Teixeira can 'speak freely'

Not that he's ever been shy, but we're looking forward to former mayor Marv Teixeira "speaking more freely" on the issue of Carson City's freeway.

Teixeira announced Wednesday he'll be stepping down from the Regional Transportation Commission so he can offer his opinions on the bypass as a Carson City resident and not as a member of the commission.

Of course, Teixeira is a bit more than the average Carson City resident. His eight-year tenure as mayor beginning in 1989 was marked by a steadfast advocacy for the bypass, which is supposed to ease Carson Street's traffic woes.

As noted in his announcement Wednesday, he was instrumental in the nickel gas tax Carson residents have been paying as their contribution to what should be a state-funded project.

But, like many of us, Teixeira is frustrated at the continued foot-dragging by some in the Nevada Department of Transportation in getting the project finished. (Allow us to point out there are some people working very hard at NDOT to build a bypass, and we appreciate their efforts.)

The latest issue is some apparent skittishness by NDOT in acquiring property south of Highway 50 East for right-of-way -- property marked as the path of the freeway for a couple of decades now.

Even more frustrating are the way other projects -- notably Interstate 580 through Washoe Valley, and Highway 95 in Las Vegas -- have been given priority over a road Carson City has been seeking since 1972.

As it stands, Carson City will have half a freeway -- known as the "bypass to nowhere" -- maybe by 2005. Who knows when it will actually get a functional bypass?

Teixeira's knowledge and experience have been valuable to the Regional Transportation Commission, which plans Carson City's streets, sidewalks and bike paths. But if he can do more for the freeway off the commission than on it, more power to him.