Carson City Transportation Manager Chris Martinovich discusses local road prioritization at the Regional Transportation Commission meeting June 12, 2024.
With the unknowns of the 2024 general election in front of them, members of the Carson City Regional Transportation Commission and at least one member of the public were optimistic about the ability to prioritize local road projects if voters pass two ballot measures.
Road projects rotate between five districts in the city over a five-year timeframe. Wednesday, RTC members unanimously approved regional road projects in Performance District 2 for fiscal year 2025 that starts July 1, including stretches of 5th Street, Little Lane, Stewart Street and Fairview Drive. Costs of the regional road projects were estimated to be about $3.4 million available through existing fuels taxes and other sources.
Adams/Park streets, Beverly Drive, John Street and Carriage Crest Drive were some of the local road areas suggested as priorities if more funding were available. The costs of those projects were estimated to be about $7.5 million. However, commissioners emphasized the local road projects were theoretical and examples of how the city could prioritize local roads if the ballot measures pass.
Mayor Lori Bagwell, who chairs RTC, stressed the project list was a draft.
“But I think it does display for the public that we’re prepared to receive the money, and we’re prepared to select roads to be worked on,” she said. “Because I think there was a lot of angst out there that we won’t know how to even do this, we don’t have a plan… it’s just not true.”
Regional collector and arterial roads qualify for federal grants, while local neighborhood streets, the majority of the city’s roadway network, mostly do not. Facing a $21 million annual funding deficit to maintain the existing network, the Carson City Board of Supervisors approved in April two ballot measures that could partially offset that deficit.
One ballot question is for a .25 percent sales tax, and the other is for a supplemental government services tax collected at the DMV (1 cent of $1 for up to 35 percent of vehicle value). Together, the measures are estimated to raise $6.5 million to $7 million annually and could only be used for local, neighborhood roads.
Carson City Transportation Manager Chris Martinovich outlined several steps the city took in theoretically prioritizing local road projects for Wednesday’s meeting. These included evaluating data on pavement condition and identifying which roads are ideal for preservation projects like slurry seals and which roads are at risk of deteriorating without preservation or rehabilitation (mill-overlay). More expensive reconstruction entails entirely new asphalt.
“At-risk roads are those considered where if we don’t do a preservation in the next couple of years, they’re going to fall to a rehabilitation,” he said. “Or, those roads if we don’t do a rehabilitation in the next couple of years, they’re going to fall to reconstruction.”
The goal, Martinovich explained, is to be cost-effective and do work that prevents more expensive work in the future.
Speaking during opening public comment, Mark Costa wanted more information on the factors behind maintenance costs and the city’s estimated annual deficit of $21 million. After listening to the local roads presentation, Costa spoke again, expressing he was optimistic about progress made on the issue.
“You know, if we all work together and provide input, I think that will benefit all of us,” he said, adding he planned to stay engaged.
At the RTC’s Aug. 14 meeting, Martinovich said, commissioners will once again review local road funding issues. The meeting date is about two and a half months before the November election.
The full presentation from Wednesday’s meeting is available online: https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2670133/5A_RTC_Exhibit_1___District_2_Pavement_Project_Prioritization_Presentation.pdf.
In other action:
• RTC unanimously approved a letter of intent for a $124,146 Community Development Block Grant administered by Carson City.
If awarded, the grant would be used for ADA-compliant pedestrian curbs, replacement of substandard sidewalks, improved crosswalk safety at intersections and reconstructed roadway and drainage infrastructure along portions of Carmine Street.
No matching funds would be required.
• RTC unanimously approved a cooperative agreement with the Nevada Department of Transportation to fund the Western Nevada Safe Routes to School Program through Sept. 30, 2026, in the amount of $684,211.
Approximately $650,000 of that comes from grant funding, and $34,211 from a 5 percent local match.
• RTC unanimously approved a not-to-exceed $485,108 contract with Sierra Nevada Construction Inc. for the District 1-N. Lompa Pavement Preservation Project including “pavement patching, large crack repairs, restriping, traffic sign installation, and slurry seal on N. Lompa Lane, Northridge Drive, Poole Way, Dori Way, Bunch Way, Sneddon Way, and Roberta Way,” according to the agenda.