By Patrick Pittenger
The Carson City Regional Transportation Commission awarded several new projects at its June 8 meeting. The newly awarded projects will be funded primarily through federal and state grants. Here's a list of the projects:

— Freeway Landscaping Project – North Leg. This project was originally conceived by the local organization GROW, which stands for Gardeners Reclaiming Our Waysides. GROW successfully obtained initial Federal funding for the project which has since been awarded additional Federal and State grant funding.

The RTC financed the design of the project, but the estimated $2.7 million construction cost will be paid for almost entirely by grant funds. Improvements will extend from the North Carson Street interchange to the US Highway 50 interchange, and will include many landscape and aesthetic treatments located mainly at the seven freeway interchanges and grade separations. The project will begin in July 2011 and is expected to be completed in Spring 2012.

“The RTC very much appreciates GROW’s continued commitment to this project, and we look forward to enjoying the enhanced freeway when the project is complete,” said Carson City RTC Chair Shelly Aldean.

— Safe Routes to School Path Improvements. This project will provide a 12-foot wide asphalt path connecting Lepire Drive and Hells Bells Road in eastern Carson City. Once completed, improved pedestrian and bicycle access for students attending Eagle Valley Middle School and Empire Elementary school will be available, as well as access for the community in general.

This approximately $150,000 project is financed with Federal Safe Routes to School funds which were secured with the cooperation of the Carson City School District. Work will begin in July 2011 and will be completed by September 2011.

— ADA Sidewalk Improvement Project. This project will provide modified sidewalks in the neighborhood around Empire Elementary School, particularly along Woodside Drive.
The RTC has continued to pursue projects that bring portions of the City’s sidewalk
network into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991.

Beneficiaries of this project will be school children, persons accessing JAC bus stops, and the neighborhood as a whole. This approximately $130,000 project is funded with Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Work will begin in early July 2011 and will be completed by September 2011.

— Annual Slurry Seal Program. The RTC also awarded a contract to continue its annual local streets slurry seal program. This year, an area in the southern portion of the city bounded by Colorado Street on the north, Edmonds Drive on the east, Koontz Lane on the south and Frontage Road (next to Carson Street) on the west will be treated. This approximately $550,000 effort will be completed in August and September of 2011 following completion of a crack-sealing effort by City staff.

While not awarded at the June 8 meeting, RTC is also implementing two smaller projects in July and August that are also being financed with Federal Safe Routes to School funds. Five additional radar speed signs will be installed in school zones which inform motorists of their speeds. There are currently five radar signs in Carson City, four of which are already in school zones. The second project is the painting of crosswalks in school zones throughout the City.

“The District is very pleased that the City is providing safety enhancements for our students. The existing radar signs are wonderful, and we look forward to having more of them,” said Kevin Curnes, Safety Service Manager for the Carson City School District.

An additional grant-funded project to provide sidewalks and improve existing sidewalks along Long Street between North Saliman Road and Molly Drive is nearly complete. That project was also funded with Federal CDBG funds totaling about $110,000.

The RTC does not expect any significant traffic impacts from these projects. However, there will be limited impacts related to some projects, including the annual slurry seal project, and the RTC wishes to thank motorists for their patience and safe driving in the work zones.

— Writer Patrick Pittenger is Transportation Manager for Carson City. He can be reached at (775) 283-7396.