RTC approves Ash Canyon grant proposal

Members of the Carson City Regional Transportation Commission on Wednesday threw enthusiastic support behind a $6.36 million grant proposal to revamp a portion of Ash Canyon Road and install a new trailhead.

RTC members voted unanimously to approve a Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant application for a new trailhead and reconstruction of Ash Canyon Road from Winnie Lane to west of the Wellington subdivision. The project would include vault toilets, ADA accessible parking and stormwater improvements.

The local match from the city would be $410,000 including $150,000 from the Regional Transportation Fund, $200,000 from the Stormwater Drainage Fund and $60,000 from the Quality of Life Fund.

The project is a joint effort with the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department. A new trailhead would complement the Kings Canyon Trailhead, which was also built with a FLAP grant. If awarded, the Ash Canyon project is expected to be constructed in 2027 or 2028.

“It’s just a great project,” said Mayor Lori Bagwell, who chairs RTC.

The city received letters of support for the proposal.

“On behalf of Muscle Powered, including our board and members, I am writing to express enthusiastic support for Carson City’s Ash Canyon Road and Trailhead Project. This initiative aligns with Carson City’s commitment to developing safe, resilient transportation facilities and sustainable trailhead amenities,” Muscle Powered President Chelsea Kincheloe wrote in a July 9 letter to the city. “Ash Canyon is cherished by Carson City’s non-motorized community, offering a vital network of trails that serve as a hub for running and biking events, including endurance races and Nevada Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) events.

“The area is a daily destination for both locals and visitors, who appreciate its outstanding trail network. Ash Canyon truly stands as a recreational haven, benefiting many within and beyond our community.”

In other action:

• RTC members unanimously approved the Carson City 2024 Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right of Way.

The plan entails an inventory of existing sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks and missing or noncompliant paths in the city and is revisited every five years to assess the city’s progress.

Engineering consultant Kimley-Horn developed the city’s first plan in 2015. According to city staff, the city has a three-pronged approach to updating pedestrian infrastructure: the city’s transportation capital improvement program, the development permit approval process and the city’s annual street maintenance program.

The full plan can be viewed online: https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2710635/5A_RTC_Exhibit_1_-_ADA_Transition_Plan.pdf

• RTC members unanimously approved amending the contract with First Transit Inc. (operator of Jump Around Carson) updating projected maximum billable hours and increasing the contract’s not-to-exceed amount by $505,424.64 for the initial three-year term ending Sept. 30, 2026.

The amendment increases the contract’s not to exceed amount from $4,479,506.46 to $4,984,931.10.

“I also wanted to note that the increase in this amendment was already budgeted as part of the city’s fiscal (year) ’25 budget, which was approved by the Board of Supervisors, so there is no change to that,” said Transportation Manager Chris Martinovich. “We will consider it again as part of fiscal year ’26 budget going forward.”

Bagwell said the contract shows how expensive public transit is. During a Feb. 29 retreat, the Board of Supervisors generally agreed to maintain existing JAC services but not expand them.

• Members of the Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization approved phase 1 of the CAMPO U.S. 50 East Carson Complete Streets Study. The study area for phase 1 lies between the I-580 interchange in east Carson and Highlands Drive in Mound House, a section of roadway owned and operated by the Nevada Department of Transportation.

Complete Streets is a holistic model for transportation planning that calls for pedestrian safety improvements and multimodal pathways, such as found on South Carson Street or the improvements currently underway on East William Street.

Phase 1 was funded by NDOT and focuses on user safety and traffic, including data on vehicle volumes, crashes, land use and other factors. The study included about $14 million in proposed improvements both along the highway and at intersections.

Melinda Cash, chair of Mound House Advisory Board, voiced support for reducing the speed limit in Mound House to 35 mph and for installing a pedestrian crossing “to protect our residents,” stressing hundreds of people cross the highway with cars averaging a speed of 57 mph.

“Something needs to be done,” Cash said. “Anything you can do to please help our little community we are really thankful for.”

Many CAMPO members had concerns with the study, acknowledging serious issues in the area but wanting more specific recommendations — such as a lower speed limit — better outlined and prioritized. They approved phase 1 but stipulated their concerns be addressed in phase 2.

Kelly Norman, senior transportation planner, said phase 2 has funding and will extend the study area to State Route 341 in the east. It will be presented to Lyon County commissioners in the future, she said. Responding to issues raised by CAMPO members, Norman said phase 2 can be designed around “what we want from the data.”