South Carson Street groundbreaking Feb. 29

The community is invited to celebrate the expansion of the Carson Street improvements at the South Carson Complete Streets Project groundbreaking ceremony. The event is scheduled for Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 10 a.m., at the former armory site located at 2361 South Carson Street, and will feature construction equipment for children of all ages to explore and climb on. Speakers will include Mayor Bob Crowell and City Engineer Dan Stucky.

“When we were assured that the I580 bypass would indeed be completed the City embarked upon projects designed to revitalize our urban core area (Downtown) as well as make the entrances to our City more appealing and inviting for all forms of travel,” said Mayor Bob Crowell. “The South Carson Street project is designed to do just that as well as continue the Downtown complete street design from 5th Street. It is part of the City’s effort to ensure the sustainability of our community over time.”

“This project will build upon Carson City’s recent downtown revitalization by linking downtown and the highly productive commercial corridor along South Carson Street via a cohesive and continuous complete streets design,” said Dan Stucky, City Engineer.

The South Carson Complete Streets Project is part of a series of roadway corridor improvement projects planned by the City, intended to accommodate sustainable economic growth and enhance the quality of life in Carson City by providing safer travel opportunities for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, as well as creating a more aesthetically pleasing and inviting gateway into Nevada’s State Capital. The overall project will include complete streets improvements from Fifth Street to 1,400 feet north of the Carson City I-580 Freeway terminus (Appion Way), as well as significant upgrades and expansion to critical utility infrastructure along the corridor.

“We are excited to be a part of the corridor enhancements and look forward to working with the community and providing employment opportunities locally throughout the duration of the construction process,” said Emma Crossman, Project Manager with Sierra Nevada Construction .

The August 2017 opening of the I-580 freeway extension reduced traffic volumes along the South Carson Street corridor by over 40 percent, allowing for the transformation of the corridor from that of a state-owned highway serving through-traffic into a calmer, City-owned multi-modal street. Since the first public planning meeting held on September 22, 2016, the City has presented numerous opportunities for stakeholder participation. In addition to hosting informational public meetings throughout the project planning and design stage, the City also sought approval and direction throughout the design process from the Regional Transportation Commission, Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee, Historic Resources Commission, and the Board of Supervisors.

As for funding, the project construction is nearly 70% funded by non-local funding sources. On March 29, 2018 Carson City was awarded the $7.57 million TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant by the US Department of Transportation, which described the project as “an important investment in Carson City’s infrastructure with a focus to improve pedestrian safety and mobility in the area, and enhance commercial and business access.” Other non-local funding sources include nearly $6.35 million transferred from the State to the City as part of the relinquishment of the South Carson Street right-of-way and specifically allocated to fund the South Carson Complete Streets Project.