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-News Articles/Editorials/Letters to the Editor-
10/21/2004
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Safety: Carson city officials to seek possible grant funding for project. A plan to make walking and bicycling safer along two of Carson City’s busiest streets moved closer to reality Thursday, but not everyone was happy with the decision.. The board of supervisors voted 4-1 to take a bicycle and pedestrian safety project planned along sections of Fifth Street and along Goni Road to the state’s transportation department next month for possible grant funding.. “The safety of children near Eagle Valley Middle School (on Fifth Street) was a major safety concern for us,” said John Flansberg, the city’s transportation manager.. But Mary Fischer, president of GROW (Gardeners Reclaiming Our Waysides) said her group has worked closely with the Nevada Department of Transportation since 1997 to be sure the freeway corridor was landscaped.. Because transportation enhancement funds won’t be available until next year, Fischer urged the board to pay for safety projects with other money and list landscaping as its top priority for NDOT funds.. “I can’t fault anyone for being concerned with safety, but I believe there are more pots where that money can come from sooner,” Fischer said.. We want the freeway through our state capital to really look good,” she said. “For the safety of the children, I ask that you find other funding for that project and make the three gateways of the freeway your first priority (for the grant application.)” . Fischer said $1.4 million is needed to complete the landscaping plans.. Transportation enhancement funds are highly prized because they require only a 5 percent match by the community receiving them.. But the board agreed with the Regional Transportation Commission’s priority recommendations. . Supervisor Robin Williamson, who voted against the board action, sided with Fischer.. “Time after time we were told to apply for transportation funds (for the landscaping.) And there are people living along what is probably going to be Carson City’s largest public works project who have to see that freeway day after day,” Williamson said.. But Flansberg argued that the city had a better chance of getting the money with safety-oriented requests. “They are definitely shifting emphasis and the shift is more to safety,” he said.. Supervisor Richard Staub, who serves on the RTC, said that although the commission took into account the importance of the visual impacts of the freeway, safety was deemed more important.. And Supervisor Shelly Aldean, also an RTC member, called the time and attention spent on prioritizing “a process of compromise.”. Flansberg said about $6 million is available statewide. The split generally breaks down to 40 percent going to Clark County, 25 percent to Washoe County and the remainder to Carson City and the rest of the state.. Cost for Fifth Street improvements are estimated at $200,000. The Goni Road project is estimated at about $500,000.. The grant request is due to NDOT by Nov. 1.. CARSON CITY TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT PRIORITIES Pedestrian and bicycle safety: Provide curbs and gutters on both sides of East Fifth Street from Edmonds Drive to Carson River Road with bicycle lanes as described in the Bicycle System Plan, and a sidewalk and street lighting on the north side. Also addressed would be curbs, gutters and sidewalks, bike lanes and street lighting along Goni Road from Arrowhead Drive to Conestoga Drive. Neighborhood gateway landscaping: Irrigation and landscaping for areas visually impacted by the construction of the Carson City Freeway would be Northgate Lane, Northridge Drive and Emerson Drive. Roop Street pedestrian safety: Curb, gutter and sidewalk with a rock wall and street lighting on the east side of Roop Street from Winnie Lane to Basque Way. Source: Carson City Regional Transportation Commission |
