Nevada officials OK road-project earmarks for Clark County

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013 | 11 p.m.

The state Transportation Board Wednesday approved spending $283.1 million on road-building jobs in Clark County this fiscal year and will seek approval to sell $100 million in bonds for Project Neon, which will make improvements to Interstate 15.

The state Transportation Department listed 97 projects in its work program for fiscal 2014.

Department Director Rudy Malfabon told the board, "There are a lot of projects to be delivered in Clark County in the next few years."

He complained there have been "a lot of news stories to drive a wedge between the north and the south." He added there was a lot of confusion on the issue and the department must be more "transparent" in explaining its program.

In contrast, the department has set aside $139.2 million in fiscal 2014 for Washoe County, the second largest county in the state.

State totals were not available from the department.

He told the board he will ask the Legislative Interim Finance Committee in December for permission to issue the bonds for Project Neon that is eventually to cost $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion. The I-15 widening project is the largest in the department's history.

The proceeds from the bonds will be used to pay off property owners whose land is taken.

Aside from the $100 million in bonds, the department has $20 million set aside to acquire right of way in fiscal 2014 from Spring Mountain Road to west of the Spaghetti Bowl for Project Neon.

Also in the work program is $15 million for the Regional Transportation Commission in Southern Nevada to replace 75 buses.

The department plans to spend $10 million to widen Martin King Boulevard and Grand Central Parkway to four lanes and to provide bike lanes. Another project calls for widening Las Vegas Boulevard South to six lanes from St. Rose Parkway to Silverado Ranch.

The board also adopted preliminary plans for roadway construction through 2017.