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May. 16, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION: RTC approves $633 million budget

Conversion of Beltway into freeway is panel's top priority

By FRANCIS McCABE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

With fuel and sales tax revenue plateauing, the Regional Transportation Commission unanimously approved a $633 million budget Thursday, about 1 percent below current spending levels.

As with most every government entity this year, the RTC has seen projected tax revenue fall below expectations.

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    • According to transportation commission officials, fuel tax revenue has risen by less than $1 million annually since 2007, and the projections for 2009 are no different.

    Sales tax revenue is expected to be flat between 2008 and 2009, coming in at $174.5 million each year.

    Still, the transportation commission has more than $329 million ready to dole out for highway improvement projects to local and state government for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

    Conversion of the 53-mile Las Vegas Beltway into a freeway continues to top the list. The looping roadway is expected to be completed in 2013 at a cost of more than $1 billion.

    Other budget-winning projects include the new Galleria interchange with U.S. Highway 95 in Henderson; improvements to Lamb Boulevard from Interstate 15 to the Beltway in the north valley; the North Fifth Street overpass project; widening of Decatur Boulevard from Warm Springs Road to the Beltway; and the realignment of Casino Center Boulevard and Third Street.

    Several transit projects will move forward, including construction of the Sunset Road bus maintenance facility, park-and-ride facilities at Durango Drive and U.S. 95 and at Durango and Westcliff Drive, and the ACE bus downtown connector.

    On Thursday, the transportation commission also locked in a "hedged" fuel price of $3.65 per gallon from the finance company J.P. Morgan, hoping to save money in 2009 as fuel prices continue to soar.

    Last fiscal year, the hedged fuel price was $2.17 per gallon, and through April the commission has saved nearly $1.8 million through its hedged purchase of fuel.

    The commission has been hedging fuel prices since 2003.

    So far, 2007 has been the only year the commission has paid more than the market price.

    Over the years that the commission has hedged fuel prices, it has saved $3.27 million.

    Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.

    SUMMERLIN PARKWAY WILL BE ONE BIG MESS DURING ROAD PROJECTS

    Motorists who use Summerlin Parkway, take heed.

    The Las Vegas public works department will begin at 8 p.m. today a $2 million improvement project, which will include repaving the freeway. The work will take more than two weeks and cause lane and ramp closures.

    Crews with Southern Nevada Paving, the winning bidder on the project, will add a third westbound travel lane from U.S. Highway 95 to Buffalo Drive, public works officials said.

    Officials hope the project will be finished by June 1. No work is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend.

    Watch for the following traffic disruptions as crews repave the six-mile freeway from U.S. 95 to the Las Vegas Beltway:

    • From 8 p.m. today to 8 p.m. Sunday, lane restrictions will be in effect in both directions from U.S. 95 to the Durango Drive overpass. The southbound U.S. 95 offramp to westbound Summerlin Parkway will be closed.

    • From 8 p.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday, the eastbound Buffalo Drive offramp and the westbound Buffalo onramp and offramp will be closed.

    • From 8 p.m. Sunday to 8 p.m. Monday, westbound Summerlin Parkway will be reduced to one lane from Buffalo to Town Center Drive. The westbound offramp at Durango and the Rampart Boulevard onramp and offramp also will be closed.

    • From 8 p.m. Monday to 8 p.m. Tuesday, westbound Summerlin Parkway east of Town Center to the Beltway will be reduced to one lane. The westbound onramps and offramps at Town Center and Anasazi Drive will be closed. To accommodate commuters, the Town Center offramp will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and will then reopen at 2 p.m.

    • From 8 p.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Wednesday, eastbound Summerlin Parkway will be reduced to one lane from the Beltway to just east of Town Center. The eastbound Anasazi and Town Center onramps and offramps will be closed.

    • From 8 p.m. Wednesday to 8 p.m. Thursday, eastbound Summerlin Parkway will be reduced to one lane from east of Town Center to Buffalo. The eastbound Rampart and Durango onramps will be closed. The Durango onramp will be open to traffic from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and will be reopened by 4 p.m.

    • From 8 p.m. May 27 to 8 p.m. May 28, westbound Summerlin Parkway will be reduced to one lane from Buffalo to Town Center.

    • From 8 p.m. May 28 to 8 p.m. May 29, Summerlin Parkway will narrow to one travel lane in both directions from the Beltway to Town Center.

    • From 8 p.m. May 29 to 8 p.m. May 30, eastbound Summerlin Parkway will be reduced to one lane from west of Town Center to Durango.

    • From 8 p.m. May 30 to 8 p.m. May 31, eastbound Summerlin Parkway will be reduced to one lane from Rampart to Buffalo.

    • From 6 a.m. May 31 to 8 p.m. June 1, westbound Summerlin Parkway will narrow to one lane in each direction from U.S. 95 to Buffalo, and the Buffalo offramp will be closed.
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    Bill Mullenbach wrote on May 19, 2008 05:25 PM: I can't believe 215 which is handling the traffic would be completed before Blue Diamond road (hwy 160) better known as the widow maker. Aren't people listening to the news. It is apparent that their loved ones never dive this highway.