population and more miles traveled on the highways.
And Hoffman said there is an increased number of trucks that contributes to the damage of the highways.
Hoffman told the board, "Do we keep the roads safe? Yes."
And there are needs to relieve congestion on the freeways. In 2011-12, the department spent $544 million on preservation projects, half of which came from the federal government.
Vehicle registration fees are down because of snow bird unfriendly laws.
I smell another sales tax hike.
Get them repaired and raise the speed limit to 90 mph, at least 85 mph, just like in Texas, to the rural areas, especially the I-15 south after Vegas!
We can fund this from putting State employees on buses and trains for their weekly commutes, at taxpayer expense, between Vegas and Reno/Carson. Can we get a direct bus between Vegas and CC? How about a train run? Or, just the back roads and airplanes?
No rank and file state employees "commute" between Las Vegas and Reno, Carson City, Elko or otherwise. Elected officials, legislators and that ilk, yes. Fix that by chewing on their ear but be ready to be chewed back... Nevada is a big state with a lot of nothing in between population centers.
Oh, there are no rail lines between Las Vegas and any part of northern Nevada unless you go to Salt Lake City or Los Angeles first. No rail line to Carson City whatsoever since the 60's when the V&T was scrapped.
Bus? What, is this the 50's? Have you tried to get a long-distance bus ride recently?
Do you have a concept of "man-hours?" Do you have the slightest idea how long one of these so-called "commuters" will be on the books and DOING NOTHING every trip? Flights save us all time and time is money.
Heck, who wants to go to Las Vegas anyway? I only go if I have no choice and I'm ORDERED to do so! :)
Let me explain that I have first-hand experience flying from Vegas to Carson City and vice-versa. With the budget crunch, might be less often than it used to be. However, numerous "regulators" still make the trip--many based in CC but regulate businesses, industry, schools, pass-through federal grants to non-profits (mucho many of these) are in Vegas but the employees are based out of CC. When I was an Agent with GCB, it was reverse--based out of Vegas but attended Board and Commission meetings in CC / Reno.