Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013 | 11:59 a.m.
Sun coverage
- County Commission hits the gas on fuel tax ordinance
- Clark County finds business support for gas tax hike
- Tax legislation could raise Clark County gas prices
- Las Vegas gas prices likely headed up, if Nevada passes fuel-tax bill
- County commissioners see real need for ability to raise gas tax
- Pro-business group: Raise gas taxes for highway projects
- Legislature, Sandoval passed the buck on tax increases to counties
With a 3 cents-per-gallon increase in the fuel tax set to take effect in January, the Regional Transportation Commission is hitting the gas on more than a dozen projects that will be funded by the proceeds.
The gradual increase in the fuel tax, a maximum of 10 cents phased in over several steps by 2016, will allow the agency to spend up to $700 million on projects it says are vital to the valley’s continued growth.
The tax increase was approved in September by the Clark County Commission, and the agency has wasted no time getting new projects rolling.
The RTC’s board authorized 14 high-priority projects to move forward at its October meeting and is set to approve three more Thursday.
Among the first projects put out to bid are $2 million worth of improvements to 2.6 miles of Lamb Boulevard between Owens Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard, $3.5 million for work on Desert Inn Road between Paradise Road and Mojave Road, and two projects totaling $64.5 million to add bridges and widen the 215 Beltway in the northwest valley.
Also included in the list of projects already authorized by the board is a request for qualifications to design and build the $201 million Boulder City Bypass. Construction is planned to start on that project late next year.
The RTC has 185 identified projects it plans to fund with revenues from the increase in fuel tax, which will rise with inflation each of the next three years. The work is expected to create an estimated 5,000 construction-related jobs over several years.
To help contractors and subcontractors prepare for the influx of new projects, the RTC is holding a meeting Nov. 19 to share more information about fuel tax-funded construction.
The event is invite-only and geared toward contractors and subcontractors specializing in road construction.
The networking event, which is being co-sponsored by local governments and trade associations, will cover the process of bidding for fuel tax-funded projects and how businesses can prepare to apply.
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