CAMPO moves forward with phase 2 of Highway 50 study

Traffic and safety solutions might not be moving as quickly as residents and commuters want, but the second phase of a study and potential solutions are coalescing for the Mound House corridor that stretches from Carson City to Lyon County.

Wednesday, the Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization voted unanimously to approve changing a contract with Parametrix Inc., to amend the scope of work and to increase the amount by $179,374 for a new total of $327,590.81 to perform phase 2 of the U.S. 50 East Carson Complete Streets Study.

Funded by the Nevada Department of Transportation, the project with Parametrix began last year, and phase 1 of the study was completed in July. The study limit for phase 2 will extend to State Route 341.

“Staff are aiming for safety infrastructure solutions for both Carson City and Lyon County’s vision of this corridor to best meet the needs of the public in the short and the long term,” said Kelly Norman, transportation planner for Carson City. “Staff expect a completed plan by fall of 2025.”

Phase 1 focused on user safety and traffic, including data on vehicle volumes, crashes, land use and other factors. Phase 2 will include “pedestrian, bicyclist, cultural, historic, landscape, aesthetic, freight, and environmental considerations as well as provide additional data collection and conceptual roadway analysis in the Mound House area,” according to a staff report.

Silver City resident and Nevada Assembly District 39 candidate Erich Obermayr said during public comment the government was failing Mound House. He worried transportation agencies weren’t moving expeditiously and argued for a signalized intersection at Highlands Drive, where a young pedestrian was struck and killed Jan. 23.

“In my opinion, and in the opinion of many area residents, a signalized intersection is the best solution. It is also among CAMPO’s solutions. It would obviously make pedestrian crossings safer, and it would provide safe and timely entry and exit to and from the highway for residents, school buses and the many commercial vehicles such as concrete trucks and material and freight haulers, which are critical to the Mound House economy,” he said.

Carson City Mayor Lori Bagwell called the public comment vital and important “because it does help us rank and make decisions and have understanding.” But she also pointed out CAMPO produces plans and recommendations, while the Nevada Department of Transportation, which owns and maintains the highway, oversees project construction.

“The other tough part of all of this is I’m with you, when you feel like people are losing their lives and we’re having crashes. It’s not the only area, however, but if you live there, like he does, it’s got to be the most important thing, right, because it’s where you are and it’s what you see happening,” Bagwell said.

Carson City Transportation Manager Chris Martinovich, CAMPO administrator, stated:

“Through their (NDOT) One Nevada Plan and the different category areas that they use to prioritize projects, we need that data in place so we can understand how it ranks in priority for all the other projects, not only in the CAMPO region, but in the state or even Northern Nevada and statewide.

“There is a process involved with that, unfortunately, to say, but without the study, we wouldn’t know what’s needed out there. We wouldn’t know what the solutions are out there. And so that’s the critical element with the planning document is to understand here's the need, here are some solutions, okay now, let’s go start tackling the funding issue and building it.”

NDOT has explored lowering the speed limit in Mound House from 45 mph to 35 mph, a proposal that has sparked discussion among residents, state officials and local lawmakers earlier this year.

A pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB) at Highlands Drive was also an option explored in phase 1 of the study.

Lyon County Commissioner Wes Henderson, who sits on CAMPO, was enthusiastic about phase 2 of the study but said there have been mixed messages from their county commission.

“What we’re going to do — it’s going to link in really good with this extended study out to 341 — is we’re going to hold a workshop and develop a county policy statement on transportation throughout Lyon County, so that will hopefully help unify the message that we’re sending both to CAMPO and to NDOT,” he said.

In other action, both CAMPO and the Carson City Regional Transportation Commission approved a Title VI Plan required by agencies receiving federal dollars and stemming from the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“It’s a comprehensive plan. We’re ready. We’re doing our homework,” said RTC member Gregory Novak.

Citing 2022 U.S. Census estimates, Novak added that Nevada, not Carson or the CAMPO region, has changed to where minorities make up the majority of the population, with 49 percent white and 51 percent minorities.

“Changing demographics,” he noted.

Prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, sex or national origin, the plan is available online: https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2840077/5B_CAMPO_Exhibit_1_-_FHWA_Title_VI_Plan_with_Attachments.pdf.