Transportation priorities for city and beyond are panel's focus

Transportation priorities for the next several months will be the focus of a regional panel Wednesday.

The Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, or CAMPO, which focuses on traffic issues concerning Carson City and small sections of neighboring counties, will consider project plans during its meeting Wednesday.

"This is a breakdown of what we're going to do in the next year," said Patrick Pittenger, the city's transportation manager.

Budgeted is roughly $256,000 worth of projects. On the list: Updating plans for bicycle and pedestrian traffic in Carson City; planning for regional travel demands, including public transit; and "modeling" of downtown travel patterns.

Much of the overhaul of the bicycle and pedestrian plan will be based on information in the city's Unified Pathways Master Plan, and should be completed by December.

The updated downtown modeling will help determine what happens "if you narrow Carson Street downtown to two lanes," Pittenger said. "And if we have a new freeway."

The work requires the analysts to take into account all of the various directions of trips people might make.

The modeling also "is in anticipation of narrowing Carson Street to see if it works," said Supervisor Shelly Aldean, who sits on the panel.

Once the freeway is completed - the state has a target date of 2010 - the city will take control of Carson Street from the state. It would like to narrow the section through downtown and make it more accommodating to pedestrians and business friendly.

The federal government is paying for 90 percent of the freeway work, more than $240,000.

Priorities need to be established by Sept. 30, or the federal funding won't be awarded. The project period is shortened this year to bring it in line with a traditional fiscal year period, which begins July 1, Pittenger added.

CAMPO is the regional panel, and the Regional Transportation Commission focuses on Carson City itself.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

If you go

WHAT: Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Sierra Room, Community Center, 851 E. William St.