Six Mile Canyon toll idea on a bumpy road

Storey County's plan to establish a toll on Six Mile Canyon Road has already had its first flat tire, but it probably won't be its last.

The road opened in June after being closed for five months due to flood damage. County supervisors had intended to open it with a toll in place, but that idea is being reviewed by their insurance carrier over liability issues. In other words, the question is who would have to pay if a motorist using the road would find cause to sue.

Even if the answer to that question is favorable to the county, there are significant obstacles ahead.

Among them are whether the county has the authority to put a toll road in place without getting the state's permission.

A representative of the U.S. Attorney's Office and Storey County District Attorney Harold Swafford believe they will have to get the state to sign off on the plan, which could take many months, if it happens at all.

If the Legislature decides to discuss the issue, there's no guarantee it will sign off on the plan. The precedent it sets could lead to a rash of toll roads springing up around the state, creating anything but a welcoming environment.

The road is often used by drivers traveling from the Dayton area to Reno, and the traffic is likely to increase as Dayton's growth continues.

People living along the road have complained about speeders and tailgaters, but that's not a toll-road issue. That's a law-enforcement issue, and it's being addressed with more patrols.

A better solution than a toll road is cooperation between the counties on maintaining the road, and the state should also do its share on a route that crosses several jurisdictions and saves a great deal of gas and time.