V&T to get funding boost

The Nevada Department of Transportation board has approved a list of projects including funding for the next leg of the V&T Railroad reconstruction.

The track now stretches from Virginia City past Eastgate Station where the train crosses Highway 50 and into the upper end of Carson River Canyon to what was the site of Eureka Siding.

The V&T project approved this week would use up to $3 million in stimulus funding to continue work on the railroad reconstruction.

Deputy NDOT Director Kent Cooper said the money from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was available because bids on other projects have come in below expectations. He said the rules allow NDOT to apply leftover discretionary funding to other projects like the V&T.

Cooper said the project may not get the full $3 million in the transportation plan but should get at least $1.5 million to $2 million.

"We'll apply that to whatever project they have that would be applicable," he said. "If they've got right-of-way or something else we can accomplish, we'll apply it to that."

V&T Railway Commission Chairman Dwight Millard said the commission is right now trying to acquire the property owned by Don Bently to extend their right-of-way down Carson River Canyon.

"We're shovel ready," he said. "We've got the offer in Bently's hands. We could actually start laying track as fast as they could bid it."

The V&T has about 7.2 miles of track to lay to get through the canyon to the planned site of the train station depot near Drako Way. That section of track will be the most scenic part of the 17-mile trip once completed.

In addition, the commission is applying for up to $29 million to finish the historic train project, including construction of the Carson City depot. Commissioner Bob Hadfield said at a commission meeting earlier this year he believes Sen. Harry Reid has a good chance of getting most if not all the money for the project because one of the purposes of stimulus grants is job creation. He said the railroad would not only provide construction jobs but permanent employment in the retail businesses that will develop at each end of the train ride.

Also on the NDOT list approved this past week is up to $23 million to resurface U.S. 395 from Minden to the Highway 50/Spooner Summit junction. Two projects paid for with state funds will resurface about 12 miles of the highway.

Cooper said it is one of the largest northern Nevada projects on this year's list and said he expects the bid will come in lower than projected - probably around $20 million.

The largest northern Nevada project is the $71 million project to replace the 45-year-old concrete pavement on Interstate 80 through Reno. It includes adding auxiliary lanes between Sparks Blvd. and McCarran, installation of fiber optic cameras and electronic signs among other improvements.

The final leg of the Carson bypass freeway is also on the NDOT projects list but spokesman Scott Magruder said if remains unfunded at this point and won't be put out to bid in the next biennium.

The bypass now ends at Fairview. The final phase of the project, which will extend the freeway south to the U.S.395/Highway 50 junction, is estimated at $100 million.